Win like a girl

Women’s athletics sponsors campaign

When the Always #LikeAGirl campaign aired during Superbowl XLIX, many were inspired by the message it sent, including Kristie Beitz, Liberty University’s senior associate athletics director for academic affairs.

“Our female student athletes have won in every area,” Beitz said. “When you look to see what they are doing on the field of competition, … that’s amazing. But take that a step further and see what they’re doing in the classroom, … in the community. What an awesome opportunity to be at an institution that provides that opportunity where you can grow academically, athletically, socially and spiritually and win like an LU girl.”

The girls of Liberty have been winning in every way. Whether it is another Big South Conference title, the Northern Pacific (NorPac) Championship, or the classroom, the Lady Flames are making a name for themselves.

Women’s athletics has seen some of the greatest success, yet still suffers from low attendance and support.

“We put so much into advertising and publicizing and highlighting and celebrating the successes of male athletes and teams, but at times, female athletes are always trying to play catch up,” Beitz said. “It’s not necessarily facing adversity, but it’s showing and demonstrating that we are just as good, whether it’s on the court or on the field competition, and we bring value and can, as a group, as a gender,
be successful.”

That is when the idea for #WinLikeAnLUGirl was born. It is a movement that looks to celebrate the accomplishments that all Lady Flames are making in all areas. The women of Liberty were eager to stand behind the idea.

“I know when I was younger, I always looked up to, whether it was high school or college, … that girl in a jersey,” Reynolds said. “… That’s just something that people admire.”

This season, women’s volleyball players Sirena Vorster, Jade Vorster and Allie Reynolds are such examples. The Lady Flames volleyball team fought through a lot of adversity as a team this year, but still managed to finish 23-10 (10-4), swiftly collecting 20 wins and defeating the University of Virginia in the Vines Center.

Last year, the Lady Flames volleyball team hosted a camp for Sandusky Middle School’s 21st Century Grant program. This was just one of the many different outreach opportunities presented by the Lady Flames, who are just as invested in the community around them as they are in their sports.

“I think we’re at a unique kind of position because young kids, especially girls, they already look up to us as an older figure, and on top of that, an athlete,” Jade Vorster said. “We can become leaders in the community and have a positive influence on these people by just being present and letting them know they’re important.”

So what does it mean to #WinLikeAnLUGirl? The Lady Flames shared their thoughts on the project that is meant to highlight and embrace their achievements.

“It means to win with respect, but also set an example as Christ followers to the community,” Sirena Vorster said.

Beitz takes it a step further.

“It means to win in every aspect of your life — it’s not just about winning on the field of competition,” Beitz said. “It’s about winning in everything that you do and setting that example. … Winning just doesn’t have to be about how many points you scored.”

Jade Vorster expressed what winning looks like specifically for women.

“Winning is almost achieving a level of empowerment in females and letting them know that they can do anything,” Jade Vorster said.

The movement will be celebrated at the Lady Flames basketball game Feb. 21, along with local Girl Scouts and sports teams who have been invited to join. The event will include prizes, free food and an autograph session with the Lady Flames.

The game against Charleston Southern, which will also mark Senior Night for the Lady Flames, is scheduled for 7 p.m.

CARTER is a sports reporter.