Women's Sports Magazine

WOMEN’S SPORTS

UNI UNI vs.

Evansdale

Twirler Timeline

Spring 2022

Volume I | Issue I

Sophia Aguirre

Women in Sports Riley Fridinger

Letter from the Editor

Table of Contents: Welcome

3

Shoot Your Shot: WBB

6

A Glimpse in Twirler Time

16

Aspiring Women in Sports

27

Over the past several decades, the world of sports has changed drastically for women athletes. It has become more common for gender fluidity, allowing whomever to participate as they choose.

This can be seen on the University of Northern Iowa’s very own campus.

There is now an equal ratio between men and women in university sports.

Let this magazine be a place where you can immerse in the change already happening within the sports industry, and to embrace the inner bada** of being a woman.

Riley Fridinger

RILE Y'

DE UI

P L REP A E M G S

Baton Twirling Lessons

Call (319)-222-4739 to sign up

The team steps onto the court

UNI Women’s Basketballc A victory for the Panthers!

Photo Story by Riley Fridinger

There is tension between UNI player, #12 and Evansville player, #32.

Panthers have the ball.

READY...

SCORE!

SET...

To the right: UNI WBB player #4 sets up a succesful 3 point shot for the team. Score for the Panthers!

Up above: Player #30 takes the penalty shot to bring home another addition to the leaderboard for the Panthers!

The UNI spirit squad is always supporting their Panthers. Jonathan Kamerick on the far left cheering on his team.

The UNI Cheer Team showcases their incredible talents through stunts and tricks.

78-58

win for the Panthers!

Maddie’S FITNESS CLASSES:

$50/4 weeks Email: maddie@gmail.com to sign up!

CUSTOM WATER BOTTLES

CALL (319)-899-6845 TO ORDER TODAY!

2008

First baton twirling competition

2006

Sophia’s first baton twirling lesson

2011

First college performance

2 0 1 3

1st High School Performance

2 0 1 4

Miss Iowa

State Championship

2 0 1 5 2 0 1 7

Top 5 Rank

Twirl Mania International Baton Championships Band Day

2018

Dublin Ireland

UNI Marching Band Audition

February 2018

2 0 1 9 Senior Year 2 0 2 1

Fall 2018 First College Football Game

CEDAR FALLS FARMER’S MARKET

UNI SOCCER CLINIC APRIL 4TH 7PM

OPENING WEEKENDS STARTING IN MAY

CHECK OUT: https://cedarfallsfarmersmarket.weebly.com for more information!

MORE THAN JUST SPORTS

SARAH’S FRESH SMOOTHIES

CALL: (319)-555-2233 TO ORDER!

WOMEN IN SPORTS CAN HAVE A MULTITUDE OF MEANINGS. FOR SOME, THIS PHRASE MEANS BEING A WOMAN ATHLETE. FOR ME, IT MEANS BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT PURSUING HER DREAMS TO WORK FOR THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IN THE MARKETING OR PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW I NAVIGATED MY DREAMS TO BECOME A SPORTS PR AND MARKETING PROFESSIONAL. NAVIGATING THE JOURNEY OF WHO I WANT TO BE AND WHAT I WANT TO BE DOING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT BUT REWARDING SEASON OF LIFE.

Words & Pictures by Riley Fridinger

IT IS BENEFICIAL TO FIRST HIGHLIGHT MY CHILDHOOD GROWING UP IN SPORTS BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR MY DREAM OF WORKING IN SPORTS AS A FEMALE. I WAS ALWAYS A KID WHO WANTED TO TRY A MULTITUDE OF SPORTS. MY MOM HAD THE RULE THAT IF I JOINED A SPORT, I NEEDED TO STICK WITH IT FOR THE TERM OF THE SEASON FOR THAT SPORT. THIS WAS A FAIR RULE BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WAS GIVING THE ACTIVITY A FAIR SHOT, NOT WASTING THEIR MONEY, AND TRULY LEARNING IF I WANTED TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN THAT SPORT.

I STOPPED PLAYING SOCCER DURING THE END OF MIDDLE SCHOOL& EARLY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF INJURIES. I JOINED SOCCER AGAIN IN MY JUNIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL AT LINN MAR. THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE I LEARNED THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND ON WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. I AM VERY THANKFUL I GAVE SOCCER ANOTHER CHANCE IN HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THOSE YEARS HOLD SOME OF MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN MY TIME PLAYING SPORTS.

"IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND & CHOOSE WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY." THE VERY FIRST SPORT I TRIED GROWING UP WAS SOCCER. TO THIS DAY, SOCCER IS MY FAVORITE SPORT I WAS INVOLVED IN & THE SPORT THAT I SPENT THE MOST TIME PLAYING. I BEGAN MY TIME PLAYING SOCCER WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. I STARTED IN A LOCAL YOUTH LEAGUE CALLED AYSO. THIS IS WHERE THE BULK OF MY TIME PLAYING SOCCER HAPPENED, AS I PARTICIPATED IN AYSO FROM 2007-2014.

MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM SOCCER WAS THE LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS MADE AS WE TRANSITIONED FROM THE YOUTH SOCCER LEAGUE TO MY HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER TEAM. THIS SPORT TOOK ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE IN PERFORMANCE SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, AND MORE. ALL BEING SKILLS THAT I CAN UTILIZE IN OTHER AREAS OF MY LIFE.

MY TIME IN SOCCER & THE LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH PLAYING IMPACTED MY DECISION TO CHANGE MY MAJOR TO SPORTS PR & MARKEITNG. I DECIDED TO TAKE A COMPLETE FLIP MY JUNIOR YEAR ON WHAT I WANTED MY LIFE TO LOOK LIKE AFTER COLLEGE. IN 2018, I CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA WITH THE DREAM TO BECOME A TEACHER. I GRADUATE IN TWO WEEKS WITH MY NEW DREAM OF WORKING WITHIN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY. THESE ARE TWO INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS. I WANT TO DIVE INTO HOW PLAYING SPORTS AS A KID HELPED ME TO GET WHERE I AM TODAY.

"LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD."

THERE WERE MANY SEASONS OF LIFE THAT HAPPENED DURING MY TIME PLAYING SOCCER. FROM ELEMENTARY, TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THROUGH THE END OF MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. THIS SPORT TAUGHT ME THAT CHANGE IS BOUND TO HAPPEN & YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REACT ACCORDINGLY. THIS QUOTE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ON MANY LEVELS. FOR SPORTS, IT CAN MEAN PERFORMING YOUR BEST & WINNING THE GAME. FOR LIFE, IT CAN MEAN TRYING YOUR ALL, EVEN IF SOMETHING DOES NOT GO RIGHT, CONTINUING TO LEARN & GROW. THIS IS A PERSPECTIVE I CLUNG TO IMMENSLY WHEN DECIDING WHAT I WANTED FOR MY LIFE.

I KNEW THAT TEACHING WAS NO LONGER MY GOAL. I CHOSE TO "LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD" BY CHANGING MY MAJOR A YEAR & A HALF BEFORE GRADUATION. ALTHOUGH THIS CHANGE WAS SCARY, I CHOSE TO PURSUE SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. IT IS NEVER TOO LATE FOR A VICTORY IN LIFE & IN SPORTS, SOMETHING I LEARNED FROM ALL MY YEARS IN SOCCER.

Dance Marathon FIND YOUR PURPOSE LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Visit: unidancemarathon.com to apply!

Toni Joan Photography

https://www.instagram.com/toni_joan_photography/

Emily’s Tutoring (712)-592-0137

Sarah’s Bike Class (319-555-4387

Riley’s Lifestyle Coaching | (319)-899-6845

DON’T STOP

SPORTS WOMEN MERCHANDISE

PANTHER PROTEIN EMAIL: rileymeg1@live.com for inquiries!