Northwood High School juniors Lauren Hitchens and Olivia Chen were nominated to attend the 18th Annual OCADA Women in Sports Conference to learn and be inspired by some amazing speakers at this year's annual event.  Photo courtesy of Swim Team Staff.

The Orange County Athletic Directors Association held a Women in Sports Conference at Saddleback Church on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 to bring student-athletes from area high schools in Orange County together to hear from female athletes, past and present, who shared their personal stories to over 1,400 girls in attendance.  Northwood High School's Lauren Hitchens  and, Olivia Chen were nominated to attend, and celebrated, learned, and were inspired by some amazing speakers at this year's annual event.

This venue acknowledges and recognizes current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing need for focus on equality and access to sports opportunities for girls and women.

The conference featured four women speakers who shared some of their journey on discovering their leadership potential in sports, and the positive contributions they've made throughout their lives as a result.  

The speakers comprised of two-time Olympic gold medalist Courtney Mathewson with the U.S. women's water polo team.  Courtney grew up in Anaheim Hills, and was an All-County water polo player at Canyon High School, from which she graduated in 2004.  Mathewson also played club water polo for SOCAL and attended UCLA.  She was part of four NCAA titles at UCLA.  In 2008, she won the Cutino Award, which is the Heisman Trophy of collegiate water polo.  In 2001, she led Team USA in scoring with 14 goals en route to the gold medal and an Olympic berth at the Pan American Games.

Marti Reed played softball at UCLA from 2008-2012, where she graduated with a degree in Sociology and minor in Global Studies.  During her time at UCLA, she won a National Championship with the softball team after scoring the tying run in the championship game to eventually beat the Arizona Wild Cats in extra innings.  She grew up in Long Beach, and attended school at Long Beach Wilson.  Marti was a three sport letterman participating in volleyball, track & field, and softball.  She also was awarded the CIF Most Valuable Player honors.  Marti was able to leave her mark as a highly decorated student athlete at both the high school and collegiate level.  Her honors included being the leader of the Bruin Athletic Council Athletes in Action Christian Club, Afrikan Student Union, Alumni Scholarship Committee, Student Athlete Mentors, and achieving 2012 Bruin Life's Senior of the Year.  Marti now serves as the Development Manager for a non-profit called Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA).

April Robles was born in Los Angeles and raised in Orange County.  She found her passion in athletics when she was young and played basketball at Westminster High School.  April continued playing basketball at Irvine Valley College.  After her playing career was completed, she went back to coach and coached with her high school coach for five years.  April loved coaching, and put on some stripes and has been officiating basketball for eight years now.  

Laura Anderson was born in Mexico, but grew up mainly in California.  She had a late start to wrestling and learned the sport at age 23 when she walked-on to the women's freestyle wrestling program at Simon Fraser University in Canada.  Laura was able to ear her spot on the team, and became a two time All-American at 53 kg (116 lbs).  Within the time she attended Simon Fraser University and began wrestling, she had instant success.  Laura was able to make the United States Grappling Team in 2013.  Since Laura was born in Mexico, she was able to use her dual citizenship to wrestle in Mexico at their National competitions.  Laura became Mexico's number two overall female at the 53 kg weight class.  Laura is currently pursuing a career in Mixed Martial Arts, and could not be more thankful to the wrestling community for all that it has taught her.  As of today, Laura is 4-0 in MMA competitions and is looking to go Professional sometime in the near future.

“The Women in Sports Conference was empowering and inspiring," said Lauren Hitchens "Both Olivia and I were motivated through the testimonies of the speakers to keep following their dreams."