Girls In The Game

10th Annual Girls In The Game Luncheon (September 25, 2025)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Girls In The Game mission is to advance and support Columbus State University’s female student-athletes, allowing them to reach their full potential academically and athletically while empowering them to become leaders in life.

Girls In The Game Events & Speakers

September 25, 2025 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) De'Hashia ("DeeDee") Trotter: USA Track and Field Gold Medalist

Presented by Hughston Clinic and Track and Field Clinic hosted by Coca-Cola at the Walden Soccer Complex

April 25, 2024 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) Kristine Lilly: USA Soccer Hall of Famer and Olympic Gold Medalist

Presented by Hughston Clinic and soccer clinic hosted by Coca-Cola and Chick-Fil-A at the Walden Soccer Complex

April 13, 2023 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) Tamika Catchings: WNBA Hall of Famer and 4x Olympic Gold Medalist

Presented by Hughston Clinic and basketball clinic hosted by Coca-Cola held in CSU's Rec Center

March 10, 2022 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) - (postponed from March 26, 2020 due to COVID-19) Jennie Finch: Professional Softball Player and Olympic Pitcher and Gold Medalist

Presented by Hughston Clinic and softball clinic held at Cougar Field

September 30, 2021 (President's Club, CSU) - Small Reception Held for GITG Class of 2021

April 20, 2021 (President's Club, CSU) - Small Reception Held for GITG Class of 2020 in Lieu of COVID-19

April 9, 2019 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) - Tracy Austin: Professional Tennis Player

Tennis clinic held at Cooper Creek Tennis Facility

November 1, 2017 (Lumpkin Center, CSU) - Annika Sorensen: Professional Golfer

Golf clinic held at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium

April 28, 2016 (Country Club of Columbus) - Brandi Chastain: Professional Soccer Player and 2x FIFA Women's World Cup champion and Olympic Gold Medalist

Soccer clinic held at Woodruff Farms

April 30, 2015 (Rivermill Events Center) - Candace Turner: Former CSU Women's Basketball Student-Athlete, CSU Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Class of 2025, Recognized Spring 2025

Annie Adams, Tennis
Haelim Adle, Basketball
Samantha Dewendt, Golf
Deandra Downer, Track & Field
Anna LaBarbara, Soccer
Anna Petallar, Cross Country
Mary-Catherine Sorrell, Softball
Camdyn White, Cheer

Class of 2024, Recognized April 25, 2024

Zuzanna Rudenko, Basketball - Gold
Abigail Akerson, Soccer - Silver
Ansley Collins, Softball - Silver
Laura DeLaubert, Golf - Bronze
Lymesha Henry, Cheer - Bronze
Meghan Koh, Cross Country - Bronze
Syni Lacy, Track & Field - Bronze
Mariana Ramirez, Tennis - Bronze

Class of 2023, Recognized April 13, 2023

Amber Elder, Track & Field - Gold
Nikoline Gullacksen, Tennis - Silver
Marine Legentil, Golf - Silver
Caroline Cranford, Cheer - Bronze
Kristyn Goshay, Basketball - Bronze
Holliday Lynn, Softball - Bronze
Katerina Valenta, Cross Country - Bronze
Avery Williams, Soccer - Bronze

Class of 2022, Recognized Spring 2022

Grace Kiser, Softball - Gold
Sara Ramirez, Tennis - Silver
Emilia Tenbrock, Basketball - Silver
Kristina Armstrong, Track & Field - Bronze
Beryl Giletti, Golf - Bronze
Alesia Johnson, Cross Country - Bronze
Lenayah Taylor, Cheer - Bronze
Kensley Zieba, Soccer - Bronze

Class of 2021, Recognized Fall 2021

Amber Abusbeih, Basketball - Bronze
Halley Doster, Cheer - Bronze
Hannah Hutchens, Cross Country - Bronze
Victoria Libaak, Golf - Bronze
Sara Ramirez Goncalves, Tennis - Bronze
Amani Abraham, Track & Field - Bronze
Anna Grady, Soccer - Bronze
Paige Vincent, Softball - Bronze

Class of 2020, Recognized Spring 2021

Elizabeth Hedrick, Soccer - Gold
Melita-Marie Roachford, Track & Field - Silver
Luise Sachs, Tennis - Silver
Kathryn Quinn, Cheer - Bronze
Brianna Sattinger, Cross Country - Bronze
Kaihla Carter, Basketball - Bronze
Chandler DesRoches, Softball - Bronze
Ana Thorne, Golf - Bronze

Class of 2019, Recognized Spring 2019

Madisyn Brown, Softball - Gold
Eva Salazar Torres, Track & Field - Silver
Riley Clark, Soccer - Silver
Jastonie Hill, Cross Country - Bronze
Naomi Holloway, Basketball - Bronze
Shayna Otinger, Cheer - Bronze
Jordan Booker, Golf - Bronze
Beatriz Lopez, Tennis - Bronze

Thank You to the Girls In The Game Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor: The Hughston Clinic

Clinic Sponsor: Coca-Cola

Gold Sponsors: Burger King / Schuster Enterprises, Kinetic Credit Union, Synovus, John and Sally Walden

Silver Sponsors: Janet Davis, Shelby and Wanda Amos Foundation, Columbus Sports Council, Pezold/Valley Hospitality

Bronze Sponsors: Colony Bank, Dorenda and Lamar Weaver, Shinkle Family, STIFEL, MWV Enterprises, Commando, Georgia Power

De'Hashia ("DeeDee") Trotter

USA Track and Field Olympic Gold Medalist

De'Hashia Tonnek ("DeeDee") Trotter is an American track and field athlete, born on December 8, 1982, in Twentynine Palms, California. She is best known for her accomplishments as a sprinter, specializing in the 400 meters. Trotter became a significant figure in U.S. track and field history due to her Olympic success, resilience, and advocacy for overcoming adversity.

Trotter's track career took off at the University of Tennessee, where she was a standout athlete and helped her team win the NCAA Championship in 2004. That same year, she qualified for her first U.S. Olympic team. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, she reached the semifinals in the 400 meters and won a gold medal as part of the U.S. women's 4x400-meter relay team. This was the beginning of her rise on the international stage.

After Athens, Trotter faced a series of injuries, including a serious knee injury that threatened her career. Despite these setbacks, she worked tirelessly to return to form, shwoing her determination and resilience. Her perserverance paid off in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she helped the U.S. relay team secure a bronze medal in the 4x400 meters.

Trotter's greatest individual achievement came in the 2012 London Olympics. After years of physical and mental challenges, she made a remarkable comeback, finishing third in the 400 meters, earning a bronze medal. She also contributed to the U.S. women's 4x400-meter relay team, which won gold, adding another Olympic medal to her career toal.

In additon to her athletic achievements, Trotter is known for her off-track effort. She has worked as an advocate for anti-doping in sports and founded the Test Me, I'm Clean initiative, promoting clean competiton. She also used her platform to inspire others to overcome obstacles in life, giving motivational speeches and mentoring young athletes.

Trotter's career is a testament to her incredible work ethic, mental toughness, and positive outlook, making her an inspirationla figure both in and outside the sports world.

Sponsorship Levels

Presenting Sponsor - $10,000 (SOLD)

Presenting Sponsorship signs at the Girls In The Game luncheon
Two tables of nine, including a CSU female student-athlete at each table (16 guest seats)
16 invitations to a pre-luncheon private event with guest speaker for a meet and greet and photo opportunities
Logo placement on all printed materials (invitations, promotional flyers and associated materials)
Card placement and gobo lights with logo at luncheon
Logo website placement at csucougars.com and all other ticketing access points
On-stage appearance during scholarship presentation
Prominent logo on event screen
On-stage recognition throughout the event
Radio ads promoting event of the WCUG 88.5 FM Cougar Radio
Other creative opportunities to align with this unique event for Columbus
Opportunity for table set up in lobby before event

Clinic Sponsor following the luncheon - $7,500 (SOLD)

Logo website placement at csucougars.com and all other access points as the Official Clinic Sponsor
Prominent logo recognition as the clinic sponsor in all print and punblished materials
Oppurtunity to provide product, giveaways, shirts, etc. at the clinic
Two tables of nine, including a CSU female student-athlete at each table (16 guest seats)
Eight invitations to a pre-luncheon private event with guest speaker for a meet and greet, with photo oppurtunity
On-stage recognition throughout the event

Gold Sponsor - $5,000

Two tables of nine, including a CSU female student-athlete at each table (16 guest seats)
Eight invitations to a pre-luncheon private event with guest speaker for a meet and greet and photo opportunities
Prominent logo in the printed program (deadline TBA)
Prominent logo on event screen
On-stage recognition throughout the event

Silver Sponsor - $2,500

Table of nine, including a CSU female student-athlete (eight guest seats)
Four invitations to a pre-luncheon private event with guest speaker for a meet and greet and photo opportunities
Logo in the printed program (deadline TBA)
Logo on event screen

Bronze Sponsor - $1,000

Table of nine, including a CSU female student-athlete (eight guest seats)
Mention in the printed program (deadline TBA)
Listed on event screen

Table - $500

Table of eight

Vendor Sponsor - $500

Table set up in arena before and during the event
One table seat at the luncheon

Individual Seats - $75

Named Endowed Scholarship Program
Class of 2024

In 2023, the Girls In The Game planning team founded the Named Endowed Scholarship Program, a scholarship program that will ensure permanent and annual funding for female student-athletes through generous donors. The first class of Named Endowed Scholarship recipients was in 2024, and they were honored on the eve of the GITG luncheon with a private reception with their donors, keynote speaker Kristine Lilly, and other supporter of female student-athletes.

Named Endowed Scholarship Recipients of 2024:

Mary V. Blackmon - Women's Athletics

Jillian Bretz – Basketball

Brooke Thompson – Softball

Linda and John Shinkle - Women's Basketball

Olonna Rawls

Sally and John Walden, Honoring Jimbo Davis – Cheer

Caroline Cranford

Halley Doster

Sally and John Walden Cheer, Honoring Janet W. Davis - Cheer

Zaria Burns

Tybee Wilson