Kathy Justin Schultz - 1973 SCSUÂ softball50 Years of Success at St. Cloud State!
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It's been 50 years since St. Cloud State University first organized an intercollegiate women's sports team and the Huskies are celebrating through the year of 2018-19.Â
In the spring of 1969, the first women's intercollegiate team was formed and the sport was softball. On May 3, 1969, the Huskies defeated Bemidji State 7-4 at Vet's Field in St. Cloud (on the grounds of the VA Hospital). That marked the official beginning of SCSU women's athletics as we have come to recognize it today.
From those humble beginnings, the SCSU athletic program has grown over the years and it currently includes 11 intercollegiate women's sports teams competing in basketball, volleyball, cross country, golf, hockey, nordic ski, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field.
Since its inception in 1969, SCSU women's athletics was originally affiliated with the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women before joining the NCAA in 1982. SCSU currently competes as an NCAA Division II affiliate in every sport with the exception of women's hockey, which plays as an NCAA Division I affiliate.
SCSU's NCAA Division II teams are currently members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, with the exception of the SCSU Nordic ski team that competes as a member of the Central Collegiate Ski Association. The SCSU women's hockey program is a charter member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. In previous years, SCSU competed as a member of the legendary North Central Conference from 1984 to 2007 and before that was a member of the original Northern Sun Conference for women.
This website salutes the 50 years of women's intercollegiate athletics at St. Cloud State and provides links to a variety of events celebrating the anniversary along with complete information on the history of the women's intercollegiate athletics program at SCSU.
Remember to follow the SCSUHUSKIES.com website and the SCSUÂ Athletics social media outlets (Facebook, Twitterand Instagram) for more posts highlighting the 50 years of women's athletics at St. Cloud State.
Fans can also cheer the Huskies on throughout the 2018-19 season by attending SCSU Athletic events at home and on the road. Check out the complete SCSU schedule for 2018-19.
Fans can purchase tickets for all SCSU home events at scsutickets.com or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX.
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SCSUÂ Women's Athletics Information Center - Celebrating 50 Years
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Milestone Dates in the History of SCSUÂ Women's Athletics
THE 1960s
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Gladys Ziemer1968: Women's physical education department chairwoman Fran Bleick appoints Gladys Ziemer first women's athletic director at SCSU
1969: Ziemers organizes SCSU's first intercollegiate team by forming softball team. Of note, prior to this point SCSU women's teams competed in "extramural" and "sport day" programs against other schools in the region.
May 3, 1969: SCSUÂ plays first intercollegiate contest as the softball team gains a 7-4 win against Bemidji State at Vet's Field in St. Cloud, Minn.
May 17, 1969: SCSU wins first intercollegiate trophy by winning the Gustavus Invitation Softball Sports Day. Huskies win games against Winona State and Gustavus before losing to a game to Minnesota. Huskies win title by scoring 34 runs in the tournament.
May 29, 1969: SCSU completes first season with an 8-5 win over UMD. The Huskies ended year with a 5-1 record.
Fall 1969: Ziemer organizes SCSU's first intercollegiate volleyball team. Team practices in the Halenbeck Hall balconies.
Oct. 25, 1969: SCSU volleyball team competes in first match.  The 'A' Team defeats Winona State 15-12, 5-15, 15-10 and the 'B' Team defeates UM-Morris in two games.
Dec. 6, 1969: Volleyball season ends with a 6-5 record after losing to Minnesota and Concordia in the Minnesota Statewide Invite.
THE 1970s
Winter 1969-70: Dee Whitlock organizes first intercollegiate badminton team and Ziemer organizes first intercollegiate gymnastics team.
Jan. 24, 1970: SCSU hosts first gymnastics meet. Huskies finish third in triangular meet with 30 points. Bemidji State wins meet with 44 points and Minnesota is second with 41.
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Ruth Nearing Jan. 29, 1970: SCSUÂ badminton team competes in first match at Minnesota.
Feb. 21, 1970: SCSUÂ gymnastics team wins first meet in triangular with Bemidji State and Minot State.
Feb. 26, 1970: SCSUÂ badminton team completes first season with only home match in team history against Southwest Minnesota State.
1970: Whitlock organizes first SCSU intercollegiate tennis team.
April 27, 1970: SCSU tennis team makes debut, losing only meet of the season by a 4-2 margin to UMD. Â
1970: Ruth Nearing organizes SCSU's first intercollegiate swimming and diving team.
Oct. 31, 1970: SCSUÂ swimming and diving competes in first intercollegiate swimming and diving meet at Winona State winning 80-31.
Dec. 5, 1970: SCSUÂ team finishes fifth at state meet in Minneapolis.
1971: Pat Halvorson organizes SCSU's first intercollegiate basketball team.
Feb. 20, 1971: SCSUÂ badminton team competes in final match at the Minnesota Invitational.
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1969-70 SCSU women's basketball team Mar. 25-27, 1971: Robi Inserra, Jane Lussenhop, Bonnie Muedeking and Nancy Raso compete in DGWS National Swimming and Diving Meet in Tempe, Ariz. Team finishes 33rd in 200 free relay.
Dec. 4, 1971: Swimming and diving team captures SCSU's first MAIAW state title at Halenbeck Hall. Huskies finish with 236.5 points to win the meet against of Minnesota (226). Victory completes undefeated season.
April 27, 1972: SCSUÂ wins first dual meet in tennis with a 3-1 victory over Bemidji State.
1972: Joyce Gedde is named as basketball coach and guides the Huskies to a 6-7 record in 1972-73.
Nov. 17, 1973: Ziemer leads SCSU to its first MAIAW title in volleyball with a 15-12, 17-15 victory over Minnesota. The team posts a 13-8 overall record in 1973.
1973: Ziemer assumes the duties of basketball coach and guides the Huskies to a 3-6 record in her first season with the program.
1974: Softball program is suspend for one season so Nearing can organize SCSU's first intercollegiate track and field team.
April 27, 1974: SCSU track and field competes for the first time at an indoor meet at NDSU. SCSU places 4th out of nine teams with 26 points.
May 24, 1974: SCSU track and field completes inaugural season with sixth place shwoing at MAIAW State Meet.
1974: SCSUÂ tennis completes first undefeated season with a 7-0 record.
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1975 SCSUÂ volleyball team 1975: SCSU softball returns after a one-year absence as Nancy Olsen guides the team to a 5-7 record.
Sept. 26, 1975: SCSUÂ cross country competes in first meet at Golden Valley C.C.
Oct. 25, 1975: SCSU cross country places third at MAIAWÂ state meet.
1975: Volleyball team becomes first SCSU team to win 20 contests as Ziemer guides the Huskies to a 22-12 record.
1976: Ziemer returns to coach softball team to an 11-6 record.
1976: SCSU golf team win SCSU Invitational in first competition. Huskies defeat St. Olaf 270-292 as Anne Theis cards an 88 for runner-up honors.
1976: SCSU volleyball team wins MAIAWÂ Large College state title and finishes at 26-15 in Ziemer's final season as head coach.
1976-77: SCSU basketball wins MAIAW Large College State Championship and finishes 18-4 under Ziemer.
1977: Dianne Glowatzke named volleyball and softball coach.
1978: Becky McClellan named gymnastics and tennis coach. Anne Theis named golf coach.
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Sue Wahl 1979: SCSUÂ becomes a charter member of the Northern Sun Conference.
1979: SCSU's Sue Wahl gains AIAW All-America honors in women's basketball.
1979: Sandra Schleifers named cross country and track coach.
THE 1980s
1980: SCSU gymastics captures MAIAW Division II state title and second two athletes to AIAW national meet. Anne Cleary places 24th and Terese Sager places 48th in the all-around at the national meet.
 Mar. 12-16, 1980: SCSU swimming and diving wins MAIAW and Region 6 AIAW titles and sends seven athletes to the AIAW nationals in Nearing's final year as head coach. Jane Baltes becomes SCSU's first women's All-America award winner in swimming by finishing 12th in the 50 backstroke in Clarion, Penn.
1980: Basketball team captures first Northern Sun Conference title
1980: SCSU tennis team captures first of four consecutive NSC and MAIAWÂ Division II titles in McClellan's final season.
1980: Carol Anklan named swimming and diving and tennis coach. Thompson returns as cross country and track and field coach.
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Dianne Glowatzke 1981:Â SCSU terminates gymnastics program
1981: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins MAIAWÂ Division II state title for second consecutive year.
1981: SCSU tennis wins NSC and MAIAWÂ Division II state championships.
May 2, 1981: SCSUÂ defeats MSU Moorhead 2-0 to win first MAIAWÂ DII state crown.
 1982: St. Cloud State hosts second ever NCAA DII women’s cross country championship at St. Cloud Country Club in 1982.
1982: SCSU basketball captures its second NSC title and finishes with a 15-12 record. Diane Scherer named AIAWÂ All-American.
1982: Marie Sherwood wins the javelin at the AIAWÂ national championships, becoming SCSU first-ever individual national champion.
1982: SCSU tennis wins third consecutive NSIC and MAIAW DII title. SCSU also wins the Region 6 AIAW championship for the first time.
1982: SCSUÂ obtains membership in the NCAA.
Marie Sherwood1982: Carol Howe-Veenstra named track and field coach.
1982: Kirsten Olson become first SCSUÂ athlete to earn All-America honors in track and field (see complete list of SCSU All-Americans)
1982: SCSU volleyball wins first NSC title and finishes with a 27-19 record.
1983: SCSU basketball finishes with a 31-4 record following a loss in the NCAA DII quarterfinals. The Huskies win their second consecutive NSC title, the MAIAW DII title and the NCAA DII North Central Region title.
1983: Thompson named as track and field coach. John Pearson named as golf coach.
1983: SCSUÂ posts its first of three consecutive 30 win seasons with a 33-15 record.
 1984: SCSU basketball is 27-3 with a NCAA DII quartefinal loss. SCSU wins its third consecutive NSC title and second consecutive NCAA DII Regional crown. Ramona Rugloski and Dawn Anderson earned the first of two consecutive All-America awards in 1984.
1984: SCSU moves to the North Central Conference. Sue Becker named softball coach, Sue Gabrielson named cross country and track coach and Jeff Black named tennis coach.
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1982-83 SCSU women's basketball team 1985: SCSU basketball completes a 24-6 season with a third straight loss in the NCAA DII quarterfinals. SCSU wins third straight NCAA DII Regional title and finishes as the NCC runner-up.
1985: Anne Abicht joins SCSU staff as the Huskies' Athletic Media Relations Director.
April 27, 1985: SCSUÂ tennis wins first NCC title in any sport as they tie MSU, Mankato with 52 points.
1985: Nancy Knop is named as SCSU's cross country and track coach
1986: SCSUÂ volleyball completes a 38-9 season and advances to NCAA regional playoffs.
1987: SCSU basketball finishes 21-8 following an appearances in the NCAA regional playofs. Sarah Howard earns first of three consecutive All-America awards for the Huskies (1986, 1987 and 1988).
1987: SCSU tennis wins its second NCC title in three season under Jeff Black. Â
 1987: Larry Sundby named SCSU's fourth tennis coach. Rene Kellerman named as golf coach.
1988: SCSUÂ basketball posts 18-10 record and advances to NCAA North Central Regional.
1988: SCSU tennis wins its second consecutive NCC title. SCSU wins all three doubles titles and five of the six singles championships.
 1988: Diane Heydt named as SCSU's third swim and dive coach.
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Karen Scott 1988: Jenni Schultz wins NCC cross country championship and places 22nd at NCAA championships.
1988: SCSUÂ volleyball finishes year with a 22-15 record and makes appearance in the NCAA regional.
1989: SCSU basketball finishes 21-9 after losing to Central Missouri in the NCAA DII quarterfinals. SCSU hoops wins its first NCC title and fourth NCAA DII North Central Region title. Toni Jameson and Jan Niehaus both earned the first of their two consecutive All-America awards in 1989.
1989: SCSUÂ softball advances to NCAA DII Midwest Regional for the first time with a 26-14 record.
 1989: Blair Nelson named golf coach
The 1990s
Mar. 10, 1990: SCSU basketball finishes with a 23-5 record following a loss to NDSUÂ in the NCAA DII regional tournament
 Apr. 26, 1990: SCSU tennis captures its fourth NCC title
1990: SCSU softball wins 30 games for the first time in team history. Finishes at 33-11.
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Simona Samuelson April 27, 1991: SCSU tennis wins fifth NCC title.
May 12, 1991: SCSU softball falls to Augustana by a 2-0 margin in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional. SCSU ends season at 30-15.
1991: Anne Theis named golf coach for a second time.
1991: Simona Samuelson named to WBCA All-America team in basketball.
 1991: SCSU cross country places ninth at NCAA championships.  Michelle Nelson places second at NCC championships that season.
Mar. 13, 1992: GiGi DesLauriers becomes SCSU's first NCAA national champion by winning high jump at 5-8 at the NCAA DII Indoor track and field championships. Michelle Nelson becomes a five-time All-American at the same meet.
May 9, 1992: SCSUÂ softball advances to NCAA DII Midwest Regional after charting a 25-13 record.
 1992-93: SCSU celebrates 25th anniversary of women's intercollegiate athletics.
1993-94:SCSUÂ swim and dive places 11th at NCAA DII championships.
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Gigi DesLauriers 1994: SCSUÂ adds soccer as an intercollegiate sport and Colleen Edwards is the team's first coach.
1994: Dr. Lori Ulferts named women's basketball coach at SCSU.
1995: Shellee Lamie Copley named SCSUÂ soccer coach and leads team to a 13-5-2 record in 1995.
1995: SCSU volleyball wins NCAA DII regional tournament and advances to NCAA DII Elite Eight for first time in team history. Huskies end season with a 27-6 overall record after falling to Barry by a 3-0 tally at Elite Eight in Miami Shore, Fla. Swen Minnema earns NCAA DII All-America honors.
1995-96: Brenda Meyer is NCC women's basketball MVP and NCC scoring champion for 1995-96 season. She also earns WBCA All-America honors in 1996.
 1996: SCSU volleyball's Cami Selbitschka named to NCAA DII volleyball All-America team.
1996-97: Sarah Loquai wins NCAA DII championship in 1M diving
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Sarah Loquai 1997-98: Jessica Simonson ties for 16th place at NCAA DII/IIIÂ golf championships.
1997-98: Mary Ahlin wins NCAA DII championships in 1M and 3M diving. SCSU places 12th at NCAA DII championships.
1997-98: SCSU adds nordic ski to its intercollegiate athletic program. Dave Johnson serves as the head coach in that first season. He also serves as the team's coach from 2016-18.
1998: Paula U'Ren begins first season as SCSU softball coach. Huskies win NCC championship in softball while posting a 42-14 overall record. SCSU also qualifies for NCAA DII regional tournament. Karissa Hoehn earns All-America honors.
1998-99: Mary Ahlin wins NCAA DII championships in 1M and 3M diving.  SCSU places 12th at NCAA DII championships.
1998-99: Jessica Simonson places 2nd at NCC golf championships and 26th place at NCAA DII/III golf championships.
 1998-99: SCSU adds women's hockey to its sports roster and names Kerry Brodt Wethington as the University's first women's hockey coach.
1999: SCSUÂ softball tallies 44-14 record and qualifies for NCAA DII regional.
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Karissa Hoehn 1999: Seth Mischke named SCSU track and field and cross country coach
1999-00: SCSUÂ swim and dive places fifth at NCAA DII championships.
1999-00: SCSU women's hockey joins the WCHA.
The 2000s
2000: Stephanie McGuinness named SCSU soccer coach
2000: SCSU softball earns another NCAA DII regional tournament bid. Karissa Hoehn named to NCAA DII All-America list in 2000.
2000: Judi Larkin joins staff as golf coach
2000-01: SCSU basketball advances to NCAA DII North Central Regional. Tina Schreiner wins NCC scoring championship.
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Chris Fleischer 2001: Jeremy Frost named nordic ski coach at SCSUÂ in 2001 and serves as SCSUÂ coach until 2015-16.
2001-02: Jeff Hegle named women's swimming and diving coach at SCSU.
2002: SCSU softball returns to NCAA DII regional tournament play, while Abby Bourman selected as an NCAA DII All-American.
2002-03: Kay Adamson becomes first Husky to qualify for NCAA nordic ski championships and places 36th in 2002-03.
2002: Jason Lesteberg named SCSUÂ women's hockey coach
2003: Patricia Gerchy (Mickow) named volleyball coach at SCSU
2004: SCSUÂ volleyball qualifies for NCAA DII Regional Tournament in St. Paul, Minn.
2004:Â SCSUÂ women's tennis selected for NCAA regional tournament play.
2003: SCSU softball wins NCC championship and also qualifies for NCAA DII regional tournament. Sets team record with 46 victories (46-14). Abby Bourman and Brooke Gentzler named to NCAA DII All-America team.
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2006 women's basketball team 2004: SCSU softball wins NCC championship and NCAA DII Regional title, while posting a 42-15 overall record. Huskies finish in third place at 2004 NCAA DII championships in Orlando, Fla. Abby Velta named to NCAA DII All-America team.
2004:Â SCSUÂ women's tennis selected for NCAA regional tournament play.
2004-05: SCSU basketball wins NCAA DII North Central Regional title and advances to NCAA DII Elite Eight. Â
2005:Â SCSUÂ women's tennis selected for NCAA regional tournament play.
2005-06: For the first time in team history, SCSU women’s basketball advances to the NCAA Final Four in 2005-06. SCSU wins the NCAA regional crown with a 75-69 victory over North Dakota and follows with a 78-71 win over Shaw in the NCAA Elite 8 quartefinals. SCSU ends its season with a 70-58 loss to American International in the NCAA Final Four.
2006: SCSU names Jerry Anderson as women's tennis coach. Larry Sundby stays with team as an assistant coach.
2006-07: SCSU's Erika Quigley names the NCAA DII women's basketball player of the year for 2006-07. She also received All-America honors for the Huskies in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
2006-07: Jeff Giesen named SCSUÂ women's hockey coach.
2008: Lori Fish named SCSUÂ women's basketball coach
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Felicia Nelson 2008: Becky Heiberger McCabe named SCSUÂ soccer coach
2008: Jenny Gensch named to NCAA DII softball All-America team.
2008-09: SCSUÂ women's athletic teams (NCAA DII level only) join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after North Central Conference disbands at end of the 2007-08 season.
2008-09: SCSU swimming and diving wins Northern Sun Swim Conference championship. Huskies place eighth at NCAA DII championships.
2008-09: SCSU women's basketball wins NSICÂ tournament and advances to NCAA DII Regional tournament.
2009: SCSU wins NSIC women's tennis championship with 13-1 record. Finishes year with a school record 26 dual wins (26-9). Selected for NCAA DII Regional tournament.
2009-10: SCSU's Felicia Nelson earns NCAA DI women's hockey All-America honors, becoming the first SCSU player to gain All-America status in women's hockey. She was also named a Patty Kazmaier Award top 10 finalist in 2010, the WCHA Offensive Player of the Year and won the NCAA Division I scoring title in 2010.
2009-10: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins 2010 Midwest Collegiate Swim and Dive Championship.
Heather Miller
The 2010s
2010: Heather Miller win 2010 NCAA DII 2010 pentathlon national championship at NCAA DII indoor track and field championships. Miller later qualifies for 2016 Summer Olympics games for Team USA in the heptathlon.
2010: SCSU women's tennis wins NSIC championship with a 9-1 record (24-7 overall). Huskies also qualify for NCAA DII regional tournament and advance to NCAA DII Sweet 16 in Orlando, Fla.
2010-11: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins 2011 Midwest Collegiate Swim and Dive Championship.
2011-12: SCSUÂ swim and dive places ninth at NCAA DII championships.
2012: Eric Hanenberger named head coach of SCSUÂ track and field and cross country
2012-13: SCSUÂ women's basketball claims NSICÂ North Division championship.
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2013 NSICÂ champs from SCSUÂ in swimming and diving 2012-13: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins NSIC championship.
2013-14: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins NSICÂ championship.
2014: Gretta Arvesen named women's soccer coach at SCSU.
2014-15: Eric Rud named SCSUÂ women's hockey coach.
2015: Long time SCSU Athletic Media Relations Director Anne Abicht retires after serving the University since 1985.
2016: Sam Kettenhofen joins SCSU staff as the cross country and track coach
2016-17: SCSUÂ swim and dive wins NSICÂ championship.
2017-18: Sloan Wallgren named women's golf coach at SCSU.
