Katy ISD Uplifts Female Student-Athletes at Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Conference
For the fourth consecutive year, Katy ISD celebrated the achievements and perseverance of female student-athletes with the National Girls & Women in Sports Conference at Morton Ranch High School. The event, held this week, welcomed over a hundred student-athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and community members, all gathered to hear from former high school athletes who shared their experiences and insights on discipline, resilience, and personal growth.
Among the featured speakers was Jennifer Vaden, head volleyball coach and assistant athletic director at Jordan High School. Vaden reflected on her journey from high school athlete to Division I competitor and coach, drawing inspiration from elite athletes such as Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky. She emphasized the importance of mental toughness in sports and life. “Success is not a scoreboard or a position; it’s whether or not you reach your full potential,” said Vaden. “In reality, failure is what will make us grow.”
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The conference was founded by Melissa Hoffmann, Morton Ranch’s head girls’ track coach, four years ago as part of a master’s program assignment. However, Hoffmann saw a greater need for the event after school administrators encouraged the athletic staff to find ways to increase female participation in sports. "This event is about celebrating and empowering our female athletes in Katy ISD to dream BIG. It is my hope that after attending the conference they will leave feeling inspired and motivated to be the best version of themselves both as an athlete and as a person,"said Hoffmann.
Participation in sports has been shown to provide significant benefits for girls and women, fostering leadership, teamwork, and confidence. According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls who participate in athletics are more likely to excel academically, experience higher self-esteem, and develop critical life skills that contribute to career success. Studies have also linked female sports participation to lower rates of depression and anxiety, emphasizing the positive mental health impact of staying active. Beyond individual benefits, increasing female participation in sports helps break down gender barriers in athletics and strengthens the broader movement for gender equity.
One of the notable attendees this year was Coach Jill Voss and the Freeman High School softball team, who were recently honored at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame as recipients of the Grant Teaff Beyond the Game Team Award. The team also had the opportunity to meet 2025 Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner while attending the induction banquet in Waco, Texas. In addition, they took part in a Baylor University softball game.
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“I’ve attended this event for several years now with my teams because I want my athletes to hear from women who have been where they are now and who have so much wisdom to share,” said Voss. "Participation in sports teaches life lessons, values that I want my players to have with them beyond their playing time."
The conference aligns with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, now in its 39th year, which was established in honor of Flo Hyman, an Olympic silver medalist and three-time All-American volleyball player at the University of Houston. Since her passing due to Marfan syndrome, the day has grown into a nationwide movement highlighting the importance of sports for girls and women and advocating for gender equality in athletics.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
