A salute to women in athletics
February 3, 2004
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