Legacy of Title IX Includes Opportunities for Learning and Competition

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- When Title IX passed the U.S. Congress and was signed into law on June 23, 1972, it was designed to increase opportunities and equity for women in higher education, both in academics and athletics. It has led to great progress in those areas, with women's college athletics growing in so many ways, from the number of athletes participating; the number of sports offered by the NCAA and the NAIA; increased operating budgets and greater fan support.

Willamette was ahead of many other colleges and universities, as women's athletics started to take place for the Bearcats in the 1940s and WU added intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s. Elsewhere, many of the changes happened after the late 1970s, as Title IX took hold.

Coaches and players over the past 45 years have contributed to the growth of women's athletics at Willamette. Several former athletes looked back at their years as Bearcats and provided comments about what they learned and what they gained from their experiences.

Tracie Napoli, Women's Basketball, Class of 1992

"Everything about sports made me ready for the working world," Tracie Napoli said. "How to be on time (in sports I was taught by my dad that 'on time' was 15 minutes early or 'Lombardi time'); How to rely on others; How to be relied upon; How hard work can get results; How to help others; How to be humble; How to be a good leader; How to push through even when you're exhausted.

"Once my husband even commented to me 'None of my clients really care that I played a collegiate sport, but they do care that I possess the skills I learned from playing sports to apply to doing my very best job for them in the work world," Napoli noted.

"I believe being active in sports helps girls get their self-esteem," Napoli said. "I was a girl who was so by playing sports and working on myself that I filled up my days with practice and games. I didn't need to do other less desirable things to get attention. Sports gave me a huge sense of being myself, working hard to become better, and being a good leader, role model and strong person. Helping others and being a good teammate is a huge way sports has impacted my life.

"I have always looked up to Pat Summitt (legendary University of Tennessee women's basketball coach) as a driving force in putting women's athletics on the map," Napoli commented. "She was tough as nails and taught her players (and all us female athletes) that competing to always be better and working hard is what makes you a better person."

Bonnie (Bauer) Flynn, Women's Swimming, Class of 1997

Being a college athlete requires commitment, hard work and preparedness:  all skills that have served me well in college and throughout my career," Bonnie (Bauer) Flynn said. "during the season, there were often times when I had competing priorities. I became adept at managing all the priorities, including pre-planning my time as well as prioritizing what really mattered.

"What I often found interesting was that sports helped me focus better," Flynn continued. "When studying for a big test, a good practice would clear my head and get me ready to focus again. I still do that today ... go for a run or get a good workout in during a peak time to clear my head and re-engage.

"I still manage many priorities today as a leader of a large finance team at Nike, as well as a wife and a mom of two young boys," Flynn noted. "I need to ensure that I'm setting priorities and clearly communicating them to my team, as well as tracking our progress and holding team members accountable. As a wife and mon, I constantly work to balance my work and home commitments.

"Athletics also taught me that at the end of the day, as a team member, you are not only working for your individual achievement, but also to contribute to the success of the entire team," Flynn said.

"Many women throughout my life have contributed to my success as an athlete, and more importantly, as a person," Flynn commented. "The first, was my high school swim coach. I was new to the sport, but somehow had a natural ability that allowed me to compete. I started swimming as a junior in high school, but did not have the ambition of continuing in college. She helped me see the possibilities as well as introduced me to college coaches, which ultimately led me to Willamette and an amazing four-year collegiate swimming career.

"I competed in my first triathlon recently (at the age of 41)," Flynn said. "Clearly swimming wasn't too much of a challenge, but piecing it all together with biking and running was a whole different story. Many women supported me ... I get inspired by these ladies daily."

Katy (Cashill) Blewett, Softball, Class of 2002, MAT

"Playing at the NCAA level of softball helped me to become a better team player in my current career as an elementary school teacher," Katy (Cashill) Blewett noted. "As they say, 'It takes a village' to mold young minds for future success, while helping each other in the classroom, as well as lesson planning and helping solve issues that young people struggle with these days.

"Having the chance to play sports has impacted my life immensely," Blewett said. "I have a much better head on my shoulders, not only with my career, but also with my work ethic. I know that hard work and grit is what it takes to become successful.

"As a female athlete, it is significant to help each other out and support one another: whether that be work, school, or just building confidence," Blewett added. "I have had the opportunity to be a coach myself for an eight grade girls' basketball team. To see these girls come together as a team and encourage each other was a wonderful moment for me."

Coral (Sorenson) Pompei, Women's Swimming, Class of 2009

"Being a student-athlete shaped the woman I am today," said Coral (Sorenson) Pompei. "It taught me time management. It taught me to work hard. It taught me to prioritize. It taught me to decide what was really important in my life. I can't tell you how many mornings I would have rather stayed in bed ... but I forced myself to get up and go to that dreaded morning practice ... and I'm so glad for it!

"I am a small business owner, and it is hard," Pompei said. "My current career has forced me into difficult working situations and almost impossible sleeping schedules. Had I not been a student athlete, I don't think I would be able to handle it. The work never ends. I work 100 hours every week, and there is always more to do.

"But, swimming prepared me for that," Pompei commented. "It was engrained into us to never be satisfied ... always keep working toward the next goal. If we achieved success, we celebrated and set the next target. I owe that drive to my history as a student-athlete."

Jessica Barry, Softball, Class of 2009, MBA 2013

"Playing college athletics prepared me to be a strong leader and an advocate in all areas of my life," Jessica Barry said. "Playing softball at Willamette gave me the confidence, support and strength that I needed to push myself to get my master's degree and to strive for the career I wanted.

"Being an athlete has played a huge role in my life, even now that I am not playing anymore," Barry commented. "The friendships, the camaraderie, my coaches and mentors who I still talk to today, the leadership skills ... every aspect of my life has been influenced and improved because of athletics.

"I had so many role models ... where do I begin,?" Barry said. "I think my first group of role models was watching the Stanford softball team as a kid, specifically Jessica Mendoza. She played with such heart and passion, and with a great respect for the game and players. I have continued to watch her grow in her career, as she became the first female analyst for a Major League Baseball game, and is now a regular member of the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast team. To see her break thee barriers has been such an inspiration."

Maddy Grainger, Women's Soccer, Class of 2013

"College soccer taught me teamwork, leadership and diversification of skills to be able to integrate hard work, dedication and resilience in the work place. I continue to play professional soccer now, as well as coaching and working a full-time job in a hospital," Maddy Grainger said. "I am able to do this because of being a college athlete.

"I have always had strong female role models who continuously show me that hard work and dedication pay off in more ways than one," Grainger added. "I have learned that mental and physical resilience is a lifelong battle. I have learned that kindness and patience are some of the most valuable qualities of athletes, teammates and leaders."

Kayla Kosaki, Women's Swimming, Class of 2013

"Being part of a university swim team helped me with my transition into college," Kayla Kosaki said. "It connected me with teammates, mentors and lifelong friends who continue to play a significant role in my life. As someone who works in leadership, equity and inclusion in Student Affairs at Willamette, I attribute much of my career pathway to the experiences I gained while on the swim team.

"I've been swimming competitively since I was nine, and I think two of the biggest lessons swimming has taught me are:  1. Dedication and perseverance; 2. How to be your own measure of success," Kosaki noted. "In sports, you're constantly challenged to do better for yourself and your team, and have to learn how to channel your energy from setbacks ... like a bad race ... to persist, be better, and do better in the future.

"My university head coach, Leslie Shevlin, was one of my biggest mentors and influences on my life," Kosaki said. "Since Leslie came in as a new coach during my first year of college, I feel like we grew together in leadership and the challenges of rebuilding a team throughout my four years. Reflecting on her dedication amidst challenges as a new professional and as a woman who didn't always get the respect she deserved in a male-dominated field, pushed me to want to do more for equity and lead others to do the same."

Danica Reed, Volleyball, Class of 2013

"Participating in collegiate athletics prepared me for functioning with a team, which has been relevant in all positions that I've held in my career," Danica Reed said. "I also learned to work with varying personalities and how to manage relationships with both team members and coaches. As a sales rep, these tools have often come in handy.

"More importantly, I learned the importance of being coachable," Reed commented. "Being relatively new to the work force, I still have plenty to learn. displaying both my willingness to learn and ability to adjust accordingly has led to increasing responsibility.

"Volleyball is what brought me to the Northwest in the first place," said Reed, who is from Arvada, Colorado. "Since then, I've made lifelong friends, found my 'adult home' in Portland, Oregon, and made connections that led to my current career path. Volleyball taught me the discipline and drive I needed to take full advantage of every opportunity that has come my way.

"The community of women I found through collegiate sports has been an incredible support system. I am constantly inspired by my teammates' successes and their ability to overcome obstacles. I still turn to team members for advice varying from everyday life frustrations to important career decisions."