Archives for March 2021

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CATCHING UP WITH 1984 OLYMPIAN CARMEN FOREST

March 12, 2021 by Tara S

USA Team Handball caught up with 1984 Olympian Carmen Forest, a talented multi-sport athlete in basketball, softball, volleyball, field hockey and tennis at the University of Missouri at St. Louis prior to discovering team handball and competing for the U.S. National Team for 10 years. Forest was invited to try out for the U.S. Women’s National Team in 1974. Six years later, the U.S. boycotted the 1980 Olympics and Forest continued her training with Team USA until the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she represented her country on the handball court.

Since her athletic career, Forest has been giving back to younger generations as a health and wellness instructor at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas. She’s spent almost four decades teaching and coaching her students. Take a look at our Q&A below to learn more about Forest, her handball memories and the years since her athletic career:

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TIRED OF WAITING FOR SPORTS EQUALITY, THESE 4 WOMEN STARS CREATED TOGETHXR

March 11, 2021 by Tara S

By: Ian Thomsen

The four athletes weren’t going to wait any longer to be granted equality. They decided to seize it.

Alex Morgan (soccer), Sue Bird (basketball), Simone Manuel (swimming), and Chloe Kim (snowboarding)—each an international star in her sport—announced last week that they have created TOGETHXR, a media and commerce company built to promote women in sports and the media.

The idea is long overdue, says Lisa Markland, a former track-and-field star at Northeastern who has assisted the Center for the Study of Sport in Society for more than 15 years as a social justice facilitator.

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‘BEING TOLD I COULDN’T’: INSPIRING STORIES FROM BATES FEMALE ATHLETES

March 9, 2021 by Tara S

By Jay Burns

The growing pains for athletes go beyond shin splints and pulled muscles.

A native of San Salvador, El Salvador, Erika Parker ’23 loved squash from the get-go, competing in and winning youth tournaments throughout the Americas as a young athlete.

The problem was, she loved winning more than the sport itself. And with greater competition came losses, which became harder and harder for her to deal with. Her self-doubt grew. She questioned why she was spending so much time on the sport.

She recalled how her father asked if she regretted the time she’d given to the sport. Frustrated and angry, Parker said that yes: It was all a waste.

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AMERICAN GOLD SPORTS ALLIANCE SPONSORS HANNAH GLADDEN, OLYMPIC QUALIFIER WRESTLER

March 8, 2021 by Tara S

By: Tara Miller | AGSA

Hannah Gladden is a 24-year-old athlete from Gadsden, Alabama. When she first started wrestling as a freshman in high school, she was the only female wrestler in her school. Through hard work and dedication, she became the first girl in the state of Alabama to compete in the Alabama High School Wrestling State Tournament. Today, Gladden is a 2x National Team Member, 2016 Olympic Trial Qualifier, 2014 Pan American Champion, 2018 Pan Am Silver Medalist, and 2019 US Open Runner-Up.

Now, Gladdan’s sights are set on something much higher, qualifying for the USA National Women’s Wrestling Team and earning a spot on the USA Olympic Wrestling Team. However, without a sponsor, the costs of competing in the upcoming tournaments were more than Gladden could do on her own. That’s where the American Gold Sports Alliance decided to step in. When President Steve ‘Sid’ Caesar learned about Gladden’s National Team and Olympic quest, it all just made sense. “When I first saw her story, I instantly knew that AGSA would be a great partner to help her reach her goals,” said Caesar, “She’s a hardworking, dedicated young woman who inspires others to push themselves and achieve their dreams. That’s what AGSA and our Wrestling For Gold Initiative (WFGI) is all about – supporting wrestlers so they can inspire other wrestlers.”

In addition to AGSA’s sponsorship, Gladden set up a GoFundMe page so others could help her with the costs. In just two days she already collected over half of her goal. “It’s just so incredible,” Gladden told AGSA, “the wrestling community is excellent. It’s one big family and everyone supports each other, no matter where you are from.”

Gladden will compete in the final qualifier March 26-27 in Fort Worth, Texas. When she finishes in the top two of her weight class she will then move on to compete in the Olympic Trials, the first week of April. Gladden will then participate in the US Open in Las Vegas, looking for her spot on the Olympic team. It’s a long road ahead for Gladden, but with the American Gold Sports Alliance’s help, her chances are looking up.

If you would like to help Hannah, please consider donating to AGSA at www.agsa.org/donate and select ‘Hannah Gladden Wrestling’ in the subject.

The American Gold Sports Alliance is a 501c(3) Sports Foundation.

Callans Tosses a Perfect Game to Defeat Parkside 5-0

March 7, 2021 by Tara S

Jim Powers – Coordinator of Athletic Communications

St. Louis – For the second consecutive day, Alyssa Callans tossed a no-hitter to lead the Maryville softball team to a 5-0 win over Wisconsin-Parkside Sunday afternoon at the Maryville Athletic Complex. Callans was perfect on the day in striking out 14 Rangers and not allowing any Parkside base runners to help the Saints win the weekend three-game series.

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Broncos’ First-Ever Female Coach Advocates for More Girls Football

March 5, 2021 by Tara S

By: Arielle Orsuto

Emily Zaler became the first-ever full-time female coach with the Denver Broncos in 2020 when she was promoted from the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

DENVER — The faces in the NFL are starting to look a bit different, and that’s a good thing. Eight women were hired as full-time coaches this season throughout the league.

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Paralympic Superstar Alice Tai Signs With Speedo

March 1, 2021 by Tara S

by: Brandi West

Speedo, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has today announced the signing of British Paralympic swimmer Alice Tai MBE.

Tai, who competes in the SB8, SM8 and S8 categories, is a champion at Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth level and will look to add to her already stellar career at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

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