K-State Mourns the Passing of Two-Sport Standout Marsha Koster
Mar 02, 2022 | Women's Basketball, Track & Field
MANHATTAN, Kansas – Marsha (Poppe) Koster, a two-sport letter winner in women's basketball and track and field from 1973-77, recently passed away at the age of 66 in Clay Center, Kansas, following a battle with cancer.
Born on June 3, 1955, in Marion, Kansas, Koster played three-plus seasons for K-State Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Judy Akers. During her four seasons in Manhattan, Koster helped the Wildcats to an overall record of 96-36 (.727), three Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Tournament appearances and a pair of Big Eight Conference regular season titles (1975-76 & 1976-77).
Koster's athletic career was cut short in the 1976-77 season due to blood clots in her lungs. She completed her time on the hardwood with 1,152 career points and 579 career rebounds. At the time of her departure from the women's basketball program, Koster ranked third in program history in career scoring. She currently ranks 30th in career scoring and 22nd in career rebounds.
In the 1975-76 season, Koster led the program to a 28-6 overall record and the Big Eight Conference regular season crown with a career-best 515 points (15.2 ppg) and 287 rebounds (8.4 rpg).
Koster also held 12 single-game, season and career records when she concluded her career including the single-game scoring record of 34 points against Iowa State in 1976 and the single-game rebounding record of 18 against Missouri State in 1976.
While competing for the K-State track and field program from 1974-76, Koster was a three-time All-American in the javelin. In 1975 and 1976, Koster finished second in the javelin at the AIAW National Track & Field Championships with throws of 45.69m/149-11 and 42.39/139-01, respectively. In 1974, in the same national event, Koster finished fourth with a throw of 44.55m/146-02. These achievements were made even more impressive as she had never thrown the javelin until her freshman year at K-State in 1973-74.
Koster is survived by her husband, Ron; children: Jamie Koster of Clay Center, Brett Koster and wife Andrea of Chapman; and Megan Griffiths and husband Cane of Wakefield; mother, Ruth Poppe of Clay Center; sister-in-law, Carol of Leawood; brother, Wayne Poppe and wife Connie of Oklahoma City; sister, Janelle Poppe of Olathe; seven grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul on March 4, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon and then burial at the Cawker City cemetery. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on March 3 from 3-7 p.m., with family present from 5-7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the CCCHS Scholarship Fund, Meadowlark Hospice or Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for handicapped restrooms.
Born on June 3, 1955, in Marion, Kansas, Koster played three-plus seasons for K-State Athletics Hall of Fame head coach Judy Akers. During her four seasons in Manhattan, Koster helped the Wildcats to an overall record of 96-36 (.727), three Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Tournament appearances and a pair of Big Eight Conference regular season titles (1975-76 & 1976-77).
Koster's athletic career was cut short in the 1976-77 season due to blood clots in her lungs. She completed her time on the hardwood with 1,152 career points and 579 career rebounds. At the time of her departure from the women's basketball program, Koster ranked third in program history in career scoring. She currently ranks 30th in career scoring and 22nd in career rebounds.
In the 1975-76 season, Koster led the program to a 28-6 overall record and the Big Eight Conference regular season crown with a career-best 515 points (15.2 ppg) and 287 rebounds (8.4 rpg).
Koster also held 12 single-game, season and career records when she concluded her career including the single-game scoring record of 34 points against Iowa State in 1976 and the single-game rebounding record of 18 against Missouri State in 1976.
While competing for the K-State track and field program from 1974-76, Koster was a three-time All-American in the javelin. In 1975 and 1976, Koster finished second in the javelin at the AIAW National Track & Field Championships with throws of 45.69m/149-11 and 42.39/139-01, respectively. In 1974, in the same national event, Koster finished fourth with a throw of 44.55m/146-02. These achievements were made even more impressive as she had never thrown the javelin until her freshman year at K-State in 1973-74.
Koster is survived by her husband, Ron; children: Jamie Koster of Clay Center, Brett Koster and wife Andrea of Chapman; and Megan Griffiths and husband Cane of Wakefield; mother, Ruth Poppe of Clay Center; sister-in-law, Carol of Leawood; brother, Wayne Poppe and wife Connie of Oklahoma City; sister, Janelle Poppe of Olathe; seven grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul on March 4, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon and then burial at the Cawker City cemetery. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on March 3 from 3-7 p.m., with family present from 5-7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the CCCHS Scholarship Fund, Meadowlark Hospice or Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church for handicapped restrooms.
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