Leadership, resilience, and opportunity were the focus of the Orange County Athletic Directors Association’s 2026 Women in Sports Celebration, attended by 11 BOHS athletes and one coach, Feb. 23.
The Wildcats joined nearly 1,500 high school athletes at Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim for what the event’s organizers describe as one of the largest women-in-sports celebrations in the country, created to “empower the female athletes of Orange County.”
The BOHS Athletic Council selected students to attend the annual event to gain leadership insight, learn about the history of women’s athletics, and hear from accomplished women in sports. The conference also highlights Title IX, a 1972 federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and requires equal athletic opportunities.
For the athletes in attendance, the event served as both inspiration and perspective.
“What stood out to me the most about [the] speakers was how hard each woman had to work for her position and success,” Sarah Garrigue (‘26), who competes in cross country and track, said. “Garland [Cooper Tsarouchas] was especially inspiring because her relentless pursuit of success showed me what sets accomplished people apart.”
Keynote speaker Cooper Tsarouchas shared her journey from multi-sport athlete in high school, to playing professional softball, to currently serving as Chief Operating Officer of RCX Sports. While her accomplishments are extensive, her message focused less on awards and more on perseverance.
Referencing Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 “Man in the Arena” speech, Cooper Tsarouchas encouraged the athletes in attendance to view setbacks as motivation. Despite hitting 55 home runs in college, she also struck out 105 times. After each strikeout, she allowed herself 30 seconds to “throw [herself] a mini pity party” before focusing on the next opportunity.
“Cooper Tsarouchas talked about the amount of effort and dedication it took to accomplish her dreams,” Siena Codekas (‘27), girls’ water polo player, said. “It encouraged me to give it my all in whatever I do in order to reach my goals because dreams don’t just come to you.”
Presenter Lorraine Jones, Health and Fitness Coordinator at Mt. San Antonio College, shifted the focus to physical and mental wellness, emphasizing proper nutrition and long-term health.
“The nutrition part really stuck with me, how our bodies need to be fueled correctly because that fuels our energy,” Garrigue said. Garrigue plans to bring that message back to her team as the “girls on cross country should be eating better than we are right now.”
Erin Regan, former Wake Forest University soccer player and current Los Angeles County firefighter, spoke about resilience and leadership beyond athletics. Regan received the 2025 Pat Tillman Award for Service for her work battling the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles. She encouraged athletes to challenge expectations and pursue goals regardless of outside doubt.
Beyond individual success, BOHS attendees said that the conference also highlighted responsibility as leaders within their own sports programs.
“It’s increasingly important for me to exemplify what it means to be an honest and hardworking athlete,” Ladycat Hannah Chang (‘28) said. “My role can inspire younger girls to play sports.”
In addition to motivational speakers, attendees explored a timeline of milestones in women’s sports history, including the passage of Title IX. Since the law’s enactment, athletic participation for girls has increased by 990 percent in high schools, and by 545 percent in colleges.
“These events are important for female athletes because it reminds us [that] others are here to support us,” Mia Luna (‘26), cross country and track captain, said. “It shows that our gender is seen and appreciated.”
Intermissions featured raffles for donated prizes (Chang won a baseball cap emblazoned with,”Everyone Watches Women’s Sports”) and gave attendees time to connect with peers from across the county.
For BOHS’s student-athletes, the day was more than a field trip; it served as a reminder of the progress made in women’s athletics and the responsibility they carry as leaders in their programs.
Chang said she hopes to “spread the messages of hard work and tenacity that came with the stories” of the women athletes who spoke at the event.
“The conference changed how I saw myself as a female athlete. It helped me see who I am, that I am more than just an athlete,” Luna said. “It reminded me that I am a leader, that I am hard-working and strong.”
