“There is a 12th Man, but no 12th Woman,” said sophomore Hanna Mackey, the outreach coordinator of M-A’s Female Athlete Association (FAA), which was recently founded yet already has many members.
President and founder Brealyn Trujillo explained, “I wanted to provide a space of community for female athletes.”
Cox and Mackey, both M-A athletes, share a passion for sports and female empowerment. The FAA seeks to bridge gender inequality embedded in sports culture and policy at M-A.
Sophomore Molly Rosen said, “Other athletes and I have noticed that the softball team is given less access to fields, the soccer team shares one coach among three teams, and are given less priority to weight room access.”
In addition to advocacy, many members said they hope to give back to the community, fundraise at local sporting events, and eventually connect with local middle- and elementary-school girls.
The club meets every Tuesday in C-10; in their roundtable discussion, the members defined what community, advocacy, fundraising, and outreach meant to them.
Biology teacher Lauren Lesyna, the FAA club advisor, was an avid water polo player in high school and college. “I saw her as a good host when she explained her history as a water polo captain and dedicated athlete, as well as the current varsity girls water polo coach,” said Mackey.
At one meeting in particular, members expressed concerns about the lack of spirit or advertisement for girls sports games.
Rosen said, “There is no excuse for girls sports games often having no attendees outside of the family.”
The FAA hopes to broadcast their concerns about gender inequity in athletics to coaches and administration while building community between players across sports.
Mackey said, “Our club has provided a space for people to connect that spans more than just one sport.”
