SUNY Fredonia's Department of Athletics will celebrate the 25th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day on Saturday, Feb. 5, starting at 2 p.m. when the women's basketball team takes on SUNY Oneonta in Steele Hall. The schools' men's squads square off at 4 p.m. The event, which honors the achievements and encourages participation of females in sports, began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Florence Hyman, who died of Marfan's Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a tournament.
The event is free to all SUNY Fredonia students as well as any members of the general public who are 16 & under. Tickets for those 17 and over are just $3. The first 125 guests 16 years and younger will receive a free 2011 National Girls and Women in Sports Day T-Shirt.
To help highlight the day, raffles will be held with numerous prizes to be given away. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 at the door and prizes include autographed items and game tickets from the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits, Buffalo Bisons and New York Jets. In addition, halftime entertainment is planned, including a halftime scrimmage featuring the Northern Chautauqua Catholic School Girls Junior Varsity basketball team. The Fredonia Dance Team will also perform.
Prizes and other contributions have been made by the Blue Devils Booster Club, the Department of Residence Life, the Department of Campus Life, the Center for Multicultural Affairs, the Greater Woodlawn Federal Credit Union, Steamroller Press, Buster Brown Bean Company, SUNY Fredonia Federal Credit Union, the Division of Student Affairs, Robert Basil Cars and Lake Shore Savings.
Two alumni basketball games will also be held prior to the event. A women's game will tip-off at 11:45 a.m., with a men's contest following at 1 p.m. Both games will take place in Dods Hall Gymnasium.
To learn how to register for the alumni games or for more information on the National Girls & Women in Sports Day event, please contact Assistant Director of Athletics Megan Valentine at megan.valentine@fredonia.edu or 716-673-3542.
