Skip To Main Content

Northern Michigan University

The Official Website of the Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Wildcats
Natalie Thomas

Women's Lacrosse Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Natalie Thomas

National Girls & Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February. This day is dedicated to recognizing female athletic achievements and promoting opportunities for girls in sports.

Today, the NMU Athletics Department is celebrating girls and women, both past and present, to honor the achievements of women in sports, acknowledge the impact of sports participation, and advocate for equality and inclusion for girls in athletics.

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- "To me, representing women in sports means competing every day with purpose and pride."

 Natalie Thomas is a junior on the NMU lacrosse team who hails from South Lyon, Michigan. The All-GLIAC Second Team selection plays a crucial role in the Wildcat defense system, where she is consistently among the team leaders in ground balls and caused turnovers. 

For Natalie, representing women in college lacrosse is more than just wins and losses.

"It means making sure I know, and younger generations watching know, that women in sports should be taking up space. Being ambitious and proving that we deserve the same amount of respect and investment as any other level of sport would. Representing women at the collegiate level is something I would not trade for the world, and being a part of the forward progress of women's sports is something to appreciate."

Natalie says that one of the qualities she admires in her teammates, whom she competes alongside every day, is the standard they set for everything they do. 
 
"The drive, discipline, and ambition they bring every day never fails to impress me and allows me to also be the best that I can, for myself, but more importantly for them. They always bring the intensity and share knowledge that allows them and me to be a part of a normal competitive environment, not a rare one."  

"Watching not only my team, but all the women in sports around me prosper and grow is something I will never take for granted."

Reflection and gratitude. Those were the first two words the standout defender used to describe what National Girls and Women in Sports Day means to her.

"It means recognizing the women who have come before me, who made it possible for me to now compete. It is a reminder to appreciate the opportunities and responsibilities it has given me, and it represents the resilience of women who have made a space for themselves in the world of sports."

"Realizing the progress I have made to be here and how much further I can go. Being a woman in sports has shaped most of who I am. On and off the field, it has taught me discipline and purpose."

But more importantly, it has brought a wave of new people into Natalie's life, who she can now consider family. 

"Along with that, it has brought the people around me. Being surrounded by strong, talented women every day is what has allowed me to be who I am today."



 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Natalie Thomas

#2 Natalie Thomas

D
5' 10"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Natalie Thomas

#2 Natalie Thomas

5' 10"
Junior
D