Women in Sport Panel Highlights Experience in the Field

On Friday, January 30th the Skybox Lounge in the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex filled with athletes of all ages to support the experiences of female-athletes from different generations for National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

The panel featured four current and former Wildcat student-athletes, including Sadie Wright-Ward (UNH 2008, Ice Hockey), Megan Bozek (UNH 2014, Field Hockey), Elaina Grenz (UNH 2026, Soccer), and Demi Kneeland (UNH 2017, Volleyball) who unfortunately was unable to attend. The panel was moderated by Amber Lilyestrom, graduate from the women's soccer team in 2004.

Each panelist shared their personal journey through sport, highlighting how adversity, failure and growth as a female athlete has shaped their athletic careers into their professional ones.

Bozek, who coaches field hockey part-time at Southern New Hampshire University and works for Performance Sport Events, an all-female company she helped found just over a year ago, reflected on how her love for sport began early. Originally playing baseball and softball growing up, she was introduced to field hockey through her mother, where she excelled at an early age. Her passion for the game never left, as Bozek still competes in tournaments at the highest level and runs a summer field hockey league at Boston University.

"I think sport can become a job, a life, kind of a passion," Bozek said. "Don't let people tell you, you can't."

As a coach, Bozek emphasized the importance of failure in athlete development, particularly at the youth level, noting that learning to fail helps prepare athletes for future challenges.

Wright-Ward, a Durham local, reflected on her journey in ice hockey, which began playing pickup games at a nearby outdoor rink. She shared her experience of academic struggles in college, redshirting a season. Losing and then earning her scholarship back before ultimately becoming an All-American.

"You come in being near the top when you're growing up, and then all of the sudden you get to college and you're not playing," Wright-Ward said. "You have to earn your spot."

Now in her 11th season coaching at Oyster River High School, Wright-Ward highlights resilience and belief as a key lesson she passes on to her athletes, while also recognizing the importance of seeing women represented in sports.

"It's amazing to see this many women affiliated with sports," Wright-Ward said. "The fact that we have a women in sports panel is phenomenal."

Grenz provided the perspective of a current student-athlete navigating the emotional transition away from competitive play. After just completing her final collegiate soccer season, she spoke about redefining her focus on future opportunities in sport media.

"Soccer is like a chapter that's closing for me," said Grenz. "It's a very real transition from not being just a soccer player anymore to my life outside of soccer."

Grenz is contributing to her future success by participating in the Wildcat Internship Program in communications and broadcasting for ESPN+ at men's hockey games.

Moderator Lilyestrom added to the discussion by encouraging young athletes to follow their passions and value the relationships built through sport.

"Sport is emotional, that's why we love it," Lilyestrom said. "Every step of the journey matters, and every experience helps shape what comes next."

The panel concluded with a message from Lilyestrom reflecting on the support systems that make opportunities in sport possible.

"So, celebrating all of the girls and women here and the men who have supported us as well, the coaches that we've had to make it possible to sit in these chairs, and I'm celebrating all of you."

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Women in Sport Panel Highlights Experience in the Field

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