In 1874, Mary Ewing Outerbridge brought a trunk of tennis equipment from Bermuda to New York, marking one of the first instances of a woman bringing sports to the United States. Outerbridge laid the foundation for the high-intensity collegiate, high school and professional competition by women today. Women’s sports have grown to be the backbone of student life, which is evident in the diverse selection of programs offered at Ocean Lakes.
There are twenty-two girls sports teams at Ocean Lakes. Fall sports include competition cheer, varsity and junior varsity (JV) sideline cheer, girls cross country, varsity and JV field hockey, golf and girls volleyball. For winter sports, there are varsity and JV girls basketball, gymnastics, girls indoor track, JV and varsity wrestling and girls swimming. Finally, spring sports consist of girls lacrosse, JV and varsity girls soccer, JV and varsity softball, girls tennis and girls track and field.
“Having twenty-two teams across three seasons creates so many opportunities for girls to find where they belong,” senior volleyball player Santina Martcheva said. “Sports offer so many different roles and ways to contribute, and with that many teams and seasons, girls can try different sports, develop confidence and discover strengths they might not have realized they had.”
The glory of a win is built long before the crowds come together to watch or whistle blows; it is shaped behind the scenes. For female athletes, much of their time is spent training and working toward the next victory during practice.
“A lot of the dedication from female athletes happens when no one is watching,” sophomore swimmer, lacrosse and field hockey player Ritika Nisaraj said. “The extra time spent recovering and caring for our bodies, watching film, practicing skills and building relationships with teammates shows how committed we are to improving. It is the invisible effort that really makes a team stronger.”
Female athletes have historically navigated an environment formed by long-established stereotypes on the physicality and profitability of women’s sports. While the fight for equity and recognition goes on, student-athletes at Ocean Lakes are contributing to a change in this narrative by showing high levels of skill and competitive intensity.
“When it comes to stereotypes of women’s wrestling being less competitive or entertaining than men’s wrestling, I ignore them,” freshman wrestler Evelyn Cartwright said. “Someone else’s opinion doesn’t change mine. I will always love my sport and continue doing it.”
