Eun Jung Lee Smith, better known by her friends as EJ has been a force to reckon with since her early days at the University of Louisiana Monroe. In 1982, EJ immigrated from South Korea to play basketball for the university. During her playing years, she became a 3-time All American, 4-time Southland Conference Player, and a Louisiana Hall of Famer. Not only did she receive all these accolades, but she also helped her team appear in the school’s first and only NCAA Final Four apperance in 1985.

Upon graduating, she became an assistant and associate head coach for her alma mater for nearly 3 decades – training and mentoring hundreds of players.

EJ shared that she hopes she can show women and girls everywhere that their dreams are possible with hard work, determination, and discipline!

When asked how the Monroe-West Monroe community supported her in her career, she shared delightful stories of fans lining the block trying to get into a women’s basketball game – something she said was unprecedented at the time.

Today, EJ is a coach at Sul Ross University in Texas, but she says, “with these memories, I will always call Monroe my home.”

Strength isn’t always something you think of when you think of women and girls in sports – but Kasee Sketoe is changing that! Kasee Sketoe set out for something new her sophomore year and joined the West Monroe High School powerlifting team. Little did she know she’d go on to become a regional, state, and national champion!

Not only is she a national champion, but in 2022, she competed in the Worlds powerlifting tournament in Turkey and took home first place. When asked about a memorable moment in her powerlifting career, she said “I will forever vividly remember hearing my name getting called for 1st place and standing on the podium while the national anthem played – knowing I was in another country, and I was representing America, Louisiana, and West Monroe.”

Kasee left us with a quote that perfectly represents National Girls & Women in sports day.

From a Sideline Reporter and the ULM Spirt Group Coordinator to being Miss Louisiana and now a Varsity Spirit Trainer, Amanda May has been an inspiration for females for many years.

Amanda shared that although she’s held a variety of jobs, it’s always been in support of the game. When she’s not preparing cheerleaders and dancers to become leaders through Varsity Spirit, she is busy with her side ministry project, “Play for the King.” This ministry seeks to encourage those who love sports by providing devotional content and videos.

When asked what Girls and Women in Sports Day means to her, Amanda said “I see opportunity when I think of Girls and Women in Sports Day.” She shared that it goes beyond the athlete or those that are in the game – some of the greatest opportunities in her mind are for those that surround the game.

When you think of tennis in Monroe-West Monroe, you think of Kathryn Waters. For the past 45 years, Kathryn has either played competitively or served as a coach.

Kathryn shared that although playing was great, being a tennis coach was something she was the proudest of. She said, “motivating and encouraging both women and girls has always been the most important aspect of playing and coaching.”

Not only is Kathryn encouraging players, but she’s led many winning teams. In fact, she was the first coach in Neville High School’s history to win three consecutive state championships.

Now as a retired coach, Kathryn is still giving back to the tennis community. Recently, she worked closely with Discover Monroe-West Monroe and the City of Monroe on the Forsythe Tennis Project. This project will add an additional 7 courts and create a state-of-the-art facility – somewhere she is eager to see the next generation of tennis leaders play at.

Strong and determined are two words that come to mind when you think of Karson Oliver.

A regional, state, national, and world powerlifting champion – Karson credits her success to her mother who encouraged her to take up powerlifting in the first place. Today Karson is continuing her powerlifting career at Midland University where she hopes to inspire other females to go after their dreams.

When asked if she had any advice to share with young female athletes she said, “It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like, or who tells you differently, do what makes you happy.”

We’re celebrating girls and women in sports today and every day in Monroe-West Monroe!