Tina Kampa and Meredith Lang both had successful careers as collegiate student-athletes. Now, they’ve created a team so that girls of all backgrounds have the opportunity to compete – just like they did.
Kampa grew up playing hockey, and was generally the only person of color on her team. She played collegiately at Bemidji State, graduated in 2021 fourth all-time in the WCHA for blocked shots and was a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team member. She was drafted by the Minnesota Whitecaps in summer 2021.
Lang is one of the best track and field athletes in Morningside College history. She graduated in 2002 a 15-time All-American, two-time national champion in the heptathlon and 14-time North Central Conference champion before the Mustangs transitioned to the NAIA. When she graduated she held 17 school records, and she still holds 11 in sprints, jumps, hurdles and the multi-events.
Lang’s daughters both play hockey, and noticed the same thing Kampa experienced growing up – they were often the only players of color on their teams. Lang and Kampa connected, and together they founded Minnesota Unbounded and the Hockey Ninas – U-10 and U-12 hockey teams made up entirely of players of color from the Twin Cities. Their coaches are also all women of color with hockey backgrounds.
Currently, Minnesota Unbounded is a tournament team featuring 31 players and coaches of color that represent 14 hockey associations across the Metro. Kampa – who serves on the College Hockey for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee – is the team’s head coach, as well as the director. After breaking barriers in their athletic career, the duo continues to break barriers for the next generation of athletes so that the color of a girls’ skin never keeps young athletes from wanting - or being able - to compete.