Women in Athletics Program by Millikin University

EEKEND SCHEDUL

F R I DAY, M AY 1 3 Check-in & Help Desk

3-8 p.m. | University Commons

Big Blue Golf Outing

Shotgun start at 1 p.m. | South Side Country Club

Special Screening of “The Last Gold” (2016) 7 p.m. | Avon Theatre

Welcome & Social

9 p.m. | Lock Stock & Barrel

S AT U R DAY, M AY 14 Cross Country Fun Run

7:30 a.m. | University Commons

Check-in & Help Desk

7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | University Commons

Cross Country & Track and Field Reunion 8 a.m. | Frank M. Lindsay Field

Swimming & Triathlon Reunion 8 a.m. | Griswold Pool

Softball Reunion

9 a.m. | Workman Family Softball Field

Golf Reunion

9 a.m. | Decatur Indoor Sports Center (DISC)

Volleyball Reunion 10 a.m. | Griswold Gym

Tennis Reunion

11 a.m. | Fairview Tennis Complex

Soccer Reunion

11 a.m. | Frank M. Lindsay Field

Reunion Lunch

12-1:30 p.m. | University Commons, Johnston Banquet Rooms

Basketball Reunion 2 p.m. | Griswold Gym

EVENING EVENTS

Located at the Decatur Conference Center & Hotel

4-6 p.m. Women in Athletics Anniversary Museum 5-6 p.m. Cocktails with Coaches & Silent Auction 6-8 p.m. Women in Athletics Gala Celebration Semi-formal attire requested

ABLE OF CONTENT 3

BEF O RE T I T LE I X

BA SKETBALL

TITLE IX

VO LLEYBA LL

TENNIS

TRACK & FI E LD

SWIMMING

SO F TBA LL

CRO SS COU N T RY

G O LF

SO CCER

TRIATHLO N

THE NEXT 5 0

A LMA MAT E R

Welcome TRAILBLAZERS Millikin University is thrilled to invite you to experience a snapshot of the past 50 years of our history. This history encompasses the legacy of Women in Athletics at Millikin. From the era prior to those celebrated five decades, when women who wanted to compete in sports had few supporters and even fewer opportunities, to the landmark passing of Title IX in 1972, to the inception of women’s triathlon in 2018, Millikin has been at the forefront, participating in the vastly changing landscape of women’s athletics. Millikin University’s history of Women in Athletics was and is possible because of you, your friends, teammates, coaches, mentors, and more who believed in and fought for women to have the same opportunities as men in educational and athletic arenas. Your contributions, competitive spirit, tireless efforts, and monumental achievements helped to shape the extraordinary legacy of Women in Athletics, which is held with pride by our current student-athletes and will be carried on by future generations of Big Blue women. As you take in this timeline of marked occasions in Millikin’s history, and the history of women in athletics at large, we hope you can recognize and appreciate the pioneering efforts of every woman who broke down barriers, carved paths where none existed, and worked to give women the opportunity to create their own athletic legacies. From Harriett Crannell, considered the pioneer of women’s athletics at Millikin, to influential and life-changing role models such as coaches Linda Slagell and Don Luy, along with those currently coaching and mentoring young women in sports, Millikin’s history and future of Women in Athletics is bright, and most importantly, Big Blue.

BEFORE TITLE I

Overcoming Prevailing Attitudes Before 1970, the privilege of Wearing the Blue and participating in intercollegiate athletics was only afforded to men in educational settings. Women were expected to be satisfied by participating in physical education classes, intramural sports and cheerleading which according to Angela Davis Burke Grace, Class of 1959, was a vastly different activity now than it was during her time at Millikin. The deep disparity in opportunities, coverage, and sentiment toward athletics between women and men was a reflection of prevailing attitudes during that time period, according to Dr. Elaine K. Miller, Class of 1959. For example, While Katherine Switzer’s experience at the 1967 Boston Marathon garnered a great deal of media attention, the year prior, Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb became the first woman recognized by race organizers to have run the Boston Marathon. The next year, Switzer became famous for being the first woman officially registered to run the event. Bracing for potential controversy, Switzer registered under “K. V. Switzer,” despite the event’s rulebook making no mention of gender. During that notable race, Switzer was repeatedly assaulted by race official, Jock Semple, who attempted to rip the number from her and pull her from the race course. Switzer recalled “A big man, a huge man, with bared teeth was set to pounce, and before I could react he grabbed my shoulder and flung me back, screaming ‘Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!’” “There was great objection about women being active in sports or doing anything involving physical exertion. People were afraid the uterus would fall out if you ran too hard,” said Elaine Miller, describing the common sentiment toward women’s sports before the passing of Title IX. “Attitudes said that what women were doing physically jeopardized their intellect. Physical achievement would be accomplished at the expense of intellectual development.”

“People were afraid the uterus would fall out if you ran too hard.” -Dr. Elaine Miller Class of 1959

Dorothy McClure Dr. Dorothy “Dora” McClure was a greatly inspirational figure, both in athletics and academics, according to Elaine Miller. “Dora was so influential in my life. In my senior year there were no female physical education majors. Dora observed me being talented and coordinated and invited me to be the student assistant for that year. I corralled people and took them to the bowling alley or we played deck tennis or basketball,” Miller recalled, mentioning that back then for women, basketball was half-court and with a maximum of three dribbles. “That all changed with Title IX.” Dorothy McClure’s mark on Millikin University and women’s athletics as a whole is alive today. She was a physical education professor at Millikin, which was just one of the areas in which she influenced Elaine Miller. She is also the namesake for the Dorothy McClure Invitational Tournament, which dates back to 1917 and is believed to be the oldest collegiate tennis tournament for women in the nation.

Growing Up Before Title IX Growing up prior to Title IX, Millikin University’s volleyball coach of more than 20 years, Debbie Kiick shared similar experiences of limited or non-existent opportunities in sports. “When I was young, I got to catch fly balls for my father and brother, but I didn’t have the same opportunities to actually play. If I got five swings, they got 500 swings,” Kiick recalled. She did not lack for athletic support during her formative years, however. Kiick and her mother formed a national championship mother-daughter bowling team. It wasn’t until Kiick’s senior year of high school in 1976 that girls were first allowed the opportunity to participate in organized sports, but she quickly discovered that they were not afforded the same resources as the existing men’s teams. “Our uniforms were retired football jerseys. We bought fabric to make our own uniform shorts and we glued felt numbers on cotton shirts.” She also mentioned that actual opportunities for female athletes to compete were few and far between.

Harriett Crannell Harriett Crannell’s legacy at Millikin University is encompassed by her vision, her leadership and her refusal to accept “no” as an answer. Crannell served as a physical education professor from 1967-1994 as well as the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA) advisor. Advocating for women at Millikin who wanted to compete, Crannell forged a path for women’s athletics beyond intramural sports and WAA Play Days. In 1970, two years before the landmark passage of Title IX, Crannell assembled the first women’s basketball team at Millikin University. She served as the women’s basketball coach from 1970-1986, leading her team to an appearance in the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament in 1982. Crannell’s influence extended beyond Millikin to the national level, becoming a key figure in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), and later in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She played a pivotal role in leading the NCAA to recognize women’s athletics in 1981, and later for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) to do the same in 1986. The trailblazing tenacity of Harriett Crannell is remembered and honored, as she embodied the definition of “Wearing the Blue” with all the commitment, selflessness and sacrifice she devoutly believed it deserved.

Enduring Legacies Female athletes at Millikin in the 1950s and Big Blue Student-athletes of today have vastly different experiences in sports, from their uniforms to their opportunities to compete. One factor that sustained in the decades between is the perseverance shown by both groups.

1 9 2 0 - 1 9 7 0S

Women's Athletic Association (WAA) Though the playing field for athletic participation for men and women was wildly uneven before Title IX, women at Millikin University found a way to express interest in sports and to compete. The Women’s Athletic Association was the organization that unified female sport enthusiasts at Millikin prior to the 1970s. As WAA advisor at Millikin, Coach Harriett Crannell recruited women to participate in sports and organized WAA Play Days dedicated to allowing women to compete against each other in a variety of athletic activities.

Elaine Miller may not have been afforded equal athletic opportunities during her collegiate career, but she held tightly to her role models and their progressive lessons. “What Dora showed me was to pursue athletic opportunities and not pay attention to the prevailing attitudes,” Miller remarked. Big Blue women’s basketball team member Aubrey Staton, Class of 2022, expressed similar sentiments. “So much of what we do would not be possible if women weren’t allowed to participate. It feels awesome to be able to compete at a time like this, where so many role models who have come before us are still here to share their experiences,” Staton said. This perseverance is the foundation upon which 50 Years of Women in Athletics was allowed to grow and thrive.

ASKETBAL

E S T. 1 9 7 0 The women’s basketball team at Millikin University predates Title IX by two years, creating a new competition space for female athletes. The vision and determination of several figures, such as Harriett Crannell, Lori Kerans and countless athletes cultivated a legacy of excellence for the program. Across the program’s 50+ years of history, the most lauded achievement is the 2005 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship title. Led to victory by Head Coach Lori Kerans, Assistant Coach Dick Marshall and Assistant Coach Brianna Morrow, the 2004-2005 Big Blue women’s basketball team boasted an overall record (and Millikin record) of 29-2, a CCIW record of 13-1 and a CCIW Tournament Championship. Beyond the National Championship, the program features 20 Athletic Hall of Fame members, more than 60 players who scored 30+ points in a single game and at least one All-CCIW Player every year since the CCIW began recognizing women’s sports in 1986.

Lori Kerans

2005

When considering not only women’s athletics at Millikin, but athletics as a whole, there is probably no name better recognized than Coach Lori Kerans, Class of 1985. Throughout Kerans’ long-spanning career at Millikin (she is currently in her 40th year), she has worn many hats. As a Big Blue studentathlete, Kerans was in the James Millikin Scholars Program, an Academic AllAmerican, a member of the first softball team, and a member of the women’s basketball team that competed in the first NCAA Division III Tournament, in which Millikin finished third in the nation.

NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball National Championship

Following her graduation from Millikin, Kerans continued to build her outstanding legacy by coaching the women’s basketball team from 1986 to 2018, amassing a career record of 556-276, 11 CCIW titles, 11 NCAA Division III tournament appearances, and an NCAA Division III Championship title in 2005, the only national team championship in Millikin history. She was also the first female athletic director at Millikin University and in the CCIW.

Athletic Hall of Fame members

Outside the sphere of athletics, “Coach Kerans” is equally influential, having mentored, advised, and inspired countless students and student-athletes through roles in Student Life, Enrollment and Alumni & Development. Her impact on Millikin University, from athletics and across the institution is extraordinary, and Coach Kerans is deeply proud of the legacy she will one day leave behind. “I want to be remembered as a Millikin product. I’m so very proud of wearing the Blue and I’m very proud of being Big Blue for the rest of my life.”

124

Most points scored team-wide in a single game, December 5, 1992 v. Indiana-South Bend

ITLE IX PASSE

“Sex prejudice is so ingrained in our society that many who practice it are simply unaware that they are hurting. It is the last socially acceptable prejudice.”

E S T. 1 9 7 2 Title IX is the landmark legislation that banned discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs. Passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972, and signed into law by President Richard Nixon, this momentous gender equity law and its protections paved the way for equal access, opportunities and fair treatment for girls and women in educational settings. Though its purpose was to eliminate sex discrimination at the college and university levels, Title IX’s protections also extend to sexual harassment, employment discrimination and notably, athletics. Title IX is most famous for its enormous impact on opportunities, programs, funding and scholarships in sports for girls and women nationwide.

Title IX at Millikin and Across the United States Following its enactment on June 23, 1972, Title IX began to remove barriers and open doors for girls and women to officially compete in sports within high school and college settings. The impact on athletic participation at both levels was significant, with the number of programs, athletes and scholarships growing exponentially. A 2006 study concluded that the number of women participating at the collegiate level had increased more than 450% since Title IX legislation was passed.

Bernice Sandler An American activist for women’s rights, Bernice Resnick Sandler is widely known for her groundbreaking research, tireless efforts, and powerful influence on the creation of Title IX. Prior to her activism, Sandler wrote about the experiences she and her classmates faced regarding sexual harassment toward women on her university’s campus. Following her graduation, Sandler began to apply for teaching positions for which she was well qualified and found herself being turned down constantly. She recalled being told in an interview that she “came on too strong for a woman.” While reading a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report, Sandler came across a recent executive order that prohibited federal contractors from discrimination on the basis of sex. This discovery set into motion the events that would serve as the legal foundation for Title IX, including more than 250 class-action lawsuits against higher education institutions and an examination of the Office for Civil Rights for their slow implementation and enforcement of protections for those affected. Once Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was signed into law, Sandler’s significant contributions toward creating and executing a plan to address gender discrimination in higher education earned her the title, “Godmother of Title IX.” Sandler passed on January 5, 2019.

However, the journey to equality in women’s sports did not occur overnight. Schools began working to offer more programs and funding for female athletes, along with equal access and treatment, but actual progress took years. Progressive efforts continued to meet opposing attitudes. Billie Jean King’s famous defeat of Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes tennis match occurred on September 20, 1973,nearly 15 months following Title IX. In 1975, Big Blue Athletics introduced teams for women’s volleyball and women’s tennis. The following year, women’s track and field started a team, as well. Throughout the following decades, Millikin University grew to a total of 10 NCAA women’s athletic teams, with the most recent addition being triathlon in 2018. Presently, Millikin University takes great pride in the pioneering spirits who fought tirelessly to establish athletic opportunities for women. The efforts of these women broke the ground that Title IX paved in the following 50 years. “As Title IX was coming into effect, there were always more available avenues for boys than girls. Growing up with brothers, I was part of their boys programs. I was right on the precipice of Title IX and girls having access to sports and girls being allowed to be athletic and strong,” recalled Dr. Molly Duesterhaus, Director of Swimming, Millikin University.

OLLEYBAL

E S T. 1 9 7 5 Since its first season in 1975, the women’s volleyball program at Millikin University has accomplished great things including, but not limited to, 13 Athletic Hall of Fame members and seven CCIW titles. In 2010, Big Blue volleyball saw a recordsetting season, winning the CCIW regular season championship and setting a new school record of 22 consecutive victories, which still stands today. Millikin University’s women’s volleyball team was started 11 years before the CCIW Conference recognized women’s athletics programs. Their legacy has been shaped by influential coaches and athletes through their tireless efforts, determination and sportsmanship.

Debbie Kiick Coach Debbie Kiick has been coaching Millikin’s women’s volleyball team for more than 20 seasons, beginning in 2001. Kiick’s decorated coaching career spans nearly 40 years and features nearly 500 wins overall and four CCIW titles with Big Blue volleyball. Before starting her coaching career, Kiick was part of the generation that saw the beginning of Title IX, which passed while she was in high school. Kiick then went on to play softball and basketball at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Ill. Kiick credits women such as Margie Wright, the assistant softball coach at EIU during her collegiate career and Lori Kerans for providing the inspiration and belief system from which she bases her coaching. “They taught me the importance of service to others and the importance of producing well-rounded student-athletes.” Millikin's Senior Women Adminstrator, Kiick stated that one of her career highlights at Millikin was the team’s 2010 defeat of Carthage; a victory that broke their opponent’s 49-match winning streak and won Millikin the CCIW Conference title. Beyond coaching, Kiick is proud of her accomplishments in bicycling. Following a virus that left her with vertigo issues, Kiick spent four years learning to ride a bike again and completed Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), the oldest and largest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world. The perspective that Kiick brings to 50 Years of Women in Athletics at Millikin is unique as it encompasses the past, having witnessed the dawn of Title IX in 1972, the present as an accomplished coach, and the future, as she looks toward the continued fight for women’s equality and passing the torch to the next generation.

“I feel a great sense of pride looking from where we started to where we are now, as well as a continued focus on responsibility to carry the torch for equality. The fight for equality in women’s athletics is not linear.” -Debbie Kiick 12

ENNIS

E S T. 1 9 7 5 Millikin University is home to what is believed to be the oldest collegiate tennis tournament for women. Dating back to 1917, the Dorothy McClure Invitational Tournament continues to be held annually in Decatur, hosted by Millikin's women's tennis program. The tournament is named after Millikin University physical education professor Dorothy “Dora” McClure, who had a lasting impact on Millikin students for her progressive views toward women’s athletics. In 2021, Millikin University’s women’s tennis team won the Dorothy McClure Invitational championship title, competing at the local Fairview Park Tennis Complex.

Alex Covington In May 2017, Alex Covington was named Director of Tennis at Millikin, taking over both the women’s and men’s tennis programs. Prior to Millikin, Covington played tennis competitively for four years at the University of Indianapolis and was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete each year from 2010 to 2013. She also served as the assistant women’s and men’s tennis coach at Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn. for two seasons. During her time as Director of Tennis at Millikin, Covington has been successful in maintaining the progress of the men’s program which returned to Millikin in 2014, while steadily improving the women’s program to their fourth-place ranking in the CCIW Conference. As the head of both programs, Covington is only one of two female tennis coaches in the CCIW who coaches both women’s and men’s programs. However, Covington says that she sees both teams as a single united entity. “I don’t feel like I’m coaching men versus I’m coaching women. I treat them all as my athletes. They are all my tennis players. At the end of the day, they are all competitors. They are all athletes here at Millikin and they all want to win.”

Career singles matches won, 2014-2018 Melissa Donovan, Class of 2018

Team matches won 2016-2017

Season double matches won, 1995 Sara Tomek, Class of 1998

RACK & FIEL

E S T. 1 9 7 6 Les Randle, Don Luy and Linda Slagell are just the start of the coaches who have impacted Big Blue women's Track & Field. The team is currently coached by Andrew Craycraft.

Outdoor Track & Field CCIW Individual Championship Titles

Indoor Track & Field CCIW Individual Championship Titles

Ariel Robinson Ariel Robinson, Class of 2013, and a Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame inductee in 2020, set many records as a member of the women’s track and field program, including indoor records in the 60m and 200m, and outdoor records in the 100m, 200m and 400m. She was a CCIW champion in the 60m in 2012 and the 55m in 2013, and an outdoor champion in the 100m and 200m, both in 2012 and 2013. According to Robinson, the supportive atmosphere at Millikin and being part of a team paid dividends in her life after graduation. “Track and field has always been a big part of my life. I actually ran my very first race at Millikin. When I was in 6th grade, we had a track meet at Millikin,” she recalled. Reflecting back on her career at Millikin and celebrating women’s athletics, Robinson is proud of her involvement in sports. “As a woman athlete, you have certain perspectives on life, and I felt I played a balance of who I wanted to be outside of track and who I needed to be on the track,” she said. “My teammates respected that. I’m excited to be part of Millikin’s history and I’m thankful I can be a part of the conversation.” Robinson recently returned to the place “that chose her,” Millikin, to serve as an admission counselor.

“As a female athlete, you have to step out of your comfort zone and do what you love, what you’re passionate about. You have to not care about how good you are or if you’re messing up. Just have a short term memory and keep going.” -Amanda Morgan Class of 2015

WIMMIN

E S T. 1 9 8 1 In 1981, women who wanted to participate in swimming were granted the platform to swim competitively at Millikin University. Before the women’s swimming team was introduced at Millikin University, Marcia Morey, Class of 1978, was already well on her way to defying expectations and breaking down barriers. “Swimming was on the forefront of sports that had men and women competing, and Millikin was part of that with Marcia Morey swimming with the men’s team. Millikin was ahead of the game compared to other colleges," remarked Dr. Molly Duesterhaus, Director of Swimming at Millikin University. Duesterhaus is also the mother of Brigid Duesterhaus, Class of 2022, CCIW swimming conference champion in the 50 yard freestyle.

Marcia Morey Marcia Morey, Millikin Class of 1978, is a native of Decatur, Ill., and a graduate of MacArthur High School. She was a member of the U.S. women’s swim team for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games held in Montreal, Canada. When she came to Millikin, the University did not yet offer an official women’s swimming team. She trained and swam competitively with the men’s swimming team at Millikin, along with national and international teams. During her decorated athletic career, Morey won seven U.S. national titles in the breaststroke, including the outdoor 100 yard in 1973-1975, indoor 100 yard in 1974, outdoor 200 yard in 1974-1975 and the indoor 100 yard in 1974. Morey also served as a co-captain in 1975 for the United States swim team in the Pan American Games. During the Pan American Games, she won a bronze medal for the 200 yard breaststroke, a silver in the 100 yard breaststroke and gold in the medley relay. Morey went on to set four American records in the breaststroke. She also continues to hold records at Millikin University established in the 100 yard and 200 yard breaststroke events, as well as the 1000 yard and 1650 yard events during the time she swam with the men’s team.

“This [CCIW championship] win is more than just mine and I can't take all the credit. My coaches provided me with the environment that allowed me to be so successful. It helps that my mom is one of them, and she has always known what is best for me. She has been the driving force that has gotten me to this point. I may have done the work in the pool, but she did everything else.”

-Brigid Duesterhaus Class of 2022

OFTBAL

E S T. 1 9 8 2 The legacy of women’s softball at Millikin University began with Bryce Boston, Class of 1960, who started the program to fill an unmet need in Big Blue Athletics. Boston served as head coach from 1983 to 1991, and his accomplishments include winning CCIW Conference Championship titles in 1987, 1988 and 1990, along with NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 1988, 1989 and 1990. On April 23, 2022, Millikin University honored Boston and his family by unveiling the Bryce Boston Family Terraces at the Workman Family Softball Field. Before the Workman Family Softball Field was built in 2017, the softball team had no on-campus facility, using Sunnyside Park, Fans Field, Borg-Warner Sports Complex and Rotary Park as their practice and competitive homes. In 2021, the Big Blue softball team brought home the 2021 CCIW Regular Season Championship while also winning the CCIW tournament. They qualified for the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament, playing the Illinois Regional games at home at the Workman Family Softball Field. The team also set a new school record for most CCIW wins in a season with 24 victories.

Cora Jeffers Herek Cora Jeffers Herek, Class of 2013 and 2020 Millikin Athletic Hall of Fame inductee said that being part of the Big Blue softball program was the first time she ever felt her peers’ passion and love for the game matched her own. Though she was feeling burnt out and was unsure whether she would join the softball program at Millikin, Herek said she knew at first-year orientation that she wanted to start playing softball again. “I’m just so glad that I did because if I didn’t play softball I knew I would be losing that part of who I am. When I look back on those years, my roommates, best friends and the girls in my wedding were all people I played softball with.” In 2013, Herek was named Team MVP, CCIW All-Conference First Team and Capital One Academic All-American Division III Softball Second Team. She also set the Millikin career stolen base record with 82 bases. Looking back, Herek appreciates the rarity of having truly dedicated, passionate teammates by her side and the proud tradition of women wearing the Big Blue before her. “People like Lori Kerans and Deb Kiick, they had to really work for it and I’m glad that Millikin is telling the story and celebrating women so we can remember and appreciate everything that they have earned for us and for generations to come.”

“I love the community and friendships I've made through the softball program. Our success really comes from our willingness to come together and play as a team. My teammates are very hard working and it encourages me to be hard working in everything I do in life.”

-Gretchen Gould Class of 2023

ROSS COUNTRY

E S T. 1 9 8 2

21:16

6 kilometers, 2015 Sarah Bradley, Class of 2017

18:58

5 kilometers, 1987 Karen DeWerff Crapse, Class of 1988

18:20

3 miles, 1998 Amanda Landacre Podeschi, Class of 2002

Mandi Landacre Podeschi For Mandi Landacre Podeschi, Class of 2002, running has always been a family affair. Her grandfather, parents, sisters, aunts and cousins cultivated a culture where running was the norm. “I started running when I was four and ran my first 5K race at six.” She participated in the local youth running program, Staley Striders. Running's impact on Podeschi’s life exceeded fitness. “Although I ran competitively for a long time, from the time I was in elementary school through college and beyond, what I loved is that running has always been an essential part of our family activities and culture.” She continues to run with her husband, RJ Podeschi, Class of 2002. While at Millikin, Podeschi excelled academically as a James Millikin Scholar, athletically as a 10K record-holder and as a student worker. She served as cocaptain on the women’s cross country team, which taught her the importance of teammates in a traditionally individual sport. “Especially in cross country, where there is a lot of time together on long runs, there is a great need for teammates who are there for you with encouragement and advice.” Podeschi also ran and competed alongside her sisters, Lisa Landacre, Class of 2005, and Lori Landacre Leeper, Class of 2005, for the year they overlapped at Millikin. Podeschi also worked with John “The Penguin” Bingham, Class of 1970 to establish the Penguin in the Park 5K race in Decatur. Additionally, Podeschi was inspired by Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first women’s Olympic Marathon in 1984. “When I think of her, I think of the great example she set for thousands of women in showing that yes, women can run that far and fast.

“For me, 50 years of women in athletics at Millikin means opportunity, advancement and agency for women. I’m fortunate that Millikin women came before me. We had women role models who fought to have uniforms that fit, funds to travel, and to be taken seriously as athletes.”

-Mandi Podeschi Class of 2022

OLF

E S T. 1 9 9 6 Millikin’s women’s golf team has been shaped by numerous dedicated athletes and influential coaches since it began in 1996. The program earned CCIW Conference Championship titles in 2000 and 2001 and placed sixth as a team at the 2000 NCAA Championships. Taylor Chase, Class of 2023, earned All-Conference honors in 2020 and 2021. Each year, the Big Blue women’s golf team hosts two tournaments at local golf courses. The annual Take Back the Night Challenge is held in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness month, and the Dechert Classic, which is named in honor of former women’s golf coach Marilyn Dechert. From 2002-2014, Marilyn Trainer Dechert, Class of 1955, served as head coach of the women’s golf program at Millikin University. Dechert was an accomplished golfer before her coaching career at Millikin as a nine-time winner of the Decatur City Amateur tournament, only two shy of the record 11 wins. In 2002, Dechert took over the six-year-old program at Millikin, bringing her own collegiate golf experience to the table. Though she attended Millikin before a women’s golf program existed, Dechert was able to compete in 1952 for the Big Blue in the National Collegiate Championships, a tournament where only 16 female athletes qualified.

“I started playing golf when my parents moved across the street from Nelson Park and the golf course. I would go over there and play with the men’s league. They were friendly, but they weren’t sure that they wanted to play golf with me, because they thought I might hold them up. I loved the sport and continued to play.” -Marilyn Trainer Dechert Class of 1955

Tiffany Gutraj Rosik Growing up, Tiffany Gutraj Rosik, Class of 1999, played sports as she shadowed her older brother. She said she was mostly the tag along little sister, but she remembers really loving sports and finding success in participating. Rosik’s grandfather introduced her to the tenet of playing different sports and being a well-rounded athlete. “He believed that all sports contributed to each other and being good in one made you more successful in another.” Her grandfather’s influence spurred Rosik’s decision to make the jump from basketball to golf, where she competed with the men’s golf team in high school. Being the only woman on the men’s golf team was an eyeopening experience for Rosik. “I was met with a lot of resistance. I had to earn my way up and earn respect. I don’t know if I ever really fully earned it. At every meet I felt that lack of respect from my teammates, as well as the gentlemen I played against.” Despite these challenging attitudes, Rosik says she learned foundational lessons for her future career in technology. “It’s a typically male-dominated environment and it is not uncommon for me to be the only woman in a room full of men.” Rosik was a member of the inaugural women’s golf team at Millikin University, an opportunity she cites as one of the highlights of her athletic career. “To be trusted with that responsibility, I really appreciate that Coach Lori Kerans believed in me enough to give me that opportunity.” At Millikin, Rosik,describes her teammates as truly elite female athletes. “They were as passionate and driven, both athletically and academically, as I was.” She was motivated by her teammates and put in extra time and effort to participate and achieve on their level.

OCCER

E S T. 1 9 9 6 Big Blue women's soccer got its start in nearby Fairview Park in 1996. Since 2018 Coach Ian Doherty has led the team. He has been involved in the sport for most of his life, giving him a seasoned perspective of both the sport and its athletes. “As a sport, soccer is evolving. The female game, especially, is becoming much more technical and much more physical. In my experience, female athletes see things more in a group setting and they want to do what’s best for the team.” Being the father to three daughters, Doherty is in tune with what it takes to coach female athletes and a strong advocate for equality in women’s sports. He is grateful that his daughters will have equal opportunities going forward. “It is exciting to see how opportunities have evolved for females. I want my girls to have all the same opportunities that everyone else gets. They will have to work hard for it, but if they put their effort in, I want them to be rewarded all the same as their male counterparts.”

Amy Williams Schweizer Before competing as part of Millikin University’s women’s soccer team, Amy Williams Schweizer, Class of 2004, had only played the sport for a couple of years. When the high school she attended in Danville, Ill. started a girl’s soccer team, they asked athletes participating in other sports if they wanted to play soccer. Schweizer was playing basketball before she joined the soccer team. “The first time I ever touched a soccer ball was in high school.”

Most goals in a game vs. MacMurray, 2007

Most shutouts in a season 2007, 2008, 2009

Most victories in a season 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

As a talented athlete and a strong believer in hard work, she came to Millikin ready to take her skill level up a notch to compete at the collegiate level. Schweizer says that Millikin was key in teaching the values of persistence and determination, which are lessons she applied to her future in entrepreneurship. “You may not have the talent and skill at first, but if you work hard at it, you can develop it and accomplish big things, which I was able to do at Millikin.” Schweizer was a Team Captain and earned All-Conference honors while at Millikin. Following graduation, she competed for the Cincinnati Lady Hawks soccer team for one season before marrying her husband, a member of the United States Marine Corps. Together, they’ve lived across the globe, stationed in California, Japan, Hawaii and currently in North Carolina. While experiencing the difficulties faced by fellow military spouses and families with constant relocations and transitions, she was inspired to create an opportunity for children to participate in the sport she loved. While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, she started her company, Tiny Troops Soccer, which is a developmental program for kids ages two through five that introduces them to soccer. While the program is geared toward military families, it is open to all children. “We are really striving to build a global community of healthy and active kids who are also making friends in their transitions,” she explained. The company has employed more than 150 military spouses and dependents and is located in regions across the globe. Schweizer hopes to expand Tiny Troops Soccer to reach every military base and family so that no child misses out on the chance to play.

RIATHLON

E S T. 2 0 1 8 The newest member to Millikin University’s women’s sports lineup, triathlon represents a unique opportunity for athletes with diverse skill sets to compete. At its helm, Dr. Molly Duesterhaus, who improved the swimming program to a championship team, saw an avenue for Millikin to continue their trend of offering innovative opportunities to athletes. Uniting her successful career as a swim coach and her experience as a nationally ranked runner in high school, Dr. Duesterhaus was intrigued by the notion of the triathlon, which she remarked is historically male-dominated. Tapping into Decatur’s resources such as the cycling community and experienced local athletes, she set out to build another successful program for the Big Blue. Competing in triathlon is a challenging endeavor of endurance that Dr. Duesterhaus says coaches and athletes from other sports are only beginning to understand. “These women have to be ready to go for an hour and thirty minutes. There’s no time out. They go from water to bike to land. It takes an adventurous, strong-willed force of an athlete to compete in triathlon.”

Brigid Duesterhaus Brigid Duesterhaus, Class of 2022, has been a member of the Big Blue women’s triathlon team since the program’s start in 2018. As an accomplished swimmer, triathlete and student, Duesterhaus has made the most of her time at Millikin and been able to apply lessons learned in competition to her academics and lessons in the classroom to her training. “Millikin has rigorous programs in both athletics and academics. As a student-athlete, I’m being pushed in mind and body. I truly believe being a student-athlete has helped me grow and develop useful skills for the future.” In her endeavors, Duesterhaus also possesses an understanding of what it means to "Wear the Blue" as Harriett Crannell once established. “There is pride in being a student-athlete. Student-athletes know it takes determination and dedication to make it through four years of courses and four seasons of sports.” As a lifelong athlete, Duesterhaus always saw sports and academics as hand-inhand. By the time she graduated from MacArthur High School in Decatur, she was ready to meet obstacles head-on. “I knew coming into college that I wanted to do sports and pursue a degree. When I set my mind to something, I do it. Being an athlete has helped me find a direction for what I want to do as a career.” Competing with her mother, Dr. Molly Duesterhaus as her coach in both swimming and triathlon, Brigid’s collegiate athletic career is filled with achievements and great memories. “The highlight of my career as a studentathlete at Millikin is the triathlon team taking second place at the National Championship in 2021. The hard work that my team and I put in and seeing it pay off is the most rewarding part of being a student-athlete.”

USA TRIATHLON NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Place overall, 2018

3RD

Place overall, 2019

Place overall, 2021

HE NEXT 5

Big Blue Past, Present & Future The first 50 years of women’s athletics at Millikin University are defined by the broken barriers, shattered records and trailblazing efforts of courageous women that span back before the dawn of Title IX. Women such as Elaine Miller, Dorothy McClure and Harriett Crannell encountered opposing attitudes and an absence of opportunities in sports, but their pioneering efforts and staunch refusal to take “no” for an answer define their Millikin legacies. The strength and work of Millikin coaches and athletes including Linda Slagell, Bryce Boston, Marilyn Dechert, Don Luy and Dr. Molly Duesterhaus, among others, made opportunities in women’s athletics not just available, but the norm. They fought through insufficient resources, cast-off uniforms and organizations that did not yet recognize women’s sports. The path for present Big Blue student-athletes and the younger generation of coaches is clearer now than ever before. Many of these women currently competing and coaching remark that they have never felt inequalities in sports or faced attitudes that labeled them inferior.

“The women before the 1970s found joy at Millikin with what they had, and our studentathletes today find joy in what they have, and athletes 50 years from now will have joy, because we are doing the work to ensure equality and opportunity.” -Lori Kerans Class of 1985

Looking Ahead The journey contained in these first 50 years is astounding, but in the impactful words of Coach Lori Kerans, "the work is not done.” “We need women to be pioneers and trailblazers for the next 50 years. The work is not done and the pioneering efforts are not done. How do we support the next visionaries and pioneers?” With this prompt by Coach Kerans, the proud women of Millikin University are looking ahead to the future of sports and the women who play them. New ground is being made every year, demonstrated by the introduction of women’s triathlon in 2018 and by Big Blue alumna Amanda Morgan’s spot on a professional women’s football team. “It’s a great start, but I think over the next several years it’s going to continue to expand and grow and we’re going to be able to see it firsthand. The narrative has changed.” said Morgan, Class of 2015, discussing the recent addition of women's flag football leagues in colleges. Change is one aspect of the next 50 years that Coach Kerans is excited to witness. “We have the opportunity to support our future by being willing to listen and learn, because what we know today won’t necessarily be the answer in the future.” While Coach Kerans emphasizes that change is inevitable, she also mentions that with change comes growth. “There are sports you might not think of that kids are excelling at, and that’s going to change even in the next ten years. But what won’t change is the joy in a kid’s eyes while playing sports.”

“There’s progress in this Title IX world, but we have to keep talking about it. We have to keep talking about equity and we have to believe that women can coach as strongly, strategically and powerfully as men.” -Dr. Molly Duesterhaus

Continuing the Fight While great strides have certainly been made for women to receive equal opportunities in athletics in the past 50 years, Coach Debbie Kiick believes the work is an ongoing effort that will be passed to the next generation of female athletes. “The fight for equality in women’s athletics is not linear. We make improvements and sometimes there are backslides,” she explained. Dr. Molly Duesterhaus is another strong advocate for continuing efforts for equality. She noted that a major area of disparity is the number of female coaches compared to the number of male coaches in collegiate sports. “We’ve got a lot of road to go on this, and I hope I’m part of that change.” She said that only three percent of female coaches are heads of men’s teams in colleges across the U.S., but is pleased that Millikin features two such coaches: herself and Alex Covington, Director of Tennis. Adding to this issue, Dr. Duesterhaus said that before the availability of funding to women’s

sports, most coaches of girls and women’s sports were women. “We had no buses or resources. It was ragtag and we did it because we believed in it,” she said. Coach Kiick expressed the same sentiment, stating that women did it all early in her career. It's her hope for the next generation of female athletes to approach the fight for equality with the same vigor. “The women of the future will need to take on the work to continually fight for women in sports, as the women who were present in the initial fight for equality are beginning to retire, and the new generation of female athletes have not experienced the same adversity and challenges.” Every person involved with Millikin athletics, whether as an athlete, coach, faculty member, mentor, family or friend has played a pivotal role in the journey of women in athletics at Millikin. The University is grateful for your contribution to 50 years worth celebrating.

LMA MATE

To the Blue and White we will loyal be, Hail our Alma Mater With our voices we’ll sing ever faithfully, Hail our Alma Mater Her cherished traditions we’ll uphold, Our loyalty will ne’er grow old Loyal sons and daughters we will always be, Hail our Alma Mater.

Support the Legacy of

WOMEN IN ATHLETICS

Help us carry on the distinguished legacy of Big Blue women’s athletics and benefit present and future Millikin women by donating to the Women in Athletics fund.

bit.ly/WIAGive

Thank you for

50 YEARS Millikin has a long history of nurturing lives of meaning and value in our students. It's the very foundation of who we are. It was important to us that our female students be validated when they expressed their desire to receive more from their collegiate experience. In 1970, two full years before Title IX legislation was passed, Millikin put that value into action as Harriett Crannell pioneered the charge and assembled our first women's basketball team, marking the beginning of MU's storied history of women's athletics. Now, 50 years and 10 NCAA teams later, Millikin celebrates a proud tradition of women wearing the Big Blue. We are inspired by women and teammates like you who helped forge a lasting legacy at Millikin!