Title IX Timeline
Welcome to the Kent State Title IX Celebration homepage!
The Golden Flashes are celebrating 50 years of Title IX with a year-long series that highlights the success and impact that Title IX has had at Kent State. Click on the links below to read about the great moments and trailblazers in Kent State women's athletics. Be sure to fill out the Title IX survey to share your story!
Homecoming |1910s | 1920s | 1930s |1940s | 1950s
1960s | 1972 | 1970s | Early 1980s | Late 1980s
Early 1990s | Mid 1990s | Late 90s-Early 00s
Title IX Spotlight | Title IX Survey
This year during Homecoming weekend, we will be celebrating many Milestones and Memories- the theme of this year’s event. One of those notable milestones is the 50th anniversary of Title IX in the United States. Kent State will celebrate former female student-athletes for their contributions in competition and in the classroom through a variety of specially tailored events. Additionally, you can view all general Homecoming Alumni events here.
The following events will feature a special recognition of, or role for, former female student-athletes who are participating in the Women in Sport – Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX events.Â
- Friday, Sept. 30 – 7:30 p.m., Homecoming Weekend Kickoff – special recognitionÂ
- Saturday, Oct. 1 – 10:30 a.m., Homecoming Parade – former female student-athletes will serve as parade Grand Marshals
- Saturday, Oct. 1 – 2:00 p.m., 11th Annual Varsity "K" FLASHBACK All Sports Reunion (RSVP required)
- Saturday, Oct. 1 – Halftime, On-field Recognition for all former female student-athletes
- Sunday, Oct. 2 – 10:00 a.m., Yoga and Brunch at Dix (RSVP required)
For more information about Women in Sport events, click here and for any questions, contact Katie Schilling.
Shortly after the founding of Kent State, the athletic association was formed in 1914. Seen here is one of the four women's basketball teams were established in the winter of 1914
Intramurals took off at Kent State throughout the 1920s. These teams served as the predecessors for future varsity teams. This is the 1928 swim team who got their start in Willis Gymnasium which was formally dedicated in 1925.
While softball took off in popularity in rec and industrial leagues, women at Kent State and Universities across the country played the national pastime of baseball. Seen here is one of Kent State's intramural teams from the 1932 season.
The focus at Kent State shifted towards the war effort in the 1940s with the University suspending varsity athletics in 1943. Intramurals served as a welcomed reprieve and sports like bowling, fencing and swimming and diving flourished through the decade.
Betty Jean (Maycock) Harrington '64 was a member of 1960 United State Olympic Team. That capped a tremendous amateur gymnastics career that saw her capture the 1958 Junior National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Championships and the 1959 AAU floor exercise title.
Under the direction of Rudy and Janet Bachna, the Kent State Gymnastics team was started in 1959 and by the late 1960s was a dominant force. Starting with the 1968 team, the Golden Flashes competed in 11 consecutive AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) National Championships, won four state championships and four Mid-American Conference titles in the 1970s and 80s.
On June 23, 1972 Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 went into effect. Those 37 words read below by Judy Devine '69, '70 MA, Senior Associate Athletic Director (Emeritus) revolutionized collegiate women's sports
The duo of Jill (James) Woodruff and Sue (Jensen) Sweeney (above) led the Golden Flashes to instant success after field hockey became a varsity sport in 1975. Under the direction of head coach Judy Devine, the Flashes had three double-digit win seasons in the first four years at the varsity level. In 1978, the Flashes won 17 games and reached the AIAW regionals. (James) Woodruff and (Jensen) Sweeney each had 20-plus goal seasons in their storied careers and both sit in the top-five all-time in career goals.
Bonnie Beachy ('82) was a two-time Kodak All-Region team member during her hall-of-fame career at Kent State. Beachy led the Flashes in scoring in all four of her seasons, including 20-plus points per game in her junior and senior seasons. In 1981-82, Beachy helped lead the Golden Flashes to their first NCAA Tournament berth. Her 2,071 career points remain a program record.
Under the direction of head coach Kris Ewing, the Golden Flashes broke through in 1988, winning its first Mid-American Conference field hockey regular season and tournament titles. It was the first of three titles in five seasons for the Golden Flashes under Ewing, who started her career as a member of the Golden Flashes from 1980-82.
The Golden Flashes started the 1990s in grand fashion as the Kent State softball team embarked on a dream season that ended in the Women's College World Series. Kent State went 43-9 in 1990 including 20-4 in the Mid-American Conference. After winning the MAC, the Golden Flashes swept through Ohio State and Oregon as part of the Columbus, Ohio regional, punching their ticket to Oklahoma City.
Kent State track and field had standout performances throughout the mid 90s. Debbie Duplay-Blank '93 became the first woman to qualify for the NCAA championships. Two years later, Jennifer Buckley '95 was named the NCAA Ohio Woman of the Year and a four-time All-American. Roberta Collins was a three-time All-American and eight-time Mid-American Conference Champion in the weighted throw, discus and shot put. Collins placed fifth at the 1997 NCAA Championships in discus.
One of the most impressive streaks in college athletics started at Kent State in 1998 when the women's golf team captured the first Mid-American Conference tournament. The Golden Flashes have gone on to win all 23 Mid-American Conference Tournament titles. Martina Gillen (above) was the first All-American in program history, earning the honor from the Women's Golf Coaches' Association after the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
Six seasons after Kent State started the women's soccer program in 1997, Jackie Pecjak became the program's first All-MAC first-team selection in 2003. Pecjak helped the Flashes to a then program record 12 victories including a 8-2-2 mark, tying the Flashes for first in the MAC.
 Kent State graduate Kim Kreiner '00 led the Golden Flashes to the 2000 MAC outdoor track and field title. She went on to set the American record in the javelin, earned a gold medal at the 2003 Pan-American games and was a member of the 2004 United States Olympic Team.
The 2011 Kent State gymnastics team earned the program's first and only trip to the NCAA Championships. The Golden Flashes qualified for the Ann Arbor regional, placed second with a score of 195.450 and punched their ticket to the National Championship in Cleveland.
The 2014 Kent State field hockey team made program history with their first NCAA tournament victory. The Golden Flashes went on the road and topped Delaware 2-1. The victory put an exclamation point on a season that saw Kent State go 5-1 against conference foes and win the Mid-American Conference tournament on their home field.
In 2015, April Goss became the second female in FBS history to record a point in a game, following a second-quarter extra point against Delaware State.Â
That same season, the Golden Flashes' volleyball team went 20-10 overall and 13-3 in the Mid-American Conference to claim their first Mid-American Conference Eastern Division title, the 13 Conference wins remains the program record.
In 2017, The Golden Flashes' women's golf team completed its best run at the NCAA National Championship, finishing fifth and beating its previous best finish of 15th place. Kent State also became the first program to ever advance to match play of the women's golf championship from outside of the "Power 5" conferences. Kent State placed two golfer on the WGCA All-America list with Pimnipa Panthong and Karoline Stormo each earning the honor.
In 2018, Holly Speers capped one of the most impressive softball careers in Kent State history, earning First-Team All-America honors from the Fast Pitch Coaches' Association. Speers hit a sizzling .483 that season with 17 homers and 58 runs batted in. Speers led the nation and set MAC single-season records in batting average (.483), on-base percentage (.656), slugging percentage (1.033) and walks per game (1.2).
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First announced in 2016, women's lacrosse became the 11th women's sport at Kent State in the 2019 season. That year, the Golden Flashes picked up their first program win with a 21-6 drubbing of Delaware State. The program has made strides in each of its four seasons and in 2022 made the Mid-American Conference post-season tournament for the first time.
The Golden Flashes have had a tremendous start to the 2020s, winning the 2021 and 2022 Jacoby Award, given annually to the top women's athletic program within the Mid-American Conference. Since the Mid-American Conference began giving out the award in 1983, the Golden Flashes have won or finished runner-up in 20 of the 39 years it has been presented. This is the third time Kent State has gone back-to-back, having won the award in 1996 and 97 and again in 2004 and 2005.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Kent State Athletics is highlighting student-athletes, teams and moments over the past 50 years. Look for our celebratory posts on the ninth of each month throughout the year!
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Our Title IX Spotlight Athlete of the Month started with women's basketball great Bonnie Beachy ('82). Beachy shined for the Golden Flashes from 1978-82, earning seven varsity letters in her career, four in basketball and three more in tennis. She is the all-time scoring leader (men's or women's) in Kent State history with 2,071 points. To read more on the great Bonnie Beachy, see our Title IX Spotlight article. |
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This month's Title IX Spotlight throws it back to our trailblazing women's basketball teams of 1914! The Golden Flashes had four intramural teams after the founding of the Kent State Athletic Association #GoFlashes x #TitleIX50 |
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This month's Title IX Spotlight focuses in on the facility upgrades to our gymnastics and softball facilities. Among the changes to the softball facility includes the renaming of the venue to the Devine Diamond, in honor of Judy Devine. To read the full story on our on-going facility upgrades, click here. |
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This month's Title IX Spotlight recognizes the terrific efforts of the Kent State Women's Golf Team! This season, the Flashes wrapped up their 23rd consecutive conference title! #GoFlashes x #TitleIX50 |
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This month's Title IX Spotlight is on the Kent State Lacrosse Team The newest program in our Flash Family qualified for the postseason for the first time in program history! #GoFlashes x #TitleIX50 |
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This month's Title IX Spotlight focuses in on the 1990 #WCWS team! The Golden Flashes won 43 games that season and boasted FIVE Varsity "K" Hall of Famers! #GoFlashes x #TitleIX50 |
We want to hear from you! Click the Title IX Survey to share what Title IX means to you and your family, we'd love to help share your stories.
Special thank you to our campus partners for helping in our year-long Title IX celebration!
