Fifth- and sixth-graders received a special invitation to attend the Tuesday, Oct. 10, field hockey, tennis and volleyball games to support Ravenscroft’s female student-athletes and begin to imagine what role sports might play for them in the future. 

The Girls in Sports Day encouraged these students and their families to attend the home games of those three sports — which, along with golf, cross country and cheer, make up the fall-season sports for girls in seventh grade and up — and provided opportunities for them to celebrate the positive impact that participation in sport offers girls. In addition to the spirited competition, the varsity field hockey and tennis teams recognized their seniors as they played their last regular-season home games.

The dedicated fan day is the brainchild of Director of Student-Athlete Well-Being Sam Borkovic, whose role includes working to ensure equitable athletic programming and resources for all students. The afternoon’s activities were designed in part to make supporting girls’ sports a fun and inclusive part of being a Raven.

“There were concessions open at both the field hockey field and in the Olander Center for Student Life so fans could enjoy some drinks and snacks during the games — and the first 200 fans in attendance also got a cookie,” she said. “We also had spirit gear and balloons for each location. We were especially excited for our cheerleading team to be out and about supporting the other girls’ sports. They interacted with the fans and generated spirit cheers.” 

Borkovic said the school plans to offer a Girls in Sports Day for each season of athletics, with the goal of inspiring younger girls to consider what participation in sport may offer them in Middle and Upper School.

“Our hope in inviting fifth- and sixth-graders to the afternoon slate of games is to provide a great chance for our future student-athletes to imagine what teams they want to join and be involved with over the next few years,” she explained.

The event also provided an opportunity to highlight service and outreach by several of the teams. The varsity volleyball team held a Dig Pink Event to raise awareness about breast cancer research, and the varsity field hockey team dedicated their game to ALS awareness and research — initiatives that are close to the respective teams.

“It was such a great afternoon and evening celebrating our JV field hockey and volleyball teams as well as varsity tennis, volleyball and field hockey,” Borkovic said. “I want to send a special thank you to RAC and parent volunteers for helping to operate concessions as well as the Athletics Department for highlighting girls sports during the busy Homecoming week. Finally, thank you to the fans for coming out to support the girls!”