On June 23, 1972, then-President Richard Nixon signed Title IX into law. Fifty years later, area coaches, administrators and athletes speak about the impact that playing sports has had on their lives:

“Growing up in El Salvador, I did not have the same opportunities as here in the United States. I had never played organized sports growing up. In my country, girls were not allowed to play sports. The only sport I played was street soccer with my brothers and friends. But all of that changed for me when I enrolled in school and realized everyone had an opportunity to play sports in school. I was so excited but nervous at the same time. I did not know anybody or spoke the language. I was worried about being accepted and able to communicate with others. But I took a chance anyway, and that was the best decision I could ever make. Everyone was so welcoming and the coaches were amazing. They knew I did not speak the same language and that did not stop them from trying to communicate with me, and made me feel that I belonged somewhere; that I was part of a team and a family. School was not easy for me, especially because of the language barrier, different culture and beliefs. Because of my coaches and my team, I was able to overcome a lot of obstacles in my life. My coaches taught me the value of being a good student, not just a good soccer player. They taught me about the importance of being a good teammate and in representing my school with love and respect. I have never experienced anything like it. They gave me the hope I needed to continue with my new journey. They made me believe that I could do anything and that I have the same opportunities just like everybody else. Because of soccer, I was able to go to college and continue my education while playing the sport I love so much. College was a great experience. I made new friends and graduated with a degree in fine arts from UTSA.
After I graduated, I knew God had put those coaches and teammates in my path for a reason. I knew it was time for me to pay it forward. I wanted to have the opportunity to provide the support, trust, and hope like my coaches did for me through athletics. Not only do I get to do what I love, but I also have the opportunity to coach my daughter. To see her grow into a young lady, I get to share every special moment my daughter gets to experience, like building strong relationships and learning life lessons through sports during her high school years. I will always cherish this moment.” — Zoila Hurley, Brennan girls soccer coach

“When I was eight years old, I dragged my father down to the YMCA and asked him to sign me up for the neighborhood boys soccer team. I was the only girl on the team, and we lost every game. But my love affair with sports had begun. I grew up in San Antonio and played on multiple club and school soccer teams throughout my childhood. Soccer allowed me to push myself and test myself in stressful situations. I was a quiet, shy kid, but my confidence grew with every goal I scored and every kid I juked. I continued to push the limits of what I could physically tolerate. On the field, I could be bossy and aggressive and intense and competitive, and not only was that OK, but it was encouraged. My high school girls team went on to have unprecedented success, winning the city and state championship. Soccer kept me grounded and focused and driven. After high school, I was recruited to play soccer at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. I credit soccer for this because I never would have found my way to the Ivy League for any other reason. While at Brown, I saw another side of sports. When I arrived there in 1992, the school was embroiled in Cohen vs. Brown University, the landmark legal case in which female athletes sued the school over violation of Title IX legislation. They claimed that the school was guilty of gender discrimination by cutting funding to four women’s varsity sports programs. At first it was hard to understand the athletes’ argument, and I struggled to see why they would fight so hard to maintain their varsity status when they could’ve easily competed as a club team. But the more I talked with the female athletes at Brown, the more it became clear to me that they weren’t fighting for varsity status, they were fighting for equal rights for women. Even though the conditions I witnessed on the soccer team were basically equal to the men’s, it became clear to me that this was not the case for other female athletes at Brown. The swimmers only got to take the pool after the men’s team had practiced. The women’s hockey team had to schedule their ice time around the men’s, and their budget was a fraction of the men’s. There was a staggering amount of money funneled into the men’s football team, which hadn’t had a winning record in years. These female athletes were suing so that they could push the needle forward and protect sports opportunities for all women.
After college, I played professional soccer on the east coast for a year with the Rhode Island Stingrays. Then I shifted my focus to medical school and completed an orthopedic surgery residency. I went on to do a trauma fellowship and am now working as an orthopedic trauma surgeon, specializing in helping patients who have sustained catastrophic injuries. It was a long road of overnight shifts, self-discipline and sleep deprivation to get to this point, but I credit soccer for this too. Had it not been for the opportunity to play soccer I do not think that I would’ve been able to drive myself this hard for this long. Soccer provided the training wheels for my life. It allowed me to test out my capabilities and my inner competitive spirit in a low-stress environment for years before I had to rely on my capabilities in very high stress situations. It allowed me to figure out the way to bring out the best in my soccer teammates before my teammates became the operating room trauma team.
Now, I watch my daughters tearing it up on the soccer field every weekend and I frequently think back on my humble beginnings on the dusty soccer fields of San Antonio. I’m amazed by how women’s soccer has changed in that amount of time. I consider myself exceptionally fortunate to be born in the United States during the time of Title IX. My daughters have already exceeded my capabilities on the soccer field, as it should be, and I hope that sport continues to be a big part of their lives. Someday when they’re able to understand, I will share with them the story of how Title IX influenced my life and continues to shape their future.” — Dr. Emily Benson, orthopedic trauma surgeon in California and former Saint Mary’s Hall soccer standout

“I was raised by my aunt and uncle, who did their best but had little means or education. Because of sports, I earned a full volleyball scholarship and was afforded the opportunity to attend college. When I found volleyball in middle school at summer rec, my world changed. I wanted to hit harder and jump higher than any of the boys in that gym. Playing volleyball helped me gain a confidence that I never had. The introvert in me became a fearless leader on the court. I carried these qualities along with drive, determination and grit in me in everything I did after I found volleyball. Sports made such an impact in my life that I then made it my mission to impact as many athletes as I was blessed to work with as a high school and club volleyball coach. During my coaching career, I was diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer. I was determined to beat cancer and get back on the court as an ultimate example to my athletes of fight and perseverance. The bonds and friendships I’ve been able to cultivate because of sports are one of the best parts of getting to play on a team. Memories of all the practices, workouts, road-trips, and hard fought matches. Best of all, sports allowed me to create a bond with my child-coaching her and sharing my love and passion for the game.” — Terry Heim, Northside ISD administrator, former University of Incarnate Word All-American volleyball player and Burbank HS graduate

“Being an athlete not only built confidence in me, but also put a work ethic into my life that has continued to drive me as a coach, teacher, and principal. Being a part of a team has always given me a sense of belonging and a family to help me get through all of the situations that arise in college and high school. Getting a full ride (scholarship) was such a blessing. I had a mother who was a high school counselor, and my father passed away when I was 7, so any type of assistance was needed and helped me not only finish college, but also get my master’s degree. I will say that becoming an educator was not exactly my plan, but because of the amazing coaches and people in my life that influenced me, I ended up going that direction because I couldn’t see my life without sports.” — Jana Cervantes, Steele HS principal, Sam Houston State University Hall of Fame volleyball player and former two-sport standout (district MVP in basketball and two-time All-City performer in volleyball) at Seguin HS

“Playing sports had a huge impact on my personal development. From a surface level, swimming taught me time management, self-discipline, and gave me a lot of self-confidence. What’s more important to me was that it helped me discover my limits and thrive under stress, and ultimately shaped myself into a really resilient individual. Swimming gave me the opportunity to explore colleges out of state that I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. I’ve met so many people that I hold friendships to that were strengthened from mutual experiences in and out of the pool. The ability I had to swim and the personal lessons I gained along the way were a priceless opportunity that I wouldn’t trade for anything.” — Marian Yurchishin, former University of Alabama swimmer, 2014 UIL Class 6A 100-yard breaststroke champion and Health Careers graduate

“I’m incredibly grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been afforded as a result of Title IX. As a young girl, I started playing organized basketball in the fourth grade, and from that point on sports have always been a huge part of my life and opened so many doors for me. My participation in athletics has shaped who I am today and is why I’ve worked in athletic administration for the past 30 years. I do not take for granted that these opportunities were not always available for girls and I’m so thankful for all of those before me who helped pave the way. I’ve had numerous mentors and colleagues throughout my career, both women and men, who have supported me and given me opportunities to succeed during my time at the UIL and now at the NCAA. I continue to be inspired by women athletes and women who work in athletics as they strive to create more opportunities for those who will follow in their footsteps. I’m a firm believer that participating in sports builds self-confidence, enhances self-esteem, and so many other positive qualities. Having a daughter who plays sports, I now have a different view of this positive impact, and continue to be grateful for all that Title IX has created in my life.” — Rachel Seewald, director of championships and alliances, playing rules and officiating at NCAA, former UIL assistant athletic director and Boerne HS graduate

“Sports have been a vehicle for me to be able to express myself. I was definitely a very shy girl growing up, lacking self-confidence as a lot of kids do. I was very insecure in many ways. I was too concerned with what people thought or being judged. I always felt confidence when participating in anything, whether it was a pickup game of kick-ball, playground games of softball or basketball. Sports always brought out the best in me. I couldn’t imagine my life without the ability to participate in sports, and only hope that there continue to be more opportunities for young kids to get involved early. I also find huge value in learning how to win, but also how losing is a part of sports. Learning how to overcome adversity and deal with a tough loss is a pivotal part of sports, and of life. In all, competition brings out the best in you, and forces you to realize how hard you must work to succeed. I also have made my very best friends through sports. I am very fortunate to be involved in athletics as a profession, and I never take one single day for granted that I am able to still be a part of a team.” — Genny Volpe, Rice University volleyball coach, former Texas A&M volleyball player and former Clark HS volleyball standout

“I’m not certain I would have made it through the battle of adolescence if sports weren’t a part of my life. I understood at quite a young age that I was gay and in the early 1990s, in Texas — that just wasn’t accepted. In a time when I felt like such an outsider — uncomfortable in my own skin — sports (as well as an incredible soccer coach, Elizabeth Sandoval) was the conduit for getting through those brutal years. Beyond the obvious life-long lessons — such as sportspersonship, team work, goal setting, perseverance, accountability — sports has given me a foundation for developing healthy coping skills, and from a very young age, which naturally became ingrained in the essence of who I am and how I respond to stressors around me. It’s not a thought, it’s an instinct. I experience grief or loss, so I take my kayak and paddle out as fast and as hard as I can to the middle of the open waters. I feel the cortisol levels rising in my body from work, so I grab my sneakers and go for a run. But sports are also about listening to my body. Otherwise, I end up with an injury. It’s this paradox of pushing myself beyond my limits but staying attuned to my system and knowing when to stop and take care of myself. There is simply nothing else in this world that soothes life’s hardships and teaches you the importance of self-care more than sports. And I’m so thankful for all its brought to my life.” — Shira Leffel, executive director for Europe marketing at smartclip and standout goalkeeper on Clark’s 2001 UIL Class 6A state soccer tournament team

“Sports really helped me to become a leader. Being in sports meant that I was held to a higher standard by my teachers and coaches and I didn’t want to let them down. Sports made me study, helped me to focus and pushed me to be my best, because that’s what was instilled in me by my coaches. By being so focused, it helped me to be disciplined, organized and punctual. My coaches were very demanding. They expected only the best from me in practice. They walked with authority and led by example daily and I was able to see that during my middle school, high school and college years as an athlete. Seeing that taught me to want to mimic those examples. I’m thankful for being surrounded by such demanding coaches because they helped mold the characteristics that are needed in my position today.” — Rose Ann Martinez, Harlandale ISD athletic director, former Harlandale and University of Incarnate Word volleyball player and former Holmes, South San and McCollum volleyball coach

“I played many sports up until high school. All of these sports, including basketball, swimming, tennis, and track, gave me the self-motivation and determination that has carried onto many other aspects of my life such as school and landing my first internship. However, starting golf at a very young age led to me being independent and self-disciplined because there was no one forcing me to practice. Some days I didn’t want to, but I held myself accountable to work hard, which eventually led me to where I am today. I would consider myself a very driven person and playing golf pushed me even more to reach my goals. The golf community feels very small, so I’ve made my closest friends through the sport. When you’re on a team, whether it’s for high school or college, you are given the opportunity to travel to some awesome places. Traveling for tournaments allows us to bond and grow even closer as well. When I started college, I didn’t know anyone at my school but being on a team gave me seven built-in new friends, so the transition didn’t feel as intimidating. People say that golf is a lifelong sport and as hard as it can be sometimes, I’ve not only made great memories and friends, but I’ve gained skills outside of golf that I can take with me forever.” — Kinsey Ray, UT-Arlington golfer and Reagan HS graduate

“Playing sports has given me countless opportunities to grow, reflect, and really transform myself in a way that is directed towards success. I grew up playing sports and enjoyed the social and competitive aspect of the game. Athletes and coaches alike, really have a unique privilege because it opens doors and teaches life lessons that can impact and change your life for the better. As players we can remember big wins and losses, but more importantly is the inevitable change that can occur while you are in that program for four years. Having great coaches who invest and encourage you through your early teen years is pivotal. Good ones allow you to enjoy and develop your game, while always demonstrating the care and interest in you, to make sure you are successful when you leave. Entering college through an athletic scholarship proved to show that hard work and dedication does pay off. By playing basketball in college, I was able to have many experiences that allowed me to travel to other states and compete at a high level. Competing in sports obviously has expanded my social circle and allowed me to network with players and coaches from all over. Furthermore, I have hosted international camps in Moldova and Italy and hope to continue to bring passion and knowledge of the game worldwide. After college I started my career path in education. Teaching and coaching student athletes has given me the opportunity to invest, encourage and hope to make a difference just like many coaches did for me. It is without a doubt that playing sports has given me many opportunities to be a leader and be successful. Some of life’s most valuable lessons are encountered while on the court or the field. Mental toughness, persistence, and attitude are just a few things that helped me reach the position I am in today.” — Katherine Frost, Richmond Fulshear HS assistant girls basketball coach and Churchill HS graduate

“Playing sports has meant everything to me. I have met so many of my closest friends through the various teams I have played on and some great coaches who have mentored me in not only sports, but life. Sports also allowed me to discover something I am passionate about. I had never really gravitated towards anything until I started playing sports and I felt that was what I was supposed to be doing. It has also opened so many doors for me that I would have never thought possible, from playing two sports in college and getting a great education to even where I am now in my career and continuing to play sports in a competitive capacity.” — Mary Cardone, former MacArthur standout soccer and tennis player

“The game of softball has not only allowed me to travel across the United States but it has given me an opportunity to earn a degree at college. That piece of paper is worth all of the blood, sweat and tears I have put into this game. I will forever be grateful for my teammates, coaches and support staff at college and growing up with so much love and support. My parents and grandparents always told me growing up that if you set your mind to something, you can do anything. So coming from a small town in Texas and ending up at the University of Kansas has been a testament to the determination that was instilled in me by them.” — Shelby Gayre, University of Kansas softball player and D’Hanis graduate

“Participating in sports made me hold myself to a very high standard and ultimately transformed me to have the mindset of never settling. If something is not working, I find a way to get there; and once I get there, I strive to be better and fight to reach my fullest potential. I understand nothing in life is given to you, which is why no matter what the task may be I have learned to put my all into anything I start until I can complete it in the most precise way. I can confidently say I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for not only swimming but sports in general. Sports molded me into the person I am today; it allowed me to develop a strong work ethic, expert communication skills, time management, and strong leadership skills. Being an athlete is a part of my identity and plays a huge role in my life and always will. My experiences as a student-athlete prepared me for the ‘real world.’ Learning how to juggle school, practice, homework, sleep, and maintaining a personal life for so many years constructed my ability to multitask, not only did this bring discipline, but success. In high school I was captain of the varsity swim team, taking on this responsibility taught me how to work within a team dynamic. I led by example, making a statement that it was possible to break five school records and perform in the classroom. I was recognized as a Scholastic All-American and honor student, awarding my ability to balance both my education and sport. I took gold at the UIL (Class 6A) state swimming championships in the 50-yard freestyle and silver in the 100-yard freestyle. This was a huge accomplishment not only for my personal goals, but my school’s as well. I was the first athlete in the history of Johnson High School to win a state championship and recognized as athlete of the year. Carrying this success into college, I was awarded a swimming scholarship to Arizona State University.” — Raquel Grays, academic coach and learning specialist for football at Arizona State University, 2013 UIL Class 6A 50-freestyle state champion and Johnson HS graduate

“I can’t even fathom the idea of not playing sports. coach always tells you, ‘Sports teach you life.’ It really does. It teaches you how to deal with business, people, and different things like that.” — Mikayla Vivens, former Houston Baptist volleyball player and Warren HS alum

“Playing sports — and being part of a team — has been a source of stability in my life for as long as I can remember. From T-ball softball at age 4 to D-I collegiate volleyball at 21, the impact on my life has been potent — and I’m eternally grateful for the experience. Sports taught me how to listen, how to be coached, how to be part of something bigger than myself, but most importantly, how to do hard things and experience discomfort — pain — in a healthy way. If it weren’t for playing sports, my definition of success and failure would be dilute. I tasted what it means to accomplish a goal and win big, and what it means to fall short despite my very best efforts, at a young age. I have no doubt this prepared me for the inevitable ups and downs — success and failures — that we all experience through adulthood. Playing competitive sports helped me develop mental strength and fitness; an invaluable tool that’ll last a lifetime — and that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. It also shaped my career as a health coach and yoga instructor and propelled me forward in finding my life’s purpose; helping other athletes and high performers overcome pain, injury and hardship to unlock their highest potential — physically, mentally and emotionally. The trajectory of my life is what it is — and I am who I am — because I played sports, and I’m forever indebted to the game and the remarkable coaches I had along the way.” — Aimee Huffman, yoga instructor and wellness educator and former Poth HS and University of Iowa volleyball standout

“Title IX has given me my passion. I started playing volleyball in middle school and was lucky enough to have had Coach Lupe Ruiz at Robert E. Lee High School as my coach. She saw potential in me and encouraged me to participate in the newly created Alamo Volleyball Association. I continued to get better and was blessed to have received a few volleyball awards at Lee. I received a volleyball scholarship to Angelo State University; where I made lifelong friends I still maintain contact with. Title IX gave me the confidence, determination and guts in all areas of life.” — Dr. Corye Perez Beene, U.S. history professor at University of Texas-Arlington and former LEE HS volleyball standout

“Without Title IX, I would not be the woman I am today. Without the brave women who paved the way before me, I would not be the woman I am today. Sports have given me the opportunities of a lifetime while also preparing me for life after softball. I have seen some amazing places, met some incredible people, and learned lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Lesson 1: anything worth doing is hard. Getting out of your comfort zone is hard. Sports have forced me out of my comfort zone time and time again and time and time again I’ve been better for it. Softball has pushed me mentally and physically further than I thought possible, but I would’ve never known my own strength without it.
Lesson 2: a good support staff is everything. Who are the people in your life pushing you to be your best? Who can you turn to when things get hard, because they will? Sports have brought people into my life that will always be a part of my personal support staff.
Lesson 3: Comparison is the thief of all joy on and off the field. Stay the course. Every journey is unique and hectic but it’s ypour journey. When things get hard, work harder. Don’t get caught up in what others are doing or saying because they aren’t in your shoes. Just put your head down and grind.
Lesson 4: no matter what, you can be a great teammate. Sports hit you with adversity more often than not. Sometimes you don’t play, sometimes you go through a slump, but the one thing you can always control is being a good teammate. Find success in the success of the team and never stop pouring into the people around you.
Lesson 5: I’m lucky. I’m lucky to live in a time where women’s athletics are on the rise. I’m lucky to live in a time where you walk into a restaurant and women are playing on the TV. 50 years ago things were changed for the better and they have continued changing. Although softball is what I do not who I am, I would not be who I am without it. Falling in love with this sport is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Pouring my heart and soul into the game has been the biggest honor of my life.” — Brooke Vestal, Ole Miss softball pitcher and New Braunfels Canyon graduate

“Playing sports throughout my childhood helped shape me into the person I am today. Golf specifically helped me learn virtues that were able to translate into my everyday life. With golf being an individual sport, I think it made me a more independent person as I was the only who was responsible for my game. I had to take accountability of all of my actions on the course, and it gave me confidence in myself outside of the course too. Once I got to high school, it was different being in a team setting where I needed to be a team player and that helped me develop team working skills, how to be someone others on the team can count on, and how to motivate and lead others. These were able to translate into my collegiate golf career, and once I medically retired, into my professional work life. Golf especially helped me with public speaking. At some tournaments I would have to give speeches, when I volunteered with the First Tee I would give a speech in the mornings to the kids, and now I have a lot more confidence speaking to a group of people, especially on the spot. I will forever be grateful that I was able to play sports growing up, and I am thankful for how golf shaped me as a person.” — Taylor Coleman, former Arizona State University golfer, 2013 UIL Class 6A medalist champion and Johnson HS graduate

“Athletics has taught me how to build relationships with my athletes so that they believe in me and I believe in them. Through the years, watching female athletics grow in numbers and in community support has been so much fun to watch. I found myself at the state tournament looking into the stands and thinking, ‘Wow, we have come so far.’ People have begun to recognize all sports and how hard our athletes work in every sport. It is not something that should be taken lightly. Athletics is ‘extracurricular,’ these players choose to work day-in, day-out, and during the summers to perfect their craft. This hard work and dedication prepares us for the real world. We learn how to face adversity head on, and then move on. We learn we may have obstacles in front of us we do not understand, but once we overcome them, we will know the ‘why.’ I am grateful for my parents for supporting myself and my siblings growing up and in almost every sport, because they believed in us. I now have the privilege of passing that on and believing in others.” — Maddie Williams, Brandeis volleyball coach, Texas Lutheran University Hall of Fame volleyball player and Clark HS graduate

“I think that playing golf lets me be my true self, it lets me show off my competitive side, my style, my hard work, but most importantly, my grit. Playing golf has opened up so many doors for me — playing golf for my hometown university is one of them. The game of golf lets me show my appreciation for San Antonio, and it is a way for me to represent San Antonio, the best city ever.” — Camryn Carreon, UTSA golfer and Incarnate Word HS graduate

“The impact that playing sports has left on me is everlasting and something that I will forever be grateful for. Growing up I was always involved in sports and I feel it is one of the biggest reasons I am who I am as an individual today. Playing sports has taught me lifelong lessons such as always working hard even when no one is watching, persevering through adversity when things don’t go the way I hoped, and continuing to remember that there is always room to grow. Being involved with sports has meant so much to me. As I look back on the young girl I once was, when I first started playing soccer, I feel an overwhelming sense of fulfillment because of how far I’ve come at just 21 years old in reaching the numerous goals I had set out for myself. If I can sum up what sports has done for me in my life, it has molded me into an individual who will always chase her dreams and continue working hard every single day to get at least one step closer to reaching my goals.” — Kayla Taylor, former Brennan HS and University of Incarnate Word soccer player

“It’s hard to put into words what playing softball has meant to me. I’ve been playing the sport since I was eight years old. The memories that I have made and the people I have been able to meet are not things that I take for granted. Softball has been a vital outlet for me through my life. Along with the memories and friendships, through softball I have found a passion and a way to escape from any stressful situation. The game itself, my teammates and coaches have taught me so many life lessons. My favorite lesson Coach Joseph Lane at Prairie View A&M taught me is that “my assignment is always bigger than my assassin.” To me this means God’s calling for me is bigger than any adversity I may face in life and softball. Softball has also given me self-confidence, assertiveness, and has reinforced my morals. I owe so much to the game I love. I can’t wait to see what my last few years of softball have in store for me.” — Biviana Figueroa, Prairie View A&M softball player and Natalia HS graduate

“Playing volleyball throughout middle school, high school, and college was my main focus in life. As we all know, sports don’t last forever, but the memories and lessons learned follow you even after you no longer play sports. I was always very shy as a kid and being shy on the volleyball court did me no favors. In order to be a better teammate and get noticed by college coaches, I had to get out of my comfort zone and speak up. This eventually carried off the court and helped me become a more confident young woman as I got more comfortable taking charge and being a leader on and off the court. The main aspect I have to thank sports for is the relationships I’ve made over the years. When you play on a team, you go through everything together, whether good or bad. You get to know each other inside and out and you can’t help but keep that close relationship off the court, too. I am beyond blessed to have an amazing group of girls I have grown so close to because of volleyball and today I still grow closer to them every day as we raise kids together, which I’m quickly learning should be considered a sport itself. Playing sports may not last a lifetime, but your relationships will.” — Jessica Waldrip Hodgson, former New Braunfels HS and UTSA standout volleyball setter

“Soccer changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. It taught me discipline, a work ethic and how to be a leader. Those are all qualities that I have carried into my life after my playing career was over. I was homeschooled for most of my childhood and playing soccer on a club team allowed me to make friends who I otherwise would not have met. My team was made up of girls from all over the city, with all different personalities and we came together to play as one team. Very successfully, I might add. I still am very close friends with some of my teammates from my early middle school playing days. The lessons I learned on the field all translated off the field as well. I am extremely competitive and whatever I do I want to be the best. For soccer, that looked like training on the days we did not have practice, running hills or sprints to increase my fitness or playing 1v1 with my sister to improve my skill work. It was not a burden, I wanted to do it. I could see the results of my hard work pay off whether that meant more playing time, the starting position or simply having the strength and speed that I had been working on building. The discipline to work hard for my goals when it came to soccer showed me that I could accomplish whatever I wanted off the field as well. I excelled in the classroom, and I credit that to the fact that I was disciplined when it came to my studies. I knew how to have a goal, conduct a plan to reach that goal and see it through. However, one of the most important qualities soccer taught me was perseverance. I have torn three ACLs on the same knee. Two while playing soccer and one while playing basketball. An ACL tear is one of the most dreaded injuries for soccer players. After my second tear my senior year of high school, my college I was committed to play for reduced my scholarship by 50 percent because they were not sure where I would be physically when it was time for me to report. I worked hard. I knew I had to prove them wrong for doubting me. I trained and went up early to campus. I persevered and the day preseason officially started, I was called into the coaches office where they told me they were reinstating my original scholarship amount. None of that would have happened if I let what other people thought of me control how I thought of myself. I persevered because I knew I was the only one who could determine what I was and was not ready for. I can credit every aspect of my life to soccer in some way. The lessons it taught me, people it brought into my life and experiences it gave me are truly priceless. I will forever be grateful for the most beautiful game.” — Hannah Burbank, anchor and producer at KOSA-TV (CBS affiliate in Odessa, Texas), former Texas-El Paso soccer player and (Bulverde) Living Rock Academy graduate

“Gymnastics is a sport that has been a part of my life since I was a very young girl. Growing up with two older sisters that did gymnastics allowed me to follow in their footsteps and lead me to fall in love with the sport. This was just the beginning of an impactful journey from club gymnastics to collegiate gymnastics. Gymnastics has taught me so much in many ways. Whether that be learning about myself and expressing my personality, being a teammate, overcoming struggles, or setting goals. Perseverance through all the tough times will have a lasting impact on my future. These specific values are ones that I will carry outside of the sport. Gymnastics has made a lasting impact on my values and has helped me learn about myself and how to overcome adversity.” — Katherine LeVasseur, University of Oklahoma All-American and national championship-winning gymnast and Reagan HS graduate

“Growing up in the 1980s in San Antonio, I was one of 17 kids on my street. Every day after school, I’d come home, throw my bag down and head to the street to play with the boys. If it was football season, we’d play football. If it was basketball season, we’d play basketball. We wouldn’t play too much baseball because the boys on the street were playing organized baseball at McAllister Park during those days. I really don’t remember if there were any girls that ever played with the boys in organized baseball then, but I don’t think so. The only sport I played with the boys was indoor soccer and basketball at the Jewish community center. When you’re the only girl playing with 16 boys every day, you learn to be tough; otherwise they aren’t picking you to be on their team. I can remember being 10 years old, playing basketball and one of the boys kept calling foul every time he barely got touched. He was given a hard time by the boys every day. Through that, I quickly learned that I was never going to call a foul; I’d let my buddies call it for me. Another day, I was playing football and I intercepted a pass while accidentally nudging the receiver. The receiver was a friend of a kid on the street and joined our crew for the day. When I nudged him, he tripped on the curb and scraped up his knee. The boys quickly gave him a hard time for being beat by a girl; he quickly got up and out of embarrassment, came at me. I didn’t know what he was going to, but as I stood there, the guys on the street ran right over and stood between him and me. They very quickly let him know that they had my back.
One more important day that I will share is the time one of the guys on the street had an older cousin in town who wanted to play with us. He of course was quite a bit bigger than us and told us that he was going to be the captain, which means he got to pick his team. He also gave himself first pick. Not knowing that I was usually picked first, he didn’t pick me because I was a girl. That really made me mad, but right away my buddy Jason who was captaining the other team, smiled and quickly said “Alison! I want Alison.” And just like that, I ran over to him and as we high fived, Jason said, ‘Let’s show this guy how good we are.’ I share these stories because they impacted me for the rest of my life. From the boys in unorganized sport, I learned how important it is to be tough mentally, physically and emotionally. No matter what happened each day, I was never going to let the boys know I was hurting, frustrated or nervous. I also learned camaraderie and what it means to have your teammates back. Title IX was still pretty new in the ’80s so the athletes I looked up to were men. I’d pretend to be Joe Montana while throwing a pair of socks into the laundry basket and Spud Webb when playing basketball with the boys. As a kid, I wanted to be a professional athlete and I wanted to make a career of that. The sport of tennis was one of the few sports where those two dreams connected. So the day mom and dad told me I could make money playing tennis, I switched from loving soccer to being in love with tennis.
At the Jewish Community Center, I’d play by myself on the backboard for hours while my mom and dad were playing leagues. Eventually, that led to me playing with my mom and dad on the tennis court, with a net between us. Because of the backboard, I was pretty good and impressed my mom right away. They got me into organized lessons with a coach and from then on, I’ve been in love with tennis.
Title IX impacted in my life in a way that I will always be appreciative of. When I was a senior at MacArthur High School, I took an official visit to the University of Tennessee. I sat in Coach Pat Summitt’s locker room with Athletic Director Joan Cronan and other recruits from different sports. Within minutes of hearing Pat speak to us, I knew I wanted to be a Lady Volunteer. Billie Jean King and Pat Summitt have helped to make such a tremendous difference in the world of sport for women. Without their efforts, I feel confident saying that I would not have been able to make a career as a female out of sport. I am unbelievably thankful for the opportunities that Title IX has provided me and so many of my peers. I was able to attend a great public university on a full athletic scholarship while doing what I love; playing the sport of tennis with teammates who have become my lifelong friends. I am now able to live out my dream job at the University of Tennessee as our head women’s tennis coach. I have seen a lot of change in sport over the last 40 years, but title IX has certainly been the most impactful. Billie Jean King, Pat Summitt and our 99 World Cup soccer team are the group of women who I really admire and look up to. They have paved the way for all of us female athletes and coaches to do what we love to do, and get paid for it.” — Alison Ojeda, University of Tennessee head women’s tennis coach and MacArthur HS graduate

“Playing sports has, hands down, been the best experience of my life. Playing golf has allowed me to represent my school, hometown, and community. Golf has allowed me to network and create meaningful friendships all over the US. Growing up, I was very shy and reserved. The game of golf allowed me to overcome my shyness and connect with others on a deeper level.” — Sahara Washington, Texas A&M International University golfer and Incarnate Word HS graduate

“Playing sports gave me confidence. Being on a team and working toward a common goal made me feel I was part of something important. I was proud of that. Sports created a mindset for me about hard work. Instead of shying away from it, get in there and tackle it – because it will get you where you want to go. Sports made me see that I was capable and strong and could do what I set my mind to — so it made also made me set higher expectations for myself off the field and push harder to achieve my goals. When I got my first real job, my boss said to me in passing that the people that played sports are always the best employees. I asked him why and he said, ‘Because they know how to work on a team.’ It seems obvious now, but at the time I thought it an unusual observation. The things you learn on the field really do carry over into other parts and chapters of life. My soccer team was my second family. Throughout the years I made some of the deepest friendships on those teams and I still have many of those priceless, irreplaceable friendships today. Even though playing soccer was one of the hardest and most demanding things in my life, it was also one of the most fun and rewarding things I’ve ever been a part of.” — Rachel Migliore Tubbs, designer and art director, former University of Texas and TCU soccer player and Churchill HS graduate

“Sports, specifically the sport of volleyball, have not only molded me into the person that I am, it has also strongly dictated the trajectory of my life. I was lucky enough to be on the first volleyball team at TCU in 1996 and was able to pour my heart and soul into the foundation of our program. The program was established due to Title IX. After my playing career, I traveled the world coaching and recruiting for 20 years. I built relationships and had amazing experiences on and off the volleyball court across the globe. The life I have lived for the better part of the past 30 years is due to sport and Title IX. Without it, my life would look very different, along with the young women I have diligently served along the way. It helped me to develop courage, empathy, and discipline. Taught me to be resilient and work through adversity with my teammates and coaches by my side. It allowed me to be a part of something bigger than myself — to leave a legacy for others to be a part of, and so much more. It taught me that my value comes from who i am, not from what i do, and for that, I am forever grateful.” — Jill Kramer, former TCU and West Virginia head volleyball coach and East Central HS graduate. She was TCU’s first scholarship volleyball player and still holds school records for kills, kills per set and total attacks

“I was still in my first couple years of coaching when my mom gave me a book titled, ‘You Must Play to Win,’ by Donna J. Newberry. My mom said, ‘This book is really good, it’s about Title IX stuff.’ I read the book and was amazed at what female athletes and coaches before me had been through, but I was still pretty young and immature to grasp it all. Now finishing up my 16th year in coaching, 14 as a head coach, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for coaches like Donna Newberry, Sue Enquist, and Joan Joyce. It’s almost scary to think where I would be without the opportunities I had as an athlete. My mom pushed me and my siblings to play sports and I could never thank her enough. Being able to play sports in high school and college opened up so many doors for me. Receiving a scholarship to play softball was a new thing in the community I am from (in 2001). I was able to come home to Southwest High School after graduating and playing for four years and give back to so many young female athletes. Every year as head coach, I have had at least one player receive a scholarship to play softball at the next level here at SW. Some may think it’s all about the sport or the game, but it’s really not. It’s about what the game helps us become. Softball has definitely made me who I am today and I don’t think I am done receiving the benefits.” — Southwest HS softball coach Sandra Hernandez

“Volleyball got me into Princeton which, in turn, opened doors that should have been inaccessible to someone like me. I now have degrees from Princeton and Yale. Free to follow my calling, I teach and explore ultimate questions through the intersections of physics, philosophy, poetry, politics, dance, mysticism, music, and art. Playing sports granted me access to the ivory towers of this world, but navigating this foreign ecosystem coming from public school in Texas was a journey. Returning full circle to meet my once unmet needs, I now mentor first-generation college students from low-income households.” — Polly Korbel, educator and former Churchill HS volleyball standout

“From the age of 5 until now, my life has been about sports. From being an athlete growing up in Houston, to a college softball player at UTSA and now a coach and athletic administrator- everything has been possible because of Title IX. Life is like being on a team for all of us. A team is full of people with like-minded interests and goals who plan and prepare for a season. In life we are excited about the beginning and the start of things (relationships, school years, new jobs). Teams experience highs and lows, just like we do in life. The journey is what makes life great. When seasons are over, there are tears and sadness but, also lifelong memories and lessons learned that will be with us forever. I’ve been able to create life-long friendships, receive a college degree, pursue my dreams of being a coach, and athletic administrator because of the opportunities in sports that Title IX has made possible. It is all because of the women who were passionate, courageous and advocates for girls athletics. Even though we don’t know all of their names or stories, we all owe them a world of gratitude and it is our obligation to continue to push forward.” — Jennifer Fox, Alamo Heights ISD assistant athletic director and former softball coach at Boerne (2007 state champion) and Johnson

“Some of my favorite moments in my life have come from the ability to play sports. When I think about what playing sports means to me and how this has shaped my life, so many emotions come to the table. But what brings even more emotion is the idea that there was a time, not that long ago, where people like me didn’t have the opportunity to play the sports they love. Sports, specifically soccer for me, have defined my values, my work ethic, my desire, my grit, and my passion. Now that comes from a lot of different aspects of getting the opportunity to play soccer. My coaches taught me how to be resilient when things don’t go my way. My teammates taught me how to be a better teammate by cheering for the team’s success over my own. My opponents taught me how to compete in a joyful way. But the sport of soccer taught me discipline, joy, and a love for something. I really do not think I would be the person I am today without soccer. I have learned that excellence is a core value of mine and I am able to show my clients and company that through my hard work. Embracing opportunities like this has even played a role in my adult life. One of my biggest goals at my job in the finance field is to help and invite woman into realizing how special it is to do something not everyone can do. I really think this is a tribute to the strength in identity I have developed through playing soccer all the way through college. Life is so much more fun working alongside people who have common goals and missions in life, very similarly to each and every game I played. I have learned how to bounce back after getting knocked down repeatedly. I have embraced challenge and pain because I know growth is on the other side of it. And all of that stems from my opportunity to play the game. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to play. I couldn’t love the game more and I constantly reflect on how it has shaped me. And it started by people taking a stand and implementing a law as revolutionary as Title IX.” — Rachel Gurinsky, financial planner and former soccer standout at Churchill HS and St. Mary’s University

“Playing sports gave me a sense of confidence from an early age. Being able to be successful at something that was difficult and overcome challenges was great for me. It really brought out my competitive nature and I feel like it was an outlet to release anything else going on in life. Some people make music or paint as an outlet. I was able to play sports and I feel like, for me, this was so beneficial, especially as a young teen when life is anything but simple. Playing sports, both in high school and at the collegiate level, has given me a sense of urgency in everything I do. It was always going from a workout to a practice to class to another practice or a tournament. It really never stopped. Now that I don’t play sports like that, there has been a difficult transition from that speed of life to slowing down a bit as a real adult in corporate America. At the same time, I still find that I am the most successful and productive when my life is structured the same way. I feel like that’s all I know, and that’s what comes naturally as that is what I did for 9 years straight.” — Brooke Sassin, account development manager at a skin care research company and former standout volleyball player at Reagan HS, Kansas State, Mississippi State and TCU (beach)

“Sports have had a huge impact in my life. There have been absolutely wonderful times, and on occasion some depressing times. I would never have experienced any of sports’ richness, and fullness it has to offer without Title IX. My sister Lilly (Kimbell) and I both played a lot of sports growing up. Tennis was really our concentrated sport as we headed into high school. We played junior tennis tournaments all around the country. Without Title IX, these tournaments wouldn’t have even been open to girls. We played long, hot matches in 90 plus degree weather for hours. I was so lucky to be part of the NBHS tennis team where I made so many friends and had such great experiences. We made it to State the first year but didn’t win. The next year, we were motivated more than ever and we’re able to win. Winning the team competition was one of the highlights of my tennis career. That same year, I also managed to squeak by and get the individual title. It took a village of parents, coaches, and teammates. Junior and senior year, I ended up having to convert to playing left handed tennis and serving underhanded, due to injuries. I was used to grinding by then, and pushed my way through district, and regionals, but lost at state. Moving onto college tennis, I had Title IX to thank again. It got me a full ride of scholarship opportunity. My parents did not have to pay for any of my or my sister’s (she played tennis at Georgia) education. I played for two years in the ACC, and two in the Big 10. My sister played four years in the SEC. Through these years, self-confidence and resiliency were built. Without Title IX, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get a full ride and fulfill a lifelong goal of mine to play D-I college tennis. There has been so much good that’s come from sports. Title IX has a huge impact in the lives of young girls and women more than people know; it doesn’t just have to do with athletics. It’s provided me opportunities to travel, meet new people, learn about different cultures, and get an education. It hasn’t been an easy road with injuries and other unforeseen circumstances, but sports have taught me important, but hard life lessons.” — Samantha Gillas, former Iowa and Virginia Tech tennis player, 2016 UIL Class 6A singles champion and New Braunfels HS graduate

“Playing sports growing up, through high school, and then at the collegiate level at St. Edward’s University in Austin impacted me in countless ways in forming who I was as a youth, young adult, and I have carried and used skills and life lessoned learned to become who I am today. Moving schools several times throughout my childhood, being an athlete was my way in, my way to find my kind, connect, and make new friends. On an individual level, it helped to facilitate and grow leadership, interpersonal, and additional strategic skills that I still use and continue to build upon today when thinking about long-term outcomes of projects relating to my current work in nonprofit, community impact goals, and strategies to move work and goals in my professional and personal life forward. As an athlete, you learn to identify strengths in teammates, form goals together, and plan before, during, and after games or even seasons on how to achieve them, how to get better, how to adjust quickly, be flexible, and support each other when it gets tough; how to laugh at and not sweat the small stuff, and how to build trust in yourself and in others. I utilize all of these skills, ways of thinking and seeing the word, showing up in the world today for myself and for others, and takeaways in my daily personal and professional life whether it be a work project or creating plans with my partner or close friends and family on what I want for my future. Looking back now, playing sports and with a team taught me to be humble, humility and grace. Having a mom (Lark Harlos) as a coach came with its own set unique wins, challenges, and lessons. I think that looking back it gave us the opportunity to bond; she was my mother, my mentor, and my coach. She was powerful, beautiful, intelligent, and instilled in me — through sports — a work ethic that has paved the way for many of my successes in life thus far. Sports and her mentorship taught me to be a fighter, to stand up for what I believe in, and to follow my truth.” — Kasey Harlos, senior director for 211 and disaster response at United Way of Denver and former basketball, volleyball and track standout at Poth HS (won state titles in volleyball and basketball during 2006-07 school year)

“Sports gave me the courage to pursue my dreams of acting. Sports provided me with consistent training habits, like learning to master skills, accepting losses and failures, setting goals and working toward them. All of these tools I have cultivated for decades and use today in my daily life and career. Playing beach volleyball or a pick-up basketball game is always a way I can decompress and get my body moving. The athlete never really leaves.” — Feliz Ramirez, actress, former player at St. Francis (N.Y.) and Mount Olive College (N.C.), and standout libero on Antonian’s 2006 and 2009 TAPPS volleyball state title teams

“Participating in sports has taught me teamwork, perseverance, leadership and working toward a long-term goal. Those are tools that apply to many facets in my life and in my professional career. Of course, sports are still an integral part of my life. I’ve been a sports broadcast journalist for more than 20 years. I’ve been fortunate to have a career, where sports are at the core. I’ve been able to cover NCAA Final Fours, MLB World Series, NFL playoffs, NASCAR races, MLS Cup, as well as high school, and community sports. I’m no longer that naive little girl who cried ‘because life isn’t fair.’ I am keenly aware of the differences in media coverage and popularity between men’s and women’s sports.” — Kennetra Pulliams, sports broadcast journalist and former MacArthur HS soccer standout

“There is not a single time in my life when I do not remember playing soccer. Ever since I could walk, all I wanted to do was play with a soccer ball. Soccer has helped me in so many ways. I grew up with separated parents and I traveled back and forth between homes. It was difficult at times to manage, but soccer was always my constant. Every day, I looked forward to going to practice and being with my teammates and coaches. When I was on the soccer field, nothing else mattered and I felt like my most confident self. Soccer taught me important life skills like teamwork, persistence, passion, creativity, and so much more. I believe it has helped me be much more successful and achieve many of my life goals. During my soccer career I sustained an injury which left me unable to play for months. My experience inspired me to pursue physical therapy as a career and today I am working as a physical therapist in the San Antonio area. I now have the honor of working with young athletes, just like my past self, so that they may be able to experience personal and professional growth like myself.” — Nicole Popa, physical therapist, former member of Romanian national team and University of Incarnate Word soccer teams and Reagan HS graduate

“At a young age, my parents had always put me in sports, and this was originally to keep me busy and to make some friends. Little did I know that being in sports was going to allow me to meet some of my best friends as well as lead me to an opportunity to play and go to college. Since I had started playing sports at the age of 3, I think it helped me work on being able to communicate with people and be able to make friends. I started playing sports for Blessed Sacrament in San Antonio, and I played CYO with whatever sport was going on in that season. Little did I know that those people I met playing sports with at such a young age, would be some of my best and closest friends even after almost 20 years. As I got older and started focusing on basketball, I was able to earn the opportunity to play Division I basketball at San Diego State University, which I now have received a bachelor’s degree and am currently working on a master’s degree as well. I have been given the chance to travel to cities and states I would never have thought about because of what sports can do. The many doors that playing sports opens is amazing, from connections that can be built, earning a degree, and forming relationships that can last a lifetime. The 50^th anniversary of Title IX is something that is huge for women’s sports, but as always there is still lots of work to be done to still have equality for women. I don’t know where I would be without sports, but I know that I am extremely grateful for the opportunities it has blessed me with.” — Sophia Ramos, All-Mountain West performer at San Diego State (first player in school history with 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists) and Incarnate Word HS graduate

“I’ve had the honor and pleasure of being an athlete for 18 of my 23 years of life. As I find myself navigating the first year I haven’t been on a swim team since I was 4 years old, I’ve begun to truly name what an impact swimming and athletics has had on my life. Firstly, the values athletics has instilled within have had tangible impacts on my education, career, and life style. Athletics brought discipline through time management, pushed me outside of my comfort zone with challenging workouts and grueling races, demanded resiliency and humility as I overcame my torn ACL to win a state championship, and showed my how to be a leader from captaining the TMI Panthers to captaining Harvard women’s swim and dive. As I apply to medical school, I see many of those values coveted in the professional workplace. As I write application essays and engage in interviews, I return again and again to the stories and impacts swimming has had on my life. More importantly than any of those values though, I’ve realized that swimming has given a strong community, very often a strong female community, within which I can find support, comfort, and encouragement. This past year, I’ve navigated for the first time in many years without seeing a group of women on a daily or weekly basis. It’s shown me how much I got from the support those women gave me on homework, with life advice, while swimming, and in all of the moments in between. Even though they are still behind me in all I do, I find myself missing those daily interactions. As the world changes for women, in some good ways and some less so, I find myself reflecting on everything Title IX had done for me, I’ve found the most cherished group of women, strong powerful women who have shown me how to overcome adversity, support each other unconditionally, and walk with poise and confidence through the world. I’m lucky for the opportunity not all women who came before me were afforded, and I find comfort in knowing that the communities that uplifted me will continue to uplift women for generations to come.” — Elizabeth Holmes, former standout swimmer at Harvard University and Texas Military Institute

“At the time, I just knew I wanted to continue playing soccer and would do what I could to make it happen. Now, looking back, I see how many girls have been able to continue to play because of our efforts in the beginning.” — LuAn Jonas, Comal ISD educational diagnostician, who was instrumental in Angelo State University adding women’s soccer in mid-1990s. Jonas and a teammate started a club team at the NCAA Division II school in San Angelo and ran practices. Jonas also started a club team that laid the foundation for girls soccer being added at San Angelo’s Lake View High School in 2000