The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted a women’s “Words of Wisdom” panel on Monday night, featuring an array of women in the field. The panel spoke about what Women’s History Month means to them, and the overall message was simple: reflect on the struggles women in sports have faced and focus on the opportunities presented now.
The speakers included water polo player and SAAC President Marin Byars, women’s soccer head coach Gina Brewer, career coach Sasha Turchak, Black-Student-Athlete Association President Summer Mosley, Associate AD for administration and compliance for CSUN athletics Haley Paxton and Deputy Director of CSUN Athletics Sonia Hahn.
Paxton answered the main idea, “Where were women 100 years ago?” She spoke about how her grandmother did not have the same opportunities she has now, saying her grandmother was surprised she was able to attain a job in sports.
Brewer, who was a D1 athlete at the University of Washington, said she did not see many female coaches while playing but was fortunate enough to have a female head coach and assistant coach.
“If you see her, you can be her,” she said, explaining she saw her coaches and was then allowed to become a coach herself. This served as a piece of advice to the audience that if someone sees a woman in a certain position, then any woman can have that opportunity too.
The speakers then spoke on their experiences as student athletes and how that has impacted their futures.
Mosley, who is a two-time Big West champion and broke barriers in weight and hammer throwing for the University of Southern California, talked about her identity as a student athlete and the challenges she’s faced. Mosley endured an injury during her career at a time when she felt like she had nothing but track and field. However, the incident helped her become comfortable with taking up space as a Black woman and becoming more comfortable with her identity.
“It’s okay to be all of Summer – define your sport, don’t let your sport define you,” Mosley said.
Turchak said the discipline sports taught her and other successful athletes.
“92% of CEOs were athletes; having the athlete mindset is transferable to many things,” she said.
To close out the panel, Hahn described what they want to see in women’s sports at CSUN and in general moving forward.
“I feel women get a lot of support administratively, but it’d be nice to see more cohesiveness with the student athletes together. Whether it’s male sports or women’s sports, the gap is getting smaller, but it still would be nice to have everyone supporting each other,” Hahn stated.
The room was filled with female and male athletes, as well as male coaches who showed up in support, each representing their sports.
Being a female athlete often involves constant struggles, adversity and not receiving due credit. However, Paxton explained what she tells herself when experiencing those moments.
“I just tell myself, remember why you do what you do and why you are in the position that you’re in and anchor down with that, and that usually brings me back,” Paxton said.
