Kansas State University Athletics
K-State to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Title IX During 2022-23 Season
Jun 20, 2022 | Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Rowing, Soccer, Tennis, Women's Track & Field, Volleyball, Athletics
MANHATTAN, Kansas – In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX of the Higher Education Act, K-State Athletics will celebrate the achievements and the pioneers of its women's sports throughout the 2022-23 athletic season.
"As we look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we are excited to honor some of the pioneers and individuals who have invested in women's athletics at K-State and recognize them for the impact they made for our student-athletes competing today," said Jill Shields, K-State Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator.
The celebration of Title IX at K-State athletic events this season will include game promotions at football, volleyball, soccer and women's basketball games, including its annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
K-State will also highlight the achievements of past and present female student-athletes, coaches and administrators through monthly K-State Sports Extra features and special video packages produced by K-StateHD.TV.Â
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil right law that prohibits sexual discrimination at educational institutions that receive federal funding. The Title IX regulation states that "except for provided elsewhere in this part, no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other education program or activity operated by a recipient which receives ... Federal financial assistance."
K-State intercollegiate athletics for women began before the finalization of Title IX, as the Wildcats offered a women's track and field program in 1905 and played its first varsity women's basketball season in 1968-69 under the guidance of legendary head coach Judy Akers.
The women's track and field program has bestowed varsity letters upon 1,222 women, collected 169 All-American honors and captured four conference team titles.Â
By the time Title IX was signed into law, K-State women's basketball had reached the 50-win mark in intercollegiate competition. The Wildcats have seen 221 student-athletes collect a letter in women's basketball and have made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. The program's all-time wins leader is former head coach Deb Patterson (1996-14) with 350 victories, while Lynn Hickey (1979-84) set the school record for career winning percentage (.762) and led the Wildcats into the first three seasons of NCAA action starting in 1981-82. Â Â
The Wildcat women's basketball program will enter the 2022-23 season two wins shy of 1,000 in its history and would become the 19th NCAA Division I program to reach 1,000 or more wins in its history.
In 1973, K-State played its first season of intercollegiate varsity tennis under head coach Bev Yenzer. In its 45-season history, the program has produced over 105 varsity letterwinners and have seen three student-athletes collect Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American honors.
Following the debut of the tennis program, K-State volleyball played its first season of intercollegiate varsity competition in 1974. The program has reached 18 NCAA Tournaments, while also winning the 2003 Big 12 title. The volleyball team has bestowed varsity letters upon 212 women. The program's all-time coaching wins leader is current head coach Suzie Fritz with 378 wins.
K-State's women's cross country team began competition in 1975, as the Wildcat harriers ran individually from 1975-77 before competing as a team in 1978. As a program, K-State has registered 21 All-Conference honors and 15 All-America recipients from its women's cross country program.
K-State women's golf arrived on the scene in 1981. Since its inception, the program has awarded varsity letters to 89 student-athletes. The program has been led by Kristi Knight since 1995 and she holds the distinction as the longest-tenured head women's golf coach in the Big 12. She has guided the program to five NCAA Regional appearances and served as the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) President from 2016 to 2018.
The K-State rowing program hit the water as an NCAA Division I sport in the 1996-97 academic year and competed in its first season in 1998, becoming the second Big 12 Conference school to add the sport to its varsity lineup. Head coach Jenny Hale oversaw the program for its first seven seasons of competition and captured multiple Kansas Cup titles. The program has seen 249 letter winners during its time on the Wildcat ledger.
The most recent addition to the K-State women's athletics portfolio is soccer. Announced in October of 2014, K-State soccer took the field for the first time in the 2016 season.
The Wildcats have bestowed varsity letters upon 71 student-athletes from its six seasons of soccer.
In addition to the current women's intercollegiate varsity sports, K-State has also sponsored women's varsity programs in softball (1974-86), swimming (1974-76), gymnastics (1974-75) and equestrian (2000-16).
"As we look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, we are excited to honor some of the pioneers and individuals who have invested in women's athletics at K-State and recognize them for the impact they made for our student-athletes competing today," said Jill Shields, K-State Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Women's Administrator.
The celebration of Title IX at K-State athletic events this season will include game promotions at football, volleyball, soccer and women's basketball games, including its annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
K-State will also highlight the achievements of past and present female student-athletes, coaches and administrators through monthly K-State Sports Extra features and special video packages produced by K-StateHD.TV.Â
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is a Federal civil right law that prohibits sexual discrimination at educational institutions that receive federal funding. The Title IX regulation states that "except for provided elsewhere in this part, no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other education program or activity operated by a recipient which receives ... Federal financial assistance."
K-State intercollegiate athletics for women began before the finalization of Title IX, as the Wildcats offered a women's track and field program in 1905 and played its first varsity women's basketball season in 1968-69 under the guidance of legendary head coach Judy Akers.
The women's track and field program has bestowed varsity letters upon 1,222 women, collected 169 All-American honors and captured four conference team titles.Â
By the time Title IX was signed into law, K-State women's basketball had reached the 50-win mark in intercollegiate competition. The Wildcats have seen 221 student-athletes collect a letter in women's basketball and have made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. The program's all-time wins leader is former head coach Deb Patterson (1996-14) with 350 victories, while Lynn Hickey (1979-84) set the school record for career winning percentage (.762) and led the Wildcats into the first three seasons of NCAA action starting in 1981-82. Â Â
The Wildcat women's basketball program will enter the 2022-23 season two wins shy of 1,000 in its history and would become the 19th NCAA Division I program to reach 1,000 or more wins in its history.
In 1973, K-State played its first season of intercollegiate varsity tennis under head coach Bev Yenzer. In its 45-season history, the program has produced over 105 varsity letterwinners and have seen three student-athletes collect Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American honors.
Following the debut of the tennis program, K-State volleyball played its first season of intercollegiate varsity competition in 1974. The program has reached 18 NCAA Tournaments, while also winning the 2003 Big 12 title. The volleyball team has bestowed varsity letters upon 212 women. The program's all-time coaching wins leader is current head coach Suzie Fritz with 378 wins.
K-State's women's cross country team began competition in 1975, as the Wildcat harriers ran individually from 1975-77 before competing as a team in 1978. As a program, K-State has registered 21 All-Conference honors and 15 All-America recipients from its women's cross country program.
K-State women's golf arrived on the scene in 1981. Since its inception, the program has awarded varsity letters to 89 student-athletes. The program has been led by Kristi Knight since 1995 and she holds the distinction as the longest-tenured head women's golf coach in the Big 12. She has guided the program to five NCAA Regional appearances and served as the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) President from 2016 to 2018.
The K-State rowing program hit the water as an NCAA Division I sport in the 1996-97 academic year and competed in its first season in 1998, becoming the second Big 12 Conference school to add the sport to its varsity lineup. Head coach Jenny Hale oversaw the program for its first seven seasons of competition and captured multiple Kansas Cup titles. The program has seen 249 letter winners during its time on the Wildcat ledger.
The most recent addition to the K-State women's athletics portfolio is soccer. Announced in October of 2014, K-State soccer took the field for the first time in the 2016 season.
The Wildcats have bestowed varsity letters upon 71 student-athletes from its six seasons of soccer.
In addition to the current women's intercollegiate varsity sports, K-State has also sponsored women's varsity programs in softball (1974-86), swimming (1974-76), gymnastics (1974-75) and equestrian (2000-16).
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