National Girls & Women in Sports Day is well known yearly on the primary Wednesday of February. This day is devoted to recognizing feminine athletic achievements and selling alternatives for ladies in sports activities.
Today, the NMU Athletics Department is celebrating women and girls, each previous and current, to honor the achievements of ladies in sports activities, acknowledge the influence of sports activities participation, and advocate for equality and inclusion for ladies in athletics.
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The second Alissa Caltagirone steps onto the mat, confidence follows. From her first publicity to the game, wrestling grew to become greater than a contest — it grew to become a spot the place she discovered motivation, focus, and self-belief.
Caltagirone, a junior from York, Maine, has established herself as one of the crucial dominant wrestlers in her weight class all through the nation. As a sophomore in the course of the 2024-25 season, she was named a National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) All-American and a Scholar All-American.
And competing on the highest stage has solely deepened her love for the game.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” stated Caltagirone. “I love the feeling of competing. The intensity, the focus, and the challenge, it’s just not something I can fully put into words.”
Caltagirone credit her willpower to maintain shifting ahead to world-class athlete Katelyn Bouyssou, who’s an American nationwide competitor in judo with three nationwide championships to her credit score. Caltagirone grew up alongside Bouyssou, and watching her journey unfold has been inspiring.
“Through every injury, setback, and challenge, she always kept pushing forward. Her resilience and determination showed me what true strength looks like — not just in winning, but in continuing when it’s hard.”
Through these classes, Caltagirone hopes to encourage youthful athletes in the identical capability.
“I always want the younger athletes to know they are capable of anything. I hope to show them that talent is not everything; with discipline, consistency, and perseverance, you can do anything.”
That need to encourage was formed by her personal experiences navigating the game at a younger age.
For many feminine athletes, the trail by wrestling shouldn’t be simple. Caltagirone, nonetheless, realized early easy methods to push by any impediment thrown her approach.
“As a women’s wrestler, I grew up competing solely against boys and was the only girl on my high school team. Being the only girl forced me to learn quickly how to stand up for myself and earn my place. Those experiences shaped me into a stronger athlete and person, both on and off the mat.”
Now representing Northern Michigan on the collegiate stage, she has come along with different girls who’ve gone by an analogous upbringing.
“What I appreciate most about the women I compete alongside is their resilience. Every woman in this sport has had to overcome obstacles, and that shared toughness creates a level of respect that’s unmatched.”
Representing girls in her sport on the collegiate stage, Caltagirone has proven how far girls’s wrestling has come and the way far one can go along with dedication.
“I take pride in being part of the generation that continues to open doors for the next one. Representing women in my sport at the collegiate level is a reminder of the journey it took to get here. It means competing with pride, purpose, and responsibility — knowing that I’m representing not just myself, but women who are still fighting for opportunities in the sport.
“National Girls and Women in Sports Day represents the idea that girls can do something — we belong in each sport, each enviornment, and each dialog.”