Just as Liz Willis was becoming a new mom, her life got even more complicated. Following complications towards the tail end of her pregnancy and into labor and delivery, Liz underwent a leg amputation, and doctors were baffled by her survival. After re-learning how to walk and regaining mobility, Liz turned to running to cope. Since then, Liz has run on some of the biggest stages in the world, including the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and now multiple times at the Boston Marathon. Her incredible story and how it has changed her perspective on life all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches Podcast. 

Follow Wichita Adaptive Sports on Facebook and Instagram @wichitaadaptivesport

You can also contribute to Wichita Adaptive Sports here: https://www.wichitaadaptivesports.org/ 

No matter what changes in her life, one thing is always clear: Reagan Rust loves to play hockey. She even says she is obsessed with hockey, and it shows on the ice. Reagan played college hockey at Boston University, eventually turning professional and playing overseas. She now plays in the Premier Hockey Federation for the Metropolitan Riveters. Aside from following her hockey dreams, Reagan is dedicated to growing the sport and supporting young athletes as well as her peers. What she loves about being on the ice, how she is leading the next generation of athletes and her mission to spread mental health awareness all on this episode of Pretty Pitches. 

Follow Reagan on Instagram @rea.rust and follow Female Athlete Society on Instagram @femaleathletesociety 

Please consider supporting the following nonprofits and visiting their websites for mental health resources:

https://www.hilinskishope.org/

https://www.morgansmessage.org/

https://www.katiessave.org/

Angela Buckner takes hometown hero to a new level. From setting records on the basketball court at Wichita State to running the iconic Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, Angela's passion for Wichita runs deep. Her path to becoming one of Wichita State's most prolific basketball players, why she wants to convince local talent to go to WSU and how she scored her dream job (and met a childhood hero) all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. 

You can support the Lynette Woodard Rec Center here: https://www.wichita.gov/parkandrec/Pages/default.aspx 

And check out the latest news and schedules for WSU athletics here: www.goshockers.com 

The evolution of women's soccer is one of my favorite subjects, as you all know, and for this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the biggest change makers in the world of soccer. Julianne Sitch played soccer professionally in the US, Sweden and Australia before transitioning to coaching. She coached in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), US Soccer (Under 16 Girls National Team), NCAA Division I (University of Illinois - Chicago) and NCAA Division III (University of Chicago). Earlier this year, Sitch took over the men's soccer program at the University of Chicago and led the team to an undefeated season and the university's first national title. It's the first time in history that a woman has led a men's soccer program to a national title. Her take on the team's accomplishments, the evolution of women in soccer and what she hopes the next generation takes away from this season, all on this week's episode. 

It's not a sport you hear about often, but it's gaining popularity, especially among young women. Polo is one of the oldest known team sports in the world, and is played with a ball, a mallet and (my favorite part) horses. When Lily Wakim moved back to Wichita during the Covid-19 pandemic, she found herself bored and missing her polo-playing friends. That's when she found the Fairfield Polo Club in Haysville, and she's been hooked ever since. Why she loves polo and why you should love it (and maybe even try it) all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. 

Follow Lily on Instagram at @lilywakim_

You can find the Fairfield Polo Club on Instagram (@fairfieldpoloclub), Facebook (Fairfield Polo Club) and online (www.fairfieldpoloclub.com). 

In the age of the NIL (name, image & likeness), college athletes across the board are getting opportunities to earn money off the field. But with the massive hype around football and men's basketball, many women had a steeper hill to climb than their male counterparts when it came to cashing in on NIL opportunities. The Lady Shocks Squad is designed to change that. The Lady Shocks Squad is a new NIL collective just for women athletes at Wichita State University. It's one of the first women-only NIL collectives, representing top women athletes, and leaning on a wealth of experience from former women athletes at WSU. The motivation behind the group and how you can be a part of it all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. 

Plus -- tune in to see why Paige is freaking out after the Thanksgiving holiday break. 

You can find the Lady Shocks Squad online at https://www.ladyshockssquad.com/ and on Instagram @ladyshockssquad

Happy Thanksgiving! I have something new to be thankful for, and that's all of you! Thank you for listening and thank you to all of my amazing guests! 

In this week's episode -- After begging her mom for years, Sophia Digregorio burst onto the Crossfit scene at the age of 15, and in just two years she worked her way to a 29th worldwide ranking in the teenage division. Now, Sophia is continuing her career in the open division, but that's not her only focus. Her inspiration for crossfit, experiences learning the sport and her newest adventure, all on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. 

Follow Sophia on Instagram @sophiaadigregorio

A recent article from USA Today showed the stark contrast between scholarships awarded for men's sports vs. women's sports, with the NCAA awarding 98 men's scholarships for headcount sports compared to 47 women's scholarships for headcount sports (and even down to 35 scholarships at some universities). The main issue -- football. Many universities award scholarships to nearly every member of a 100 person team, while many women's sports and lesser watched men's sports pay the price by accepting partial scholarships. The conversation with Paige and Aaliyah (although she leaves about four minutes in) on this week's episode of Pretty Pitches. 

You can find the sources for this week's episode here:

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/17/college-athletic-scholarships-ncaa-title-ix-rules/10142113002/ 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/evangerstmann/2019/04/24/why-gender-equity-in-college-sports-is-impossible-unless-colleges-do-something-radical/?sh=3d119039244e

https://www.timesunion.com/womenatwork/article/All-In-Women-a-rarity-in-sports-leadership-15336135.php

Girls and women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Within the last couple of years women’s wrestling has become a sanctioned sport in junior colleges and NAIA universities. NCAA and high school interest in the sport has grown significantly in the last few years. According to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of girls who wrestle in high school has grown from around 800 to over 31 thousand. 

Follow Tim Prescott and the Friends University wrestling teams on Instagram at @friends_wrestling and Facebook at Friends U. Wrestling. You can find their schedule online at https://www.friendsathletics.com/sport/0/29 (men's) and https://www.friendsathletics.com/sport/0/30 (women's). 

This week we recorded at Cocoa Dolce in downtown Wichita.