GREENVILLE, S.C. – Conference Carolinas will be celebrating National Girls & Women in Sports Day with EmpowHER Hour on Wednesday, February 5. The hour will be highlighted by guests Mickey Grace and Carrie Lingo

All Conference Carolinas female coaches and administrators are invited to the EmpowHER Hour. To register for the event that starts at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 5, click here.

Mickey Grace is a defensive analyst for the University of Connecticut (UCONN) football program, marking a significant milestone as the first woman in this role for the team. A native of Philadelphia, Grace has a rich history in football as a standout player at Germantown High School, where she became the first female to earn All-Public League honors as a defensive end. She later attended West Chester University, expanding her athletic experience with rugby.

Before joining UCONN, Grace gained experience coaching at Dartmouth, worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the LA Rams. Her diverse skill set and engaging personality have made her a natural born leader. Beyond her work on the field, she is a passionate mentor, leading initiatives like the "She's My Coach" program for high school girls interested in a football career. Grace embraces her mission to break down barriers in the coaching world.

Carrie Lingo, a proud native of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is a cornerstone of the local sports community. Her impressive career began in field hockey at Cape Henlopen High School and continued at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Lingo went on to play for the U.S. National Field Hockey Team, representing her country at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Lingo has dedicated herself to mentoring young athletes, particularly women and girls, empowering them to pursue their dreams in sports. She has coached numerous teams, organized field hockey camps, and founded the Amateur Athlete Scholarship, a nonprofit organization that provides funding for aspiring Olympians.

Lingo's contributions to sports and her community have earned her numerous accolades, including being named Delaware’s Outstanding Athlete of 2007 and being inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Known for her work ethic, determination, and infectious positivity, Lingo continues to inspire the next generation of athletes with her unwavering commitment to excellence.

This is Conference Carolinas
Conference Carolinas has a rich tradition in roots that dates back to its inception on Dec. 6, 1930. The NCAA Division II athletics conference presently has member schools located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member institutions for the 2024-25 academic year are Barton, Belmont Abbey, Chowan, Converse, Emmanuel, Erskine, Francis Marion, King, Lees-McRae, Mount Olive, UNC Pembroke, North Greenville, Shorter, Southern Wesleyan and Young Harris.

Conference Carolinas believes in the development and formation of the whole person in body, mind and soul. Our students are nationally recognized for their extraordinary success in the classroom, in the community and at the highest levels of NCAA competition.

Conference Carolinas is built upon the idea of offering challenging NCAA competition in an environment that fosters both the academic and athletic achievements of its student-athletes. Conference members offer exemplary educations and scholarships for performance in the classroom and on the field. Conference Carolinas and its members are committed to challenging adversity and building tomorrow's leaders.

Learn more at ConferenceCarolinas.com.

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