WHEREAS, Participation in athletics is one of the most effective ways for girls and women in the United States to develop leadership skills, discipline, initiative, and self-confidence; and
     WHEREAS, Sport and fitness activities contribute to girls' and women's emotional and physical well-being; and
     WHEREAS, The communication, competition, and cooperation skills learned through athletic experience play a key role in the contributions of athletes to the home, workplace, and society; and
     WHEREAS, Early motor skills training and enjoyable experiences of physical activity strongly encourage enduring habits of physical fitness; and
     WHEREAS, By a 3 to 1 ratio, female athletes do better in school, do not drop out, and have a better chance to get through college than their peers who do not play sports; and
     WHEREAS, Female athletes are more likely to graduate from high school, have higher grades, and score higher on standardized tests than nonathletes; and
     WHEREAS, Female athletes are more likely to do well in science classes than their classmates who do not play sports; and
     WHEREAS, Female athletes are less likely to smoke cigarettes and use drugs than their nonathletic peers; and
     WHEREAS, Adolescent female athletes have lower rates of both sexual activity and pregnancy; and
     WHEREAS, Sports participation decreases a young woman's chance of developing heart disease, osteoporosis, and other health-related problems; and
     WHEREAS, Female athletes are less likely to be at risk of developing breast cancer; and
     WHEREAS, High school female athletes are more likely to experience higher levels of self-esteem and are less likely to suffer from depression; and
     WHEREAS, The bonds built among girls and women through athletics help to break down the social barriers of prejudice and discrimination; and
     WHEREAS, The National Girls and Women in Sports Coalition, established in 1987, declared February 3, 2010, to be National Girls and Women in Sports Day; and
     WHEREAS, High school girls' athletic teams in the state of Washington have achieved many accomplishments that serve as an inspiration to young women to promote the values of teamwork and cooperation; and
     WHEREAS, Washington high schools foster outstanding achievements in girls' and women's sports, such as volleyball, soccer, softball, golf, and basketball. These include state volleyball champions: Mead, Bishop Blanchet, Pullman, King's, Colfax, and St. John-Endicott; state soccer champions: Skyline, Columbia River, Archbishop Murphy, Seattle Academy, Orcas Island, and Tacoma Baptist; state softball champions: Kelso, Bainbridge Island, Burlington-Edison, Montesano, Adna, and Colton; state golf champions: Lewis & Clark, Holy Names, Bellingham, Royal, and Life Christian; and state basketball champions: Kentwood, Kennedy, Lynden, Seattle Christian, Colfax, and Colton; and
     WHEREAS, The University of Washington Women's Softball Team swept the University of Florida Gators in two games to win the National Championship in 2009; and
     WHEREAS, University of Washington's own Danielle Lawrie, who pitched both games, was named U.S.A. Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player, and Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year; and
     WHEREAS, The successes and achievements of University of Washington Volleyball players Tamari Miyashiro and Jill Collymore have qualified them to train with the U.S. National Team; and
     WHEREAS, University of Washington's Katie Follett won her second straight Pac-10 1,500 meter title in cross-country, making her the first UW woman to repeat as a Pac-10 Champion and the second UW woman ever to earn three All-American honors in cross-country; and
     WHEREAS, Jamey Gelhar, of Saint Martin's University, made 78 consecutive free-throws in the 2009 season, setting an all-time NCAA women's record, and ultimately making 94 out of 97 free-throws, setting an all-time NCAA all-division single season record; and
     WHEREAS, St. Martin's Women's Basketball Team placed second among all Division II schools on the 2009 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll by Women's Basketball Coaches Association; and
     WHEREAS, Soccer player Corina Gabbert achieved Whitman's most prolific single-season scoring performance in more than two decades with 19 goals and six assists in 17 games; and
     WHEREAS, Basketball player Heather Bowman became the West Coast Conference and Gonzaga University's all-time leading scorer; and
     WHEREAS, Gonzaga University basketball player Courtney Vandersloot reached the 1,000 point milestone in the 2009 season; and
     WHEREAS, Gonzaga University's Women's Rowing Team achieved the first sweep in the school's history at the 2009 Championships; and
     WHEREAS, Seattle University's Softball Team won the 2009 National Independent Tournament; and
     WHEREAS, Distance runner Jessica Pixler, of Seattle Pacific University, collected her sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth NCAA Division II championship titles, becoming the first woman at the Division II level to accomplish three straight national championships; and
     WHEREAS, Whitworth University ran to its highest women's cross-country finish ever at the NCAA Division III Championships; and
     WHEREAS, Western Washington University Women's Rowing Team won their 5th consecutive NCAA Division II national title; and
     WHEREAS, Everett Community College's Softball Team made their sixth consecutive appearance at the NWAACC Championship Tournament; and
     WHEREAS, Everett Community College's Cross-Country Team won the NWAACC 2009 championship; and
     WHEREAS, Olympia's own Women's Roller Derby Team, the Oly Rollers, won the 2009 Women's Flat Track Derby Association championship at the end of an undefeated season; and
     WHEREAS, Washington is honored to host the Seattle Storm, the only women's professional basketball team in the Northwest and the first major professional sports team in Seattle to bring home a championship in more than 25 years; and
     WHEREAS, Seattle Storm team members Sue Bird, Swin Cash, and Lauren Jackson were voted by fans as starters for the Western Conference at the 2009 All-Star Game; and
     WHEREAS, Washington State is proud to have participants at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, including Nicole Joraanstad, curler from Kent, Holly Brooks, skier from Seattle, and Karen Thatcher, hockey player from Blaine; and
     WHEREAS, These women and many more not mentioned here are sterling examples of what is possible through equal parts of hard work, focus, and determination;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor Washington girls and women in sports on March 9, 2010, and encourage others to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Washington State Senate and all of the aforementioned athletes and their respective institutions.