Brian Kimmes

South Dakota State is celebrating the 20th annual National Girls and Women is Sports Day on Feb. 2.

On Thursday, three prominent South Dakota women athletes will hold a panel discussion. The discussion will take place at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union’s Campanile Room, Number 169.

The panelists are Lolly Forseth, Nancy Neiber and Ruth Rehn. The women will discuss their experiences as pioneering women athletes and their thoughts on changes in sports for girls and women during the past half century. Refreshments will be provided.

Each panelist has had a distinguished career as a coach, athletic administrator or both. Forseth worked for 19 years as a gymnastics coach in Sioux Falls, where she won 11 state titles while coaching at two schools. After coaching, she became athletic director for Sioux Falls’ Lincoln High School.

Neiber is the winningest coach in SDSU basketball history. She was named NCC coach of the year twice during her tenure. She was recently elected into the South Dakota Sports Writers Hall of Fame.

Rehn coached in Minnesota for a number of years before coming to South Dakota, and currently is the South Dakota High School Activities Association’s assistant executive director. She is the state chair for National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day started in 1987 and is celebrated in all 50 states. The day acknowledges the past and current achievements of girls and women in sports, the beneficial effects of participation in sports and the constant fight for equality and access for women in sports.

The event at SDSU is sponsored by Women’s Giving Circle, SDSU Foundation; American Association of University Women, Brookings Branch; and the South Dakota Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.