While the 2020-2021 school year will look different for all universities across the nation, it holds special meaning for women's athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as they celebrate 50 years of women's athletics in the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) and later the WIAC.
Though there were Blugold teams prior to 1971, this was the first time that women's athletics had a governing body and started the organizational model that led to what we know today. Throughout the fall semester, the UW-Eau Claire Athletics Department will take a look at the history of Blugold Women's Athletics and share the stories of our women's programs and the people who made it all possible.
Each week will feature a Blugold women's sport as part of "Memorable Mondays" with the first week giving the overall history of women's athletics and note some of the key pioneers that led the way for future Blugolds. Follow the journey of the Blugold women through articles, photos and videos on Blugold Athletics social media.
From the humble beginnings in 1971 to the 13 sports offered for women today, the Blugolds celebrate all those who have played a role in moving women's athletics forward. This group of Blugold women has combined for six team national titles, finished in the top four in the nation 37 times and individually collected 48 national championships. This success would not have been possible without the pioneers who fought fiercely to give women the chance to play at UW-Eau Claire. It is their efforts that has led to many successful seasons and helped put UW-Eau Claire Athletics on the map.
In 1958 the Wisconsin Athletic and Recreation Federation for College Women was formed. The governance was the responsibility of student leaders. Sports days were held in archery, badminton, basketball, golf, gymnastics, tennis and volleyball. In the fall of 1970 WARFCW member school faculty advisors agreed to develop an athletic conference for women after a previously defeated motion in 1966. In the spring of 1971, the first scheduled Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meeting was held. The 12 member institutions (as they are known today) were Carthage College, UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Superior, UW-Whitewater, UW-Madison and UW-Parkside. Judy Kruckman, Physical Education faculty member and pioneer of women's athletics, was the UW-Eau Claire representative. By the Fall of 1971, the first WWIAC competitive sports seasons were held with many women in Physical Education departments volunteering their time to coach and transport their teams to various campuses throughout the state.
Also playing a significant role in the evolution of women's athletics was the passage of Title IX. Passed in 1972 as part of an Education Amendment, the act was created to fill a gap in coverage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination based on race, sex, national origin and religion in employment but did not apply to educational institutions. This is why legislators wrote Title IX which states that "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to the discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance." Learn more about Title IX and it's significance to athletics HERE.
Judy's thoughts on Title IX's impact
The UW-Eau Claire Chancellor at the time, Leonard Haas, appointed Judy Kruckman the Women's Athletic Director for the Blugolds in 1974. Even though the WWIAC had been established many campuses were not recognizing it. By 1975 the conference grew to 16 members with the addition of UW-Milwaukee, Carroll College, UW-Green Bay and Marquette University. Regional and national championships were held with a large school/small school format. This initial format was later changed to a three division format determined by percentages of financial assistance based on athletic ability. In 1982 members joined either the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) or the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). By 1993 all WWIAC institutions had only NCAA Division III affiliation.
Check out a timeline of the WWIAC
Kruckman would go on to develop many sports for women at UW-Eau Claire and won the NAIA All Sports Championship for women in 1983. In 1984 Chancellor Larry Schnack took the helm at UW-Eau Claire and was very supportive of women's athletics. Kruckman said Schnack was the strongest advocate amongst other chancellors in the conference. That same year, Kruckman left UW-Eau Claire and served as the WWIAC Commissioner from 1984-1996. When the WWIAC combined with the WIAC, Kruckman served as the Assistant Commissioner from 1996-98. The Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete Award is named in her honor, and is awarded-to a female senior athlete in each sport in the conference who excels on the field or court and in the classroom.
Judy on the Scholar Athlete Award
The goal of this year's celebration is to honor and recognize the great women who gave their time, energy and dedication to coaching female student-athletes during these initial years of sharing team uniforms, paying for expenses out of their own pockets, driving their cars to competitions and learning how to coach through reading books and watching the men. Besides coaching multiple sports, these pioneers taught several classes, had administrative responsibilities, advised students and started some of the first summer camps for girls. Judy Kruckman, Sandy Schumacher, Mary Mero, Alice Gansel, Ida Hinz and Vesta Buetow, all Physical Education faculty members, played a key role in developing Blugold Athletics for women. As the department added faculty, others took the baton and ran with it, and continued to inspire and coach many student-athletes in the years that followed. Some of the following pioneers and other significant trailblazers will be highlighted in future articles surrounding their respective sports—Sandy Schumacher (volleyball, basketball softball), Mary Mero (gymnastics and diving), Marilyn Skrivseth (tennis and athletic director), Lisa Herb (volleyball and basketball), and Jenny Arneson (cross country and track and field).
There have been many incredible coaches, student-athletes ,administrators, fans and other supporters who laid the foundation for the success the Blugold women's teams enjoy today. Through hard work, dedication and sacrifice UW-Eau Claire's commitment to excellence continues. Follow the journey all fall on Blugolds.com and on social media.
