A Salute to our Lady Railers on National Women in Sports Day

[April 04, 2023]  Today, Wednesday, February 1, 2023, is National Women in Sports Day in America. It is a significant day because the female gender has come forward in the world of athletics in leaps and bounds in the last century. From being considered as housewife material that grows up, marries, and nurtures children who if they are lucky enough to be boys may have fame in the world of sports, to today, when a young woman stands just as much of a chance to make a name for herself and a promising career as a young man.

In Logan County, the female athletes have been fortunate to have opportunities to excel in sports for the last several years.

At a recent Lady Railers basketball game in Lincoln, many of those women, now adults were on hand for the junior varsity and varsity games against Peoria. It was a reunion of sorts, organized by former player and coach Jan Bowers. The women were on hand to show support for the current Lady Railers varsity team that is the shining star of the season with an amazing undefeated record of 26-0 (as of January 31st), breaking a past record of the Lady Railers.

Thanks to Dana Holmes and Lynn Paulus both the Junior Varsity and Varsity games were photographed extensively during those January 21st games, along with the past Lady Railers and coaches who showed up in large numbers.

In addition to the former players coming together that day, there was a nearly packed house for the games. The bleachers on the Railer side of the Roy S. Anderson gymnasium was filled with loud, supportive fans who were left fully satisfied when the JV team beat Peoria with a score of 76-17 and the Varsity gals kept the momentum going with a hard-fought victory of 48-41.

LDN Sports writer Teena Lowery visited with the coaches and the girls at the Lady Railers Basketball fundraiser meal on following day.

At the fundraiser Coach Taylor Rohrer spoke about the turnout on Saturday for the girls’ basketball game. “It was unreal,” said Coach Taylor Rohrer, alluding to the electric atmosphere inside Roy S. Anderson. “It was really cool to have so many people here. There are really no words to explain what it feels like to play in front of a packed house here. There was an electricity in the crowd and I think that really motivated our girls. I am very grateful that so many people came out to see our kids and there’s nothing like playing in this gym when it’s packed. It’s a very cool thing and we’re very thankful.”

Lady Railer Kloe Froebe echoed that appreciation on Sunday when she said, “We just want to really thank Railer Nation and thank the alumni for coming out and supporting us. They really helped us, and we couldn’t have won that game without them. And we’re just going to ask for their support the rest of the season and hope for the best.”

Indeed, the support not just of the Lady Railers but of women in sports is strong in Lincoln and Logan County.

Froebe also made a wonderful comment that fully got the attention of Lowery as she spoke with the girls on Sunday. “I thought it was amazing and just to see the pride and the support that we are reinstalling into the community and the alumni that are coming. The whole Lincoln atmosphere in the gym was just crazy and really nice to just be able to feed off of. It was just a great experience and I hope that we can continue that this season and even on to the next.

“Really that’s our goal, just to make a change in women’s sports in the area.”

Let’s read that AGAIN: “Really that’s our goal, just to make a change in women’s sports in the area.”

Indeed these young women are making a change. They have gained the respect of their predecessors as well as their peers. These are women who are not only making a difference in their own lives, but in the lives of the future generations of female athletes. These young ladies work hard to be the best they can be. On the court they are as fast, as crafty, and as talented as their male counterparts. They are the very definition of teamwork, comradery and good sportsmanship.

Lincoln Daily News salutes our young women in sports and look forward to seeing the coming days ahead. We know the varsity team is ranked number two in the conference, and we look forward to seeing them in the state championship competitions. Good luck, and thank you to the ladies, their coaches and their predecessors who have and are making their mark not only on Railer Nation, but on the world of Women in Sports.

[Nila Smith and Teena Lowery]