Athletics have always been a part of my life from an early age. My experiences through athletics have played a huge role in who I am today. I am still very active in sports as a player and a coach. This is my 30th year teaching PE & Health at Grant High School where I was also a student/athlete and in my 32nd year coaching.

As I reflect on being involved in athletics, I am humbled by all the women coaches and women athletes who came before me and helped pave the way for women athletes to perform and achieve. We still have far to go. I continue my work today trying to make things easier and opportunities more accessible for the women athletes in our programs.

I have been fortunate to have three very strong female role models in my life: my high school coach Carolyn Fitzwater, my college coach Teri Mariani and my mom Sandy Gibbs. Through their guidance and encouragement, I have learned that with hard work anything is possible. I want to be the role model for my athletes that these women were for me.