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.
While the UW-Eau Claire women's golf program got its official start in 1995 and entered the conference in 1996, there was a Blugold pioneer that came many years before that made her mark in the golf world.
Rosemary Iverson, recognized by Golf Magazine as "a young golfer to watch" as a high schooler, came to UW-Eau Claire in 1973 and did not let a lack of a women's team keep her from competing. Iverson entered meets as an independent, which included earning individual honors at the women's Illinois State Invitational all four years with her highest finish coming in 1973 when she took second.
Iverson's skill was noticed by the athletics staff and in 1974, was invited to tryout for the men's team and made the squad. While she only competed officially on the men's golf team for one season, she played women's tournaments throughout her four years as a Blugold and also played on the women's basketball team.
"We approached Rosemary and asked her if she wanted to try out for the men's team," said Blugold pioneer Judy Kruckman. "She tried out and qualified with scores that placed her third or fourth on the roster! During the season, she had to tee off from the men's tees which did impact the quality of her game."
|
|
After graduation, Iverson would become a golf professional in Minneapolis and was a Class "A" member of the Professional Golf Association (PGA) and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was also the first woman elected to PGA membership in the Midwest in 1983 and was twice named the LPGA's Midwest Teacher of the Year. She would coach for over 25 years and loved teaching golf to her students. Iverson's success would earn her a place in the Blugold Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1989.
In 1995, a varsity women's golf team was established with Doug Georgianni leading the squad. Georgianni led the Blugolds to team success right from the start, finishing first or second in the conference each season and earned the program's first trip to the national meet in 2000-01, where Eau Claire finished ninth in the nation.
"Doug was very passionate about the game of golf and also about being a coach," said three-time All-Conference player Stacy (Groettum) Davis. "He had a fire and big personality that made him a joy to be around. I was lucky to play golf for him for four years."
The following year, John Rawdon took over as head coach and built on the foundation already set. The Blugolds again took first or second in the conference each of his four seasons, and Eau Claire not only made the national tournament each year but also finished in the top seven with the 2004-05 team tying for third in the nation. This success continued for five more years under John Means.
Then in 2010, one of Means' former golfers would take the reigns as Meghan (Sobotta) Murphy was named head coach and became the first female coach for the Blugolds.
Watch Jenny Arneson talk about the hiring women
Murphy continued the program's success, winning three conference titles in her four years and took the team to nationals in three seasons and individuals in the other.
"Coming back as the first female coach, I am proud to be a leader and mentor for the next generation of women golfers," said Murphy. "I look back fondly on my time at UWEC, both as a student-athlete and as a head coach. I enjoyed the whole experience from the van rides, to the 5 a.m. wake up calls - well maybe not that! - to the competition."
After Murphy, Mike Greer and Courtney Everett led the Blugolds before current Head Coach Darrin Skinner took over in 2018.
In just 25 seasons these seven coaches led the Blugolds to nine conference championships and have finished in the Top 10 in the nation 11 times. Eau Claire has collected 68 individual All-Conference and 19 All-American honors. Five Blugolds have captured Conference Player of the Year honors with three being named the Conference Scholar-Athlete.
"I can't wait to see what the future holds for the future teams and wish them all the best of luck," said Murphy.
To help the program to continue to thrive, the family of Coach Georgianni has generously stepped forward to match the next $2,000 donated to the Women's Golf Fund in honor of the 50th Anniversary celebration. To contribute to the Women's Golf Fund or to Women's Athletics in general, visit the UWEC Foundation website.
