Amplify Advances
All photos submitted by Amplify.
Grace Strelow
As you walk through the Hamilton High School hallways, you may notice purple flame magnets on lockers. These locker decorations, a sign of uniting girls sports, are for the newly formed club, Amplify. One in three girls at HHS are involved in Amplify, or about 245 girls, making it one of the largest clubs here at HHS. This club's goals are to essentially amplify girls' sports by rallying together to attend other girls sporting events and bring awareness to other activities, either by raising money for said organization or just being there as a sign of support.
After only being established for a few months, the club has accomplished some amazing things. To fund the club, Amplify members have raised $440 by asking for donations at sporting events. The money that the club raises for itself has gone to promotional items such as a banner and the locker decks. Once more is raised, the club hopes to run special events, bring in presenters, and gift free shirts for members. The club has worked to raise money for organizations such as the Hebron House by having members carry around Santa hats during all lunch periods; the girls raised $500. The club continued supporting the Sussex community by also raising $500 for a local homeless shelter.
Amplify has worked hard to promote girls sports through many different avenues. Rarely does a week go by where something isn’t posted on the Amplify Instagram or Instagram story regarding girl sport accomplishments. The club has continued to elevate female athletes by encouraging staff to buy shirts to support Kayla Johnson making it to State for Golf, as well as buying gifts for the Hamilton Bowling Team before their game that sent them to State.
Three teachers showcase the shifts promoted by Amplify.
One of Amplify’s goals is to fill the stands with fans who come to watch girls sports. So far Amplify has had “Amplify Nights” for girls volleyball and basketball with plans for more Amplify Nights in the future for Softball and Soccer. Amplify continues to plan events for the future including: T-shirts for all girls in Amplify and Hamilton staff, a social event for general members, informative events for general members, finding other ways to celebrate non-spectator spring sports, and considering adding a chapter of Amplify at Templeton.
In addition to supporting and recognizing athletes and sports, Amplify is engaging their members to grow into better leaders and advocates. Amplify sent seven girls and one advisor to the Wisconsin Female Athlete Summit. President of Amplify and junior Rosa Martinez adds this about the summit, “The amplify executive board and I got the opportunity to visit Alverno College for a female student-athlete summit for national girls and women in sports day. We were able to hear 5 different speakers talk about topics such as: Title IX, mental toughness, and nutrition. There were 20 different schools there, each bringing 7 student athletes, and many on a waitlist to attend. We were able to hear two different olympians speak, one being a basketball Paralympian, which was my favorite part.”Martinez also orchestrated a tour of the locker rooms to confirm Bronwyn Rhoades’s published article.
Junior Maggie Watson, adds this about the locker room tour, “I had heard about the differences in the locker rooms, but actually getting to see them was a whole other story. It's surprising to see such a difference given how successful both the girls and boy's programs are here at Hamilton. I'm glad Amplify has created a space for these conversations, and I hope to see the club's expansion in the future.”
After only being formed as a club this year, Amplify has already made such an impact on Hamilton and has accomplished so many things. This club has big plans for the future and will most definitely continue to amplify female sports.
