Respect, teamwork, resilience, inclusivity, enthusiasm. These are the tenets of Chapin Athletics that guide our student-athletes along with the School’s Core Values of Curiosity, Excellence, Humanity and Integrity. The courage to lead and sportsmanship are also at the forefront of our program, with coaches and teachers instilling confidence and pride.
Across all grades and seasons, our Athletic Department fosters a love of sports and encourages all students to engage in movement and the spirit of competition. To celebrate this, and in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 4, the department hosted a special panel, “Women Making An Impact,” moderated by our Class 12 Athletics President.
The four panelists* — Batouly Camara, Maia Chamberlain, Hayley Hayden and Kelli Hyjek — took their seats in the Athletic Center, eager to share with Middle and Upper School students how sports have helped shape them into the people they are today.
Following an introduction by Director of Athletics Bridget Carlin, the senior began by posing the first questions to Batouly, a professional basketball player and founder of Women and Kids Empowerment (W.A.K.E.): “Can you share how your involvement in basketball has shaped the trajectory of your professional career and the work you’re doing with W.A.K.E.? What skills do you rely upon as a former D1 athlete and how have the experiences you gained through your master’s program in sports management prepared you to lead and make an impact in the world?”
Citing the many transferrable life skills she’s acquired, Batouly described a particular instance that has stuck with her. Following a loss against Louisville during college, her coach played the game film for the team – but only of the bench. Their was a lack of energy all around. Who you are, in the face of a loss or when the end result is uncertain, can become how you show up to everything. “We ran for an hour that day,” she continued, “but those who ran their hardest…that’s who they are at their core.” Batouly said she often remembers that moment and, even when it’s difficult, chooses to give it her all in every aspect of her life.
Kelli, who’s in her 11th year as an ESPN content producer, was asked about a typical day in her job. “No day is ever the same,” but teamwork, she said, has carried through in all aspects of her life. “I can’t produce a show by myself…as a producer, I’m like the coach. The anchors are my point guards. There are so many people behind the scenes.”
“Maia, when you look back and think about the choices you made that got you to this position in your professional career as an Olympic athlete, can you talk to us a little about mentorship, making sacrifices, and how you were able to achieve your dreams?” the senior asked.
Team USA Olympic Fencer Maia Chamberlain began by saying that many people have helped her in her athletic journey. “My parents, coaches, peers…they helped me stay hungry after a win and positive after a loss.” Mentorship, though, isn’t always direct. “You can mirror the choices and actions of athletes you see and admire,” she said.
In terms of sacrifices, Maia noted that while there are some, “it doesn’t feel like a ‘loss’ when you’re pursuing your dream.” She described tackling adversities in bite-sized pieces, saying, “I wasn’t thinking about the Olympics at nine years old,” but focused on building the skills that she could.
Hayley, the Assistant Field Hockey Coach of the Columbia women's field hockey team and a former collegiate field hockey player, underscored the importance of gratitude. While she understands that students have a lot on their plates — as she does with currently pursuing her master’s in social work — Hayley always reframes her thinking. “What a privilege it is to go to a great school,” she said, “To get up at 6 a.m. for practice and move my body.”
Hayley also discussed the power of failure. “That’s how you learn…It’s going to be hard to achieve lofty goals — and to fail — but you show up and make sure you’re being consistent.”
Clearly captivated by the discussion, many students from Classes 4-12 stayed behind after it ended to ask more questions of the panelists.
Our Athletics Department has thoughtfully designed a program that allows the whole school to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. From a slideshow featuring professional community (PC) playing sports in their youth, students vs. faculty basketball shoot-out games, sports documentary screenings to their annual Middle School pin design contest. And, of course, they encouraged the community to cheer on our Gators at their final competitions of the winter season!
*Full Bios:
Batouly Camara
Batouly Camara, a proud New Yorker with deep roots in Guinea, West Africa, identifies as a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and Muslim humanitarian. She is an acclaimed TEDx and international speaker, published author, and professional basketball player. Batouly has been recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in sports and was awarded the 2020 ESPYs Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award.
Her basketball journey began as a top high school recruit, leading her to play at the University of Kentucky and the University of Connecticut, where she earned her Master’s in Sports Management. Batouly is also the founder of Women and Kids Empowerment (W.A.K.E), a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and women through sports, education, and social entrepreneurship globally.
Currently, Batouly is leading the creation of the first all-girls basketball academy in Guinea. This initiative provides girls with professional development, training and scholarships to excel in sports and education. She is now in her second year as a Ph.D. candidate in UMass Amherst’s Sport Inclusion program.
Maia Chamberlain
Maia Chamberlain, a 2022 graduate from Princeton University, is a world-renowned fencer. Maia currently ranks as the #1 best fencer in the country and was named a First-Team All-American in the NCAA. Maia is a member of the USA Fencing Team, which competed in the 2024 Olympic games in Paris, with hopes to qualify for the 2028 Games in LA. Maia currently resides in NYC, where she is in her second year as an Assistant Varsity Fencing Coach here at The Chapin School.
Hayley Hayden
Hayley Hayden is the Assistant Field Hockey Coach of the Columbia Lions women's field hockey team, having just completed her first year on staff. Hayley is a 2024 University of Pennsylvania graduate and a four-year member of the UPenn Field Hockey Team. She went on to play her final year of eligibility at Boston College, where the team advanced to the ACC Championship game and the first round of the NCAA tournament. At UPenn, Hayley majored in psychology and minored in architecture. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Columbia’s School of Social Work.
Kelli Hyjek
Kelli Hyjek, a 2012 graduate of Manhattanville College and a former member of the Valiants’ D3 women’s basketball team, is in her 11th year as a content producer for ESPN, having gotten her start with NBC Sports Group. Some of Kelli’s most notable work includes covering the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014, where she won her first Sports Emmy for “Outstanding New Approaches.” In 2021, she won her second Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Studio Show” for her work on SportsCenter. Kelli’s perspective as an athlete plays a big role in her storytelling and production.
