The 1975 field hockey team in the program’s third year was coached by Susan Jacobson. Lynn Arko Kelley is pictured in the back row, third from right.
Leveling the field As Division I women’s sports gained steam and television coverage, programs at small colleges struggled to attain the same level of respect. “I ran into a local sports reporter in the mid-80s and said, ‘Hey, you should come watch us play and write about our success,’” Staton recalled. “He just kind of brushed me off, saying ‘No one is interested in watching women play sports.’ I was infuriated, but 10 years later, when he dropped off his daughter at my youth basketball camp, I felt a little vindication.”
“We weren’t a dainty crew by any stretch. Looking back, it was pretty cool to be part of that first team.”
went into effect. The federal amendment, which marked its 40th anniversary in June, provided equal opportunity for women participating in educational programs or activities that received federal financial assistance. Although “sports” or “athletics” do not appear in the official wording of the amendment, women jumped at an opportunity for access to equipment, coaches and facilities that men already possessed.
Little victories By 1978, W&J sponsored women’s varsity athletic teams for basketball, volleyball, field hockey, swimming and diving, and tennis. The Presidents’ early years were lean on victories but high on spirit. “We had a couple of fraternities that would come watch us play, and that motivated us,” Arko Kelley said. “We weren’t always sure if people cared about what we were doing, but we were having a blast.” While W&J Hall of Famer Kim Eisiminger ’80 wasn’t a member of the first W&J women’s basketball team, she was there for the program’s first victory, a 56-30 triumph over Seton Hill at Henry Memorial Center. “Being a part of that first victory was something I will never forget,” said Eisiminger, who went on to score 1,333 points and grab 886 rebounds in her career. These totals still remain among the top six in the school’s record book even though Eisiminger played in half the number of games that today’s student-athletes enjoy. The opportunity to play was rewarding enough for the 5-foot-6 center.
– LYNN ARKO KELLEY ’77
“I never really thought about Title IX,” Eisiminger added. “Thinking back now, the men definitely had nice practice gear, and we’d be on school buses while they were riding coach buses. But, we were having fun, and that’s all that really mattered.”
Conference wars Eisiminger and Head Coach Vicki Staton both came to W&J from nearby Waynesburg High School. Staton, now the face of women’s sports at W&J, spent a quarter of a century as the Presidents’ head basketball and volleyball coach and, upon retirement, ranked 24th in NCAA Division III among active win leaders in both sports. However, when Staton arrived at W&J, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) was comprised of male teams only. This inspired her to push for the creation of the Pennwood West Conference for women’s teams in 1977. The conference was developed under the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), which served as the governing body for women’s sports. Eventually, the NCAA began competing with the AIAW for membership schools, staging its first Division I women’s basketball tournament in 1982 after persuading 17 of the top 20 programs to compete. Ultimately, the NCAA had better funding and television contracts that provided women’s sports a chance to grow. “The AIAW really set the foundation for women’s collegiate sports,” noted Staton. “At that time, we were just trying to give these young women an opportunity to play and compete.”
Pioneers like Staton had to put in the hard work to give her teams a fair chance to compete, often setting up the bleachers before each game and tearing them down on her own. She labored hard at providing the best for her student-athletes because she never had the opportunity to play herself. Staton grew up in West Virginia during a time when youth and high school girls’ sports were not offered. She never played one second of a sport; she never put on a uniform. “I enjoyed teaching the game, because our players were eager to learn. We needed to stress the fundamentals, something that is lost in today’s game.”
Desire to succeed Arko Kelley still has scars on her legs from serving as the team’s goalie, admitting to “just roughing it” without any leg protection. Even after receiving a shiner during a match, she recalled being happy that the College was giving her a chance to play. Eisiminger, who spent many years as a volunteer assistant coach for Staton, remembers being tossed a reversible practice jersey and socks before the season started, while the men’s teams always seemed to have the latest high-priced gear. “There were obviously issues from time to time, but I believe W&J always has done the right thing in regards to women’s sports,” said Staton, who was the 17th woman inducted into the W&J Athletic Hall of Fame in September. “The College always has embraced women’s athletics, and I have been very grateful for that.” When W&J hosted an NCAA women’s basketball tournament game in 2003, Staton clearly recalls Henry’s bleachers being packed with fans. “That was fantastic. Who wouldn’t have wanted to play in that atmosphere? It was an exciting moment for the College,” Staton concluded. “Title IX gave women that chance to participate. We always had the desire to succeed. Today, that same desire is to excel at the highest levels.” – SCOTT MCGUINNESS
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE
23