IHS' Simmons honored during 'National Girls and Women in Sports Day'

Irvington High School student-athlete Maria Simmons was among the honorees at the the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association 26th annual statewide celebration of “National Girls and Women In Sports Day.” at Seton Hall University this past Sunday Jan. 22.
The event is particularly significant this year as 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Title IX legislation. The theme of the event is: “Title IX at 40: In It for the Long Run.”
Simmons and the other honorees attended an awards luncheon, where outstanding high school and university female athletes were presented with awards from the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport.
Simmons has participated in Varsity Level Athletics for four years, competing in volleyball, basketball and softball, earning All-Super Essex Conference honors in each sport. Simmons has also exceled in the classroom, maintaining a 3.2 GPA. She is awaiting college acceptances from Rider University, Caldwell University, Georgian Court and the University of Central Florida.
“Maria is a model student-athlete and has been a team leader, both on and off the court and field, and is well deserved of this honor,” said Gerhard Sanchez, Irvington High School athletic director.
Title IX – a law prohibiting the exclusion of women or men in educational programs based on their gender – opened a window for female athletes. When the law was officially passed, women were no longer denied the ability to participate in school or university sports programs, even if their school did not sponsor female teams.
“Forty years ago, a law was passed that would change high school- and university-level sports forever,” said Steve Timko, NJSIAA executive director. “Without Title IX, the amazing talent of so many female athletes would have gone unrecognized.”