By Molly King
Growing up in the 70s, girls’ sports and the accomplishments of female athletes were seldom celebrated. Despite strong support from a core group of our parents and coaches, girls’ teams often had fewer resources in terms of coaching, uniforms, access to facilities, practice times, and trainers than their male counterparts. After enormous efforts from a dedicated few, Title IX was passed in 1972 and the effect was positively transformative!
Title IX requires any school or college receiving federal funds to provide the same resources and opportunities for all students, regardless of gender. As a 9th grader in a public high school in Massachusetts, I listened to my coaches express excitement about the changes to come, and by the end of my freshman year, was thrilled when we suddenly received all new uniforms and the same access to the athletic trainer as the boys. Starting sophomore year, we began to rotate practice times for basketball and tennis with the boys’ varsity teams. With our capabilities and confidence on the rise, our win/loss records improved. By junior year, we felt a deep sense of validation and appreciation from our school community, and as a result, we achieved more league and regional distinctions for our school. Colleges and universities began to address the longstanding gap in recruiting practices between boys and girls. By my senior year, former teammates were playing for strong college programs and a core group of my classmates and I followed suit, going on to compete at the collegiate level.
What did Title IX mean for me and so many other girls? The same thing as the early messages shared by our parents: Do not accept limits. Fight through them with hard work and determination. You’ve got this. We believe in you. Powerful messages for any child to hear and internalize—the impact for us was palpable.
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the media coverage is chock-full of stories of women whose lives were changed for the better by this landmark legislation. One of the most important outcomes was the message it sent to girls and women, that their skills, accomplishments, and potential are as valuable as those of their male counterparts, both as individuals and as a team.
This year’s theme at Greenwich Academy is teamwork, a recognition that the sum is always greater than its parts when we are striving together to achieve the same goals. Of the many qualities I witness every day among GA athletes across all 16 of our varsity sports, it is the fierce determination, exemplary work ethic, and outstanding sportsmanship that impress me most. And while there are plenty of banners hanging in our gyms and trophies in the display cases, what is most inspiring is the stories from the GA girls themselves about how much their athletic experiences mean to them.
President of the athletic board is one of our top leadership positions at Greenwich Academy, and this year’s president Piper Giovine ’23, described the importance of her experience as an athlete this way:
Through my experience as an athlete I’ve become stronger, more resilient, and developed a confidence in my ability to achieve both on and off the court. Last year when I was new to GA as an 11th grader, being a student-athlete also helped me get to know my classmates and quickly feel like a part of, and great pride in, our school community.
Pursuing her passion for sports, connecting with classmates, and representing her school with pride. Piper’s message resonates with athletes across town. As all of our student-athletes return to preseason, let’s give them a collective cheer for the effort and teamwork that go into representing their schools. And here’s to a great school year ahead!
Molly King is the Head of School at Greenwich Academy.
