CARL ALBERT STATE COLLEGE CELEBRATES NATIONAL GIRLS & WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY, HONORING FEMALE ATHLETES

“Champions keep winning until they get it right.” – Billie Jean King.  

National Girls & Women in Sports Day, celebrated this year on February 5, is a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements, strength, and perseverance of female athletes everywhere.  We recognize the accomplishments of all women participating in athletics and every female who has ever stepped on the field, court, mat, or trail to push for something extraordinary. Carl Albert State College has chosen to recognize four female athletes representing what it means to be a strong woman and Viking.

Shaylee Morgan, CASC Cheerleading

Shaylee Morgan is a freshman from Wister, Oklahoma, majoring in elementary education. She is involved in OAEA, the reigning Miss CASC, a bible school teacher at Bethel Baptist Church, and a collegiate cheerleader. To Shaylee, being a woman in sports means exceeding expectations and breaking barriers other people have set for women, all while being supported by teammates and other female athletes. Shaylee gravitated towards cheer because she has always looked up to the women in her family whose own sport was cheer. This caused her to become interested in the sport at a young age, and once she started, she fell in love. Cheer has taught her many important lessons, one of which is persistence.

“Cheer is a sport where you face defeat often. You almost never hit a skill the first time you try, so it takes practice and determination to achieve that. But, when you finally hit the skill you’ve been working so hard on, you get this unmatched feeling of accomplishment and success.”  

Shaylee believes that young athletes should remember to keep working hard and not give up on their goals. With her success, she thanks her family for always supporting her at every event, every teammate she has ever had for being a family and pushing each other to grow, and her coaches for telling her that she could do the things she never thought she could. Mostly, she would like to thank her mom. “I wouldn’t be the athlete I am without her support.” 

Lindsey Wortham, CASC Cross Country

Lindsey Wortham is a freshman cross-country runner from Spiro, Oklahoma, majoring in Allied Health. Her career ambition is to become an educator and coach. Lindsey wants to be an inspiration for the next generation of female athletes. “I want to help them become the best version of themselves that they can be. It is not about money but about relationships with others and helping people know they have a purpose.”

Cross Country was not her first choice of sport. She wanted to be a softball player, but when those plans fell through, and a friend said, “She was built like a runner,” that is when she joined cross country. “When I ran my first meet, I practiced for a week and got third place. That is when she realized that she was made for cross country. “I enjoyed the feeling of pushing myself past my limits.”

CASC was the perfect option for her to pursue her newfound passion of running close to home, where she could receive a scholarship and make friends. “I think it was God planned; everything happens for a reason; I think I am made for cross country for a reason. It is tough but worth it.” Lindsey has several people she thanks for contributing to her success: Mr. Cox would always push her; Xander, because he got her into cross country- she would never have done it if he hadn’t asked her to join that day. Her boyfriend because he ran with her all summer even though he is not a runner, and all of her friends and family for encouraging her and being excited for her whenever she signed up for cross country here at CASC.

Braedy Wardrope, CASC Softball

Braedy is a sophomore from Colgate, Oklahoma, majoring in HYPER to become a coach. She came to CASC because it allowed her to follow her dreams of playing softball. Braedy is known for her participation around campus. She is involved in the Viking Ambassador program, residential assistants, Phi Theta Kappa, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Leadership team, and pageants. She is our former Miss CASC and current Miss South Tulsa County. With most of her time being dedicated to athletics, campus activities, and pageants, she balances everything with being a full-time student by prioritizing the important things. “To be a good athlete, you must be a good student. Your school work reflects your time on the field, so how you handle school matters.”

Braedy has been involved in softball since her mother had her join a T-ball team, where she found a love for softball: “My life has never been the same!” Her success has not come from her talents alone but from the people along the way. “I must first thank Christ for every opportunity he has given me. I am nothing without God.”

Aside from God, Braedy credits Byren Brown and Logan Brown for helping her find her love for softball and devoting their time to teaching her, as well as Coach Watson, who allowed her to play at the collegiate level.  Braedy advises young girls aspiring to become athletes: “Sign up, work hard, and know you can be as successful as you want to be!” She states that being involved in sports will change you for the better and teach you things about yourself you have never known. “Sports teach you how to navigate problems in life, and you will never regret playing.”

 
Abigale Butts, CASC Wrestling

Abigale Butts is a sophomore from Inola, Oklahoma, majoring in General Studies. She chose CASC because it allowed her to continue her wrestling career after graduating high school. Abigale is involved in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry Leadership and Worship team, an officer of Phi Theta Kappa, and a wrestler for the Lady Vikings! Wrestling first piqued Abbigail’s interest when she realized it was the only sport she had not tried yet. Athletics are a big part of Abigail’s life. Participating in sports has taught her to remain calm in the face of adversity and to seek ways to grow from failures and mistakes.

Abigail thanks God for her Success- “without His strength, I would not be where I am today.” She also thanks her family for the endless support they have given her, her teammates for always encouraging her, and her coaches for believing in her. Abigale is a dedicated student and athlete. Her busy schedule is challenging to balance, but she does it by organizing her days to ensure she can fit in schoolwork, practice, and workouts. “A routine schedule and daily checklist are very helpful.” She advises female athletes not to give up: “There are going to be times when you feel like giving up, but stay the course because it will be so rewarding to see what you can accomplish through hard work and dedication.”

These female athletes are not only strong and courageous but empowering. They are examples of great leaders, teammates, students, and women. Braedy, Abbigale, Lindsey, Shaylee, and every female athlete who chose to make Carl Albert State College their home make us proud. 

Meia Graham, Digital Media Student | MarComm Student Worker

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