Celebrate Girls & Women in Sports Day in Monroe-West Monroe
National Girls & Women in Sports day is February 7. This day is dedicated to acknowledging the accomplishments of female athletes, recognizing the influence of sports participating for women and girls, and honoring the progress and advocation for equality in sports. Keep reading to discover some remarkable females shaping the sports industry in Ouachita Parish.
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=78edb86dac0e3f4dbbf6d16e00a78a33 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1cb4cedae405e921e24cb3605fbbd4f2 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d02950aa7195a20bb9884943682cff39 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=e1fabad048128f1b460b9183a69d1d3e 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=8d96d0e050a7746954c963b68c63a3cd 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/EJ-head-shot-2023.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=92f55c50165f59a7be8f03a02ecde211 1201w)
Eun Jung Lee Smith
Eun Jung Lee Smith, better known by her friends as EJ has been a force to reckon with since her early days at the University of Louisiana Monroe. In 1982, EJ immigrated from South Korea to play basketball for the university. During her playing years, she became a 3-time All American, 4-time Southland Conference Player, and a Louisiana Hall of Famer. Not only did she receive all these accolades, but she also helped her team appear in the school’s first and only NCAA Final Four apperance in 1985.
Upon graduating, she became an assistant and associate head coach for her alma mater for nearly 3 decades – training and mentoring hundreds of players.
EJ shared that she hopes she can show women and girls everywhere that their dreams are possible with hard work, determination, and discipline!
When asked how the Monroe-West Monroe community supported her in her career, she shared delightful stories of fans lining the block trying to get into a women’s basketball game – something she said was unprecedented at the time.
Today, EJ is a coach at Sul Ross University in Texas, but she says, “with these memories, I will always call Monroe my home.”
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f1cb9d77d22dd74d900da81300f7789e 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ec599ce623ee7493d25e8a43b74636b8 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=79d193814b46a76587f63eca059601cc 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=0916a093afc893756fbf1127a5eca083 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6f9f1935a761de0b4323e4a1ec1bd3dc 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=68cf8be90cb161fc5740a845af1dbad9 1440w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=2598f1dc662e88e07889cc9b1eec91c0 1920w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=d6793cb77238c2ded56f7247b81af0f7 2560w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Kasee-Sketoe-Powerlifting.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=3840&s=f17a617040556272e10990e300f1d7e9 3840w)
Kasee Sketoe
Strength isn’t always something you think of when you think of women and girls in sports – but Kasee Sketoe is changing that! Kasee Sketoe set out for something new her sophomore year and joined the West Monroe High School powerlifting team. Little did she know she’d go on to become a regional, state, and national champion!
Not only is she a national champion, but in 2022, she competed in the Worlds powerlifting tournament in Turkey and took home first place. When asked about a memorable moment in her powerlifting career, she said “I will forever vividly remember hearing my name getting called for 1st place and standing on the podium while the national anthem played – knowing I was in another country, and I was representing America, Louisiana, and West Monroe.”
Kasee left us with a quote that perfectly represents National Girls & Women in sports day.
Girl power is real – especially in sports.Kasee Sketoe
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b60f1084025e83c0799e53e11278d868 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1e587705d22ffb630a0ba0ec5eaeaf02 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9a1579daed79f48b8bd29a59ce0b5390 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=19f8bcaa57d42483c699bdc5e7d6600f 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=a5938c72fa0d74eead783045fa4d6ec1 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/Amanda-May.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=2d1ee930ccdb8c1755b142192c6e58fd 1367w)
Amanda May
From a Sideline Reporter and the ULM Spirt Group Coordinator to being Miss Louisiana and now a Varsity Spirit Trainer, Amanda May has been an inspiration for females for many years.
Amanda shared that although she’s held a variety of jobs, it’s always been in support of the game. When she’s not preparing cheerleaders and dancers to become leaders through Varsity Spirit, she is busy with her side ministry project, “Play for the King.” This ministry seeks to encourage those who love sports by providing devotional content and videos.
When asked what Girls and Women in Sports Day means to her, Amanda said “I see opportunity when I think of Girls and Women in Sports Day.” She shared that it goes beyond the athlete or those that are in the game – some of the greatest opportunities in her mind are for those that surround the game.
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=2460a970fea0ec65547bf1961e293d54 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5adb51528dab782a17d31fea8a7874e3 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5bb30823a529980c3a625aac3d009663 768w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=ec43f62d66198b3ec6723eac30f5c350 1024w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e790db3244d3639f436ba3391e9ea0a2 1200w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/pic-003-copy.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=02177fe1c85b20636f3e3c211e185a96 1368w)
Kathryn Waters
When you think of tennis in Monroe-West Monroe, you think of Kathryn Waters. For the past 45 years, Kathryn has either played competitively or served as a coach.
Kathryn shared that although playing was great, being a tennis coach was something she was the proudest of. She said, “motivating and encouraging both women and girls has always been the most important aspect of playing and coaching.”
Not only is Kathryn encouraging players, but she’s led many winning teams. In fact, she was the first coach in Neville High School’s history to win three consecutive state championships.
Now as a retired coach, Kathryn is still giving back to the tennis community. Recently, she worked closely with Discover Monroe-West Monroe and the City of Monroe on the Forsythe Tennis Project. This project will add an additional 7 courts and create a state-of-the-art facility – somewhere she is eager to see the next generation of tennis leaders play at.
![](https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_6056.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e88fa4bc2af62c9e644a0d4445dea18c 320w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_6056.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b0cc743408f4c291acbc946614e8a4f8 540w, https://discover-monroe.imgix.net/images/IMG_6056.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c9cfad1c4cd778d805888f8274cac6de 642w)
Karson Oliver
Strong and determined are two words that come to mind when you think of Karson Oliver.
A regional, state, national, and world powerlifting champion – Karson credits her success to her mother who encouraged her to take up powerlifting in the first place. Today Karson is continuing her powerlifting career at Midland University where she hopes to inspire other females to go after their dreams.
When asked if she had any advice to share with young female athletes she said, “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or who tells you differently, do what makes you happy.”