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.
The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis program started in 1970-71 under the direction of Blugold Pioneer, Judy Kruckman. Two years later, the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) expanded to include tennis, giving more opportunities for student-athletes. Kruckman who was also coaching the swim and dive team, would lead the tennis squad for four seasons before turning it over to Kathy Munns for a season (1974-75) and then Diane Gilbertson (1975-79).
"I have such fond memories of my years at UWEC and particularly my time with the tennis team," said alumna Dorothy Murphy. "I knew that my first year on the team was one of the first, if not the very first, year that Eau Claire fielded an intercollegiate tennis team. What I didn't realize at that time was what an opportunity we were getting as players to open the door for all the women that would follow us representing UWEC. It has been fun following the team and their many successes over the years. Tennis is a lifetime sport, and I continue to play multiple times a week, both socially and competitively. I'm looking forward to the next 50 years of women's athletics at UWEC."
Murphy made the best of the opportunity, holding the No. 1 singles position all four years and earning all-conference honors from 1975-78. She was also a conference champion at No. 1 doubles in 1978 and was named the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram's Athlete of the Month during the 1977 season. For her efforts, she was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame in 1988.
Listen to Judy talk about her tennis student-athletes
In 16 seasons, Skrivseth compiled an incredible overall record of 472-159-7 with a .745 winning percentage. The Blugolds were just as successful off the court, according to Joan (Pedersen) Bachmeier.Following Gilbertson would be another Blugold Pioneer in Marilyn Skrivseth. It wouldn't take long for the young program to become successful under Skrivseth, not only at the conference level but on the national stage as well. The Blugolds won their first WWIAC title in 1980-81, and they would finish the season with a 51-7 record and place third in the nation.
"When you joined the Blugold tennis team, you became a part of a positive, competitive, family environment full of fun, crazy personalities," said Bachmeier. "Coach Skrivseth created a work hard, play hard environment. Her focus on team friendships and support for each other on and off the court made our Blugold family."
The strong team culture clearly paid off. Bachmeier, a 1985 Blugold alumna, was the conference champion for the Blugolds at No. 3 doubles in 1983, No. 1 doubles in 1984 and was the conference runner-up at No. 2 doubles in 1981. She also earned team Most Valuable Player honors in both 1984 and 1985.
In addition, Bachmeier played on the Blugold Women's Basketball team (1984-85) and on the club softball team in 1983 before it became a varsity sport in 1985. In 1990, Bachmeier was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame.
Following graduation, Bachmeier went on to coach girls and boys tennis and girls basketball at the high school level while teaching in the Eau Claire Area School District. She is now retired after 34 years of service. The Eau Claire native also served as a tennis pro at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club and continues to compete on the tennis court, playing in local tournaments.
The success the Blugolds saw in the 80's continued into the new decade with some of the top players in the program's history competing at that time, including Kady (Hickman) Monson (1993-97), Coralie (Lockner) Beckman (1996-2000) and Molly (Cope) Breunig (1997-2001).
Monson was the conference No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles champion in both her sophomore and junior seasons and was a member of four consecutive conference championship teams.
"First and foremost, I feel so privileged to have played under the leadership of Marilyn Skrivseth," said Monson. "She has become a lifelong friend, and I fully believe the success that UWEC women's tennis had in the 1990's was because of her incredible coaching. She was positive, encouraging, creative, intelligent and approachable. She taught us about life, using sport as the object lesson. We were incredibly successful, but she always made sure we didn't let that get to our heads. She treated us with respect and would often tell us that "we were adults, so she expected us to make adult decisions."
As a senior, Monson won the conference No. 2 singles crown and was also the No. 2 doubles runner-up as well as being selected the conference scholar-athlete for her sport. That year, she played with air cast splints on both legs due to periostitis in her shins.
For her career, Monson produced a 59-16 singles record with all but seven matches in the No. 1 spot. She was 53-11 in doubles play, again with all but seven matches in the top position.
Breunig and Alison Hover were the only other Blugolds to win a conference No. 1 singles title more than once.
"I have very fond memories of my time as a UWEC athlete," said Monson. "As my high school daughter is preparing to potentially play college tennis somewhere, I find myself vetting other programs based on my great experience at UWEC."
Monson was a two-time Blugold Super Six winner and also the recipient of a UW-Eau Claire Outstanding Senior Award in 1997.
After graduation Monson has spent time teaching in the classroom and on the tennis court and operated tennis camps in Eau Claire and other cities. She has coached JV and varsity boys and girls tennis at a number of high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin and has served as a tennis clinic instructor at many camps. She has also worked as a Visiting Tennis Professional for the USTA Northern Section and as a National USTA Recreational Coach Trainer and Quickstart Trainer.
Beckman is one of four Blugold women's tennis players who were named to the 12-member WIAC All-Centennial women's tennis team in 2012.
During her Blugold career, Beckman won three conference singles titles and contributed to two conference doubles crowns. She helped the Blugolds to WIAC team championships all four years she was on the team and was a member of the first Blugold team to qualify for the NCAA playoffs in 2000.
Beckman won the conference No. 1 singles title as a freshman, bumping teammate and Blugold Hall of Famer Monson out of the No. 1 spot in 1996 after Monson had won the two previous conference No. 1 crowns.
The bumping continued the next year when Beckman was bumped to the No. 2 spot by Breunig, who became the most decorated women's tennis player in WIAC history. Beckman then won the No. 2 singles crown as a sophomore and senior. She teamed with Angie Johnson to claim the No. 1 doubles title as a freshman and with Breunig for the No. 1 doubles title as a junior. She played in every conference singles and doubles final during her career, finishing runner-up in the years she did not win.
Beckman compiled a 92-30 singles record including a 45-18 mark playing at No. 1 or in open competition. Her combined doubles record with Johnson and Breunig was 84-31.
Like Bachmeier and Monson, Beckman went into education following her graduation from UW-Eau Claire.
Breunig has all the credentials to be considered the most outstanding women's tennis player in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history.
As just a freshman, Breunig took the conference by storm, moving into the No. 1 spot and finished her first season with a 23-3 singles mark and was named the Midwest Region Rookie of the Year. Breunig, one of the four Blugold players to be named to the 12-member WIAC All-Centennial team, is the only player in conference history to win four consecutive No. 1 singles titles. She also is one of just four women's tennis players in conference history to earn All-American honors, doing that in both 1999 and 2001. She qualified for the NCAA individual tournament all four years as a Blugold and amassed a 97-21 career mark in singles play. As a senior, she won the Midwest Regional Qualifying Rolex tournament and lost in the finals of the National Rolex Small College Championships that year.
Listen to Marilyn talk about the growth of the sport and how the talent level rose each year
With Breunig leading the charge, the Blugolds won four conference team championships and qualified for the school's first two NCAA appearances in 2000 and 2001.
Breunig also competed in doubles, compiling an 81-28 record including a conference No. 1 doubles championship with Beckman in 1998. She also lettered as a member of the women's basketball team in 1997-98 before making the decision to concentrate on tennis.
An outstanding student as well, Breunig was co-winner of the WIAC Scholar-Athlete award for tennis as a senior and also was selected as a Blugold Super Six recipient.
Breunig has continued to be a competitive athlete following her graduation. She has completed the Twin Cities and Grandma's marathons and won a national Mother-Daughter tennis tournament with her mom Cathy. She has played on numerous USTA tennis teams, qualifying and competing at national tournaments in both the women's and mixed divisions. She has also played on a World Team Tennis team, which has qualified for national tournament competition twice.
After Skrivseth left the coaching ranks in 1996-97 and was able to focus on her role as the athletic director full-time, Felipe Teixeira took over for the next four seasons. After a one year stint by Tracy Saloka, Tom Gillman coached the Blugolds from 2001-2004 and again from 2010-2019. Craig Monson coached in the years between Gillman's. Last spring, Bachmeier stepped in to coach when Gillman stepped down. Currently, Matt Loen is serving as an interim head coach along with his duties as the men's hockey head coach.
"As an athlete at Eau Claire, I learned how to manage my time," said Monson. "I was proud to represent UWEC as we competed throughout the Midwest. Traveling to conference and regional tournaments at UW-Madison and ITA's at Luther College where we played tons of tennis are some of my favorite memories."
"Long van rides to Hilton Head, South Carolina for spring break tennis helped us to bond as teammates and also gave us many interesting stories to tell," continued Monson. "All in all, I couldn't have had a better experience playing college tennis, and I am grateful to have been a Blugold tennis player."
Blugold Pioneer and tennis coach, Marilyn Skrivseth is matching the first $2,000 donated to the Women's Tennis Fund in honor of the 50th Anniversary celebration. To contribute to the Women's Tennis Fund or to Women's Athletics in general, visit the UWEC Foundation website.
