As Women's History Month comes to a close, it seems fitting that Ripon women's sports chose March to put together one of the best months for athletics in school history. Between women's tennis, track & field, softball, and basketball, the achievements of this March have set historical benchmarks in and of themselves, but stand atop the work of the women before them, setting the foundation for current success with efforts often forgotten to time.

As we celebrate the achievements of our current women setting the bar ever higher for future Ripon athletes, the College Days archives provide a brief look at some of the origins of the sports seeing so much success in the current day.

Co-Ed Tennis Team? | March 30, 1973
Mary Ohlinger, a freshman candidate from Chicago, hopes to be the first woman to compete in a varsity sport at Ripon… "I enjoy the game, and didn't want to give it up, even if Ripon had no girl's team."

The men's team, riding a 13-match win streak, included seven other male hopefuls attempting to make the team. Ohlinger would not compete for the men's program, but an intercollegiate women's team would not be far away. 

Women Netters Take Second | October 6, 1973

In the first year of intercollegiate tennis at Ripon, the first women's tennis Midwest Conference championship is held. Mary Ohlinger competes, and the team takes second overall. "Hopefully the tournament will become an annual one, boosting interest in women's intercollegiate tennis" the writer notes. 

NCAA Decision | April 27, 1973

As women's athletics begins formalized competition at Ripon, a recommendation to the faculty from the athletics committee is accepted, allowing Ripon College athletes and teams to participate in NCAA sponsored championships and playoffs. Four months later, the NCAA divides into the current three division system, with Ripon opting for the Division III option. However, not until 1980 were women's NCAA championships introduced, initially offered in basketball, field hockey, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Women's Track Team Competes / Women Tie Carroll | April 10, 1974 

Ripon attends the first women's intercollegiate track meet for the school, travelling to Oshkosh to compete against UWO, UW Stevens Point, UW Parkside and UW Milwaukee. Two weeks later, in a dual meet against Carroll, Jean Uetzmann (long jump, 100m hurdles), Nancy Skarzunski (javelin), Pat Hammon (220m) and Debbie Orsted (high jump) become the first Ripon women to win track events in school history. 

Women's Sports Go Unnoticed | November 8, 1974

"We have good quality sports, but I don't think anybody realizes that." Elaine Coll says to the College Days. The article goes on to describe that "Over the last few years the women's sports program has gained good participation from many women but little recognition from the college as a whole." Coll continues to develop and foster women's athletics at Ripon, which grows steadily despite the challenges of the time. 

Women Cagers End Season | March 19, 1975

Following the completion of the unofficial intercollegiate women's basketball season, Ripon opens the school's second intercollegiate women's track season at UW-Oshkosh. Ten members make up the team prior to the first competition, "and Ripon's coach, Mrs. Elaine Coll, noted that the [team] still needs more people and that any Ripon women are welcome to try out". 

Girls Beat Lawrence | January 23, 1976

After two years of unofficial intercollegiate competition, the first varsity women's basketball competition is held against Lake Forest. Barb Horne leads the team with a 19 point outing. Later that week, the team records their first victory over Lawrence, winning 70-60. Ripon's women's basketball would maintain a winning record against the rival for the entirety of the program's history, with the matchup currently sitting at 72 wins for Ripon to 29 wins for Lawrence. 

Barmat Creates Two-Way Race | September 24, 1976

Linda Barmat becomes the first varsity women's cross country runner for Ripon, running on the men's team. "When asked what is was like on an all-boy team, Linda replied that there hadn't been any major problems. She feels the guys on the squad treat her as another member of the team. They appreciate her interest in running and regard her as an equal… Linda doesn't understand why there's so much fuss about a woman cross country runner… She just likes to run." Writer Dave Remondini describes.

Softballers Split Double Header | April 6, 1981

Softball begins their first season of varsity competition, playing a double header against Lawrence. Ripon takes the first game 25-21 in an offensive firestorm, but drops the second game 4-8. Coach Chris Ogle comments frankly on the loss "Deb Palmer pitched well enough to win, if she would have had better support from the offense."

The inaugural season included ten games, and interest in the program was immediate. As Coach Ogle describes, "I am looking forward to a strong season. Great attitude and hustle has been shown by the twenty members of this team. I also want to extend a special thanks to the women who came out this season and didn't make the team."

45 years after their first season, Ripon Softball opens a schedule more than three times as full as the first one, coming out to their best start in 15 years.

53 years after the team was formed, Ripon women's tennis assembles their best year in more than two decades, earning double digit wins for the first time since 2003-04. 

52 years after the first intercollegiate meet, Ripon women's track places three on the All-Region list, with Joley Berger and Jenny Cortes setting school records along the way. The season comes after National Cross Country Championships for both Berger and Cortes, the first time in school history two runners made the event in the same year. 

50 years after their first varsity game, women's basketball achieves their highest win total ever, ranking inside the top 20 on both major national polls en route to their 8th straight MWC championship and first NCAA Tournament win since 2005. Elaine Coll continues to cheer the team on throughout the season, as the once-overlooked women's athletics she fostered and helped champion brings the school national recognition.