In the early 1960s, you could count the number of women’s athletic teams at Iowa State on one hand.

In fact, make that a closed fist.

Forty years later, there are 10 women’s teams and 175 female athletes wearing cardinal and gold.

In recognition of those athletes’ contributions to the university, the ISU athletic department will host its fifth Celebration of Women in Athletics Saturday. The department will sponsor a reception to pay tribute to former athletes and coaches.

The past few months, you’ve seen and heard about the stories of some of the current female Cyclones. Golfer Lisa Meshke has struggled with injuries, and sophomore Kate Kirwan came to the soccer field after a medical redshirt and became the team’s leading scorer.

From the volleyball court came stories of Amanda Craig being a “spark plug” and senior Renae Pruess emerging from a quiet shell to become a vocal team leader.

Now it is time to take a look back on a small portion of the history of women’s athletics at Iowa State. Over the next three days, the Daily will present stories on a handful of past Cyclones who made outstanding contributions to their individual programs or have gone on to pursue professional careers.

These are the athletes who made the accomplishments of All-Big 12 point guards Stacy Frese and Lindsey Wilson, All-American high jumper Gina Curtis-Rickert, All-American gymnast Erin Dethloff, All-Big 12 swimmer Petra Plaminkova and countless other Cyclones of the 1990s and 2000s possible.

Monica Missel Youngblut, Basketball

Susan Nosal Wiseman, Volleyball

Merry Happe Wilson, Volleyball

Ellyn Bartges, Tennis

Beth Greiman, Softball/Basketball

Patti McDonald, Softball

Janice Beck Stock, Track

Linda Dvorak Light, Softball

Suna Bayrakal, Tennis

Elaine Christensen Van Dyck, Cross Country/Track

Hayley Mercer, Soccer

Susan Deppe, Cross Country/Track

Tracy Graham Lester, Volleyball

Jenni Reiling Myers, Basketball

Christine Mangold, Tennis

Nicole Peterson Nigg, Gymnastics

Debra Ward Wood, Track

Ann Backhaus, Tennis

Deb Bryant Janssen, Gymnastics

Elaine McAlexander Baughman, Track

Sharon Anholt Woodward, Tennis

Ada Lambert Potratz, Volleyball/ Field Hockey

Kirstin Hugdahl, Volleyball

Tanya Twedt Rhine, Track

Cindy Frederickson, Golf/Field Hockey

Cathy Mangold Harrington, Tennis

Christina Young, Golf

Linda Evans, Volleyball

Barb Sanderson Croxdale, Softball

Cathy Abell Hargis, Track

Faye Perkins, Softball, Basketball, Track

Sara Linneman Carlson, Golf

Terry Helgeson Craft, Basketball

Missy Roberts, Volleyball

Linda Welch Holbrook, Volleyball

Julie Witt Fuller, Softball

Lisa Hyland Smallwood, Softball

Peggy Jones Lettow, Softball

Dana Burson Lafrenz, Volleyball

Tina Amfahr Parris, Softball

Diane Doles Lichtenberg, Volleyball