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.
In just 36 seasons, the UW-Eau Claire softball program has achieved many honors and awards, including reaching the pinnacle – a national title. The success of the program can be easily linked to the early pioneers and determined athletes that paved the way for the future.
The program's first varsity season began in 1985 after members of the intramural team pushed to become an official member of the athletic department. This group was coached by Shelly Fox in their first season while she also coached volleyball and taught in the Physical Education Department. Bonni Kinne took over the following season and led the Blugolds for three years, and in 1988 Eau Claire recorded their first winning season and finished second in the WIAC.
Deb Allyn took the reigns for a season before Bruce Finke coached the Blugolds in 1990 and 1991. In his second and final year, Finke and the Blugolds won their first conference championship and finished the season with a 28-12 record. Cindy Henson coached the following two seasons before Blugold Pioneer Sandy Schumacher took over to coach the 1994 squad.
Watch Schumacher talk about her love of softball
Watch Schumacher talk about coaching
JoEllen Bailey followed Schumacher and led the Blugolds for five seasons and took Eau Claire to new heights. Building on 20-plus win seasons her first two years, Bailey guided Eau Claire to a 35-8 record in 1997. In addition to capturing the program's second conference championship the Blugolds made their first-ever NCAA post-season appearance. The following year, Eau Claire again won the WIAC title, and for the second time in as many seasons hosted an NCAA regional. Though the Blugolds would fall to the eventual national champion, UW-Stevens Point, Eau Claire set a new program record with 40 wins.
One of the key players during the historic run was first baseman Jill Schoenike Martin (1996-99). A four-time All-Conference selection and two-time All-American, Martin was twice named the WIAC Position Player of the Year. She was also the WIAC's scholar-athlete and was a Blugold Super Six winner. When she graduated Martin left the program with nearly every single and career offensive record. Today she still ranks in the top 10 in numerous categories and holds the school records for career doubles and runs batted in (RBIs). An outstanding first baseman, Martin currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division III for career putouts. She also recieved honors in post-season play, earning spots on the regional All-Tournament team twice and the national All-Tournament team as a senior. Martin was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame in 2010.
"I was honored to be inducted into the UWEC Hall of Fame, but I was more proud to have five women I played with also be inducted," said Martin. "That shows the talent we had, but also how we had team chemistry to be so successful."
The Blugolds came back strong the following season, and though they didn't win the WIAC still earned a place in the NCAA tournament. After defeating UW-Whitewater on their home field to win the program's first regional championship, Martin and the Blugolds returned to Eau Claire to play as they hosted their first NCAA championship tournament. Eau Claire would place fourth in the nation for the 1999 season and finished the year with a 40-14 record.
"When I reflect back on my time at UWEC and on playing softball, I realize there are so many great memories," said Martin. "The telling part is that most of them are off the diamond! When you spend so much time together as a team, on and off the field, you become a family. The 24-hour bus ride to Florida each spring allows for a lot of team bonding. We played hard and had so much fun along the way, and that is what made us successful. The memories of the wins and losses slowly fade away over time, but there are some really big ones that I still recall. Beating Simpson at their tournament in Iowa seemed to be the one that 'put us on the map' my junior year, and that set the tone for how successful we became. I remember the constant battles with UWSP and UWW, including beating them both in the regional to earn the trip to nationals my senior year (1999). And there are just no words to describe playing in a national championship at Carson Park in Eau Claire. Carson Park continues to be my favorite place, and I stop there every time I am back in Eau Claire."
Bailey stepped down as head coach, but Assistant Coach Deb Steward took over and continued to lead the Blugolds down the path of success. Eau Claire won the WIAC title in 2000 and hosted and won the NCAA regional tournament. At the national championship tournament in Salem, Virginia, the Blugolds again finished fourth in the country.
"Coach Bailey and Coach Steward were focused on teaching more than the game of softball, and it's those elements that I take with me today in life and as I coach at the high school level," said Martin. "The single biggest thing I learned was only worrying about what you can control. If it's out of your sphere of control, you are merely wasting time and energy trying to change it. While we learned this in the context of a softball game - i.e. you can't control the weather, umpire or other team, you can certainly control how you play and how you react. This is probably the most important life lesson that I constantly use every day."
Steward only coached for one more season before turning the program over to current head coach, Leslie Huntington.
Huntington's teams would continue to flourish as the Blugolds finished the WIAC regular season in first place four out of Huntington's first five years. More records would be set, as the Blugolds became the first program in the WIAC's history to claim three consecutive conference titles (2004, 2005, 2006). The 2006 team was also the first team in WIAC history to finish the season undefeated in conference play (14-0). That season the Blugolds won another WIAC tournament championship and punched their ticket to the post-season. The Blugolds would fall just short of another national tournament appearance, falling in the regional championship game, 6-5, and ending their season at 37-6.
In 2007, Eau Claire won the WIAC tournament championship and hosted the NCAA regional tournament. Eau Claire would defeat WIAC foe UW-Oshkosh for the regional title and headed back to Salem to another national tournament. This time, the Blugolds would set another program-best, placing third in the nation.
Leading the Blugolds was ace Mallory McKinney (2004-2007). A four-time All-Conference performer and twice named WIAC Pitcher of the Year, McKinney was a force on the mound. She still owns many Blugold pitching records, including lowest career earned run average (ERA), fewest average walks allowed, saves, appearances, wins, shutouts, strikeouts and innings pitched. At the conference level, McKinney still ranks second in the WIAC for shutouts in a season, fourth for season ERA and wins in a season. Nationally, the right-hander still ranks fifth in Division III for consecutive scoreless innings pitched and 11th for consecutive victories. Additionally, McKinney was a key part of the Blugold offense and is tied with Martin for fourth in program history for career homeruns.
"When I think back on my time as a Blugold, I think about the numerous long bus rides, especially the 24-hour one down to Florida where we would have karaoke sessions, TONS of snacks and so many laughs," said McKinney. "I think about the celebrations we had after big wins, the inside jokes, eating in the caf [cafeteria] after practice and all the dingers we would hit! It was some of the best times of my life, and I am so thankful I was able to be a Blugold softball player and play with such amazing teammates and coaches."
After losing five starters to graduation, the 2008 squad took third in the WIAC but got the wins they needed to earn an at-large bid into the post-season. Eau Claire would again host the NCAA regional tournament and just as they had the year prior, went undefeated in the tournament beating UW-Oshkosh for the regional title. Heading back to Salem yet again, the Blugolds would make it one step further, earning a trip to their first-ever national title game. Eau Claire would face a familiar opponent, UW-Whitewater. In the bottom of the ninth, senior Jill (Janke) Millis hit a walk-off homerun to win the program's first national title.
The solo homerun capped an impressive career for Millis, who was a four-time All-Conference and All-Region selection. She currently ranks third in program history for career homeruns, hits and RBIs and appears in the top 10 in numerous offensive categories. A strong first baseman, Millis still holds the school record for career fielding percentage and owns the NCAA Division III record for career putouts. Millis also played in every single game in her four years in a Blugold uniform, starting in all but one due to an injury. Millis also earned the WIAC scholar-athlete award and was a Super Six winner.
"I am thankful for the storybook ending to my Blugold playing career," said Millis. "To win a national championship with a group of people that were the true definition of a team was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. To bring that trophy back to our community was such a fun memory as we were able to share a milestone that was years in the making.
"It is not lost on me how fortunate I am to have been born in my generation," said Millis. "Because of the trailblazing women that came before me, I had the opportunity to play the game I love at the college level and had amazing experiences thanks to sports. I am also so thankful for my family who always encouraged me to be my very best and never wavered in their support. My parents deserve so much credit, and I am particularly thankful for my mom. She passed on her drive and strength, and I am so grateful for all of her and my dad's support. My mom never got to play softball, a sport she loves, because she grew up in a time where opportunities for girls were very limited. She made sure my sister and I knew what sacrifices women made and the battles they fought in order to pave the way for future generations, and I am so proud to be her daughter. I hope that I can leave such a legacy for the next generation."
After graduate school and briefly coaching at UW-Stevens Point, Millis returned to UW-Eau Claire in the fall of 2014 and works in the Blugold Athletic Department as the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and Sports Information.
In 2009, Millis and All-American teammate, Casey Leisgang, created a video celebrating the program's 25th anniversary as part of their Journalism capstone project. Watch the video below, which includes an interview with Blugold pioneer Sandy Schumacher.
Following the national title in 2008, the Blugolds have continued to be a contender on the national level, earning five more NCAA appearances including one in 2019. To date, Eau Claire has made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances and has won 11 WIAC titles.
Huntington is currently ranked second in the WIAC for all-time coaching record and is one win away from her 500th career victory. She has also earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors five times.
The program has had 152 All-WIAC selections, 14 All-Americans, nine WIAC Players of the Year, five WIAC Scholar-Athletes, 12 Super Six winners, and 10 have earned spots in the Blugold Hall of Fame in just 36 seasons.
"I am so thankful to be a part of the Blugold family," said Millis. "The softball program and the entire department has had so many strong leaders that have taken us to where we are today. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and I am proud to be in a position where I can work for the school and program that means so much to me."
In honor of the 50th anniversary celebration, Gene Arnold ('85) and his wife Patti will match the first $2,000 donated to the Softball Fund in honor of their daughter, Casey Golden ('15) and her teammates.
To donate, visit the UWEC Foundation website.
