TITLE IX CELEBRATION FORM
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois athletics will pay tribute to the history of women's athletics on campus during a two-day celebration event on March 1-2, 2013. The event coinciding with the year long 40th anniversary of Title IX on many collegiate campuses will honor ten individuals and four teams who have made a lasting impact on Panther Women's Athletics.
EIU will hold a reunion of all former women's athletes beginning with a reception on Friday evening in McAfee Gym and a luncheon on Saturday in the MLK Union Ballroom. Saturday evening the men's and women's basketball teams will host SIU Edwardsville. The men will play at 4 p.m. and the women at 6:30 p.m. Following the men's contest, the ten honorees and other returning former female student-athletes will be honored on the Lantz Arena floor. Complete information will be posted on the www.eiupanthers.com website to include hotel, schedule of event, ticket information and reservation form.
The ten individuals being honored are Kandace Arnold, Dr. Joni Comstock, Rachel Galligan, Erica Gerth, Nancy Kassebaum, Beth Liesen, Florence McAfee, Zam Mogill-Hay, Helen Riley and Gail Stephens (Hometown/High School are listed where available). The four teams being recognized are the 1982 softball team, 1988 basketball team, 2001 volleyball team and 2001 soccer team.
Arnold (Evergreen Park, Ill./Evergreen Park HS) dominated field events in the Ohio Valley Conference in women's track from 2007-10. She was named the OVC Track Freshman of the Year in 2007 and capped her career as the OVC's overall Female Athlete of the Year in 2010. Arnold was a multiple time event champion in both indoor and outdoor track. She holds the EIU indoor record for weight throw and shot put. She holds the EIU outdoor record for the discus, hammer, shot put and the OVC record in the shot put. As a senior she became the first EIU women's athlete to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track National Championships placing 16th in the shot put.
Comstock (Lincoln, Ill./Lincoln HS) was a two sport athlete from 1975-79 playing four years of volleyball and one season of badminton when EIU was a member of the AIAW. Following graduation Comstock entered the coaching profession before beginning a long and distinguished career as an athletic administrator. Comstock was the athletic director at American University for three years and UNC Asheville for three years. In 2006 she joined the NCAA and is currently the NCAA Senior Vice President for Championships and Senior Woman Administrator. In that role she oversees the NCAA's championships, statistics, playing rules administration and media coordinator efforts. She currently serves on the Title IX and Advocacy Committee for the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators.
Galligan (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington Catholic HS) was one of the top women's basketball players in the Ohio Valley Conference from 2006-09. Galligan helped build the Panthers into a title contender in the OVC as she ended her career the program's career leader in scoring with 1,891 points. After earning OVC Freshman of the Year honors in 2006, Galligan was a three time All-OVC first team selection. During both her junior and senior seasons the Panthers advanced to the OVC Tournament Championship game with Galligan earning All-Tournament honors. In addition to ranking first on the EIU career scoring list, Galligan holds the school career record in free throws made and blocked shots.
Gerth (El Paso, Ill./El Paso HS) was a dominant player for the Panther volleyball teams from 2001-04. As a freshman she helped the Panthers win the OVC Tournament to advance to the school's first NCAA Tournament. As a senior Gerth was named the OVC Player of the Year as she led EIU to the regular season title. She is the program's all-time leader in both kills and digs while ranking fifth in OVC history in kills. As a senior she was named the OVC Female Athlete of the Year after earned AVCA honorable mention All-America honors.
Kassebaum (Belleville, Ill./East HS) was an exceptional performer for both the basketball and softball teams from 1979-83 as the Panthers transitioned from AIAW to NCAA. She is regarded as the best women's basketball player in the history of the program having her number retired in 2005. Kassebaum ended her career as the program's career leader in points, steals and assists leading the basketball program to three straight AIAW II state titles. In softball she was the state MVP as a junior leading the program to the 1982 AIAW World Series where they finished third in the nation.
Liesen (Quincy, Ill./Quincy Notre Dame HS) was one of the best players in women's soccer history earning first team All-OVC honors four straight years from 2000-03. She was named the OVC Player of the Year in 2003 after leading the Panthers to their third straight NCAA Women's College Cup Tournament appearance. Liesen is both the EIU and OVC career leader in goals scored, game winning goals and points. She scored 20 goals as a senior earning NSCAA All-Region honors.
McAfee was a true pioneer in women's physical education and athletics at Eastern Illinois serving as the sole educator of women's activities starting in 1924. She retired from EIU in 1962 but during her tenure helped oversee the growth of the physical education department into a major and graduate program. McAfee ran and created many service and intramural programs during her time at EIU. Upon completion of the new Lantz Athletic Complex the former gymnasium and athletic facility was rededicated in her honor, McAfee Gym.
Mogill-Hay (Normal, Ill./Streator HS) was one the dominant pitchers for EIU softball during its time as a member of the Gateway Conference. A four year starter from 1985-88, she was a three time All-Conference selection and the league's MVP in 1988. As a senior she earned second team All-American honors as the Panthers won their third straight Gateway Conference regular season title. Upon graduation she held 11 school records including finishing her career with a 0.75 ERA. Mogill-Hay was named to the Missouri Valley Conference's All-Centennial Team.
Riley was a nationally known field hockey expert who worked as both a coach and administrator at EIU from 1965-76. She coached field hockey, basketball and softball at EIU and was named the Associate Athletic Director for Women's Athletics in 1974. On the field her field hockey teams were among the best in the Midwest while her 1975 softball team reached the AIAW National Tournament. She helped oversee the IHSA State Track and Field Championships on campus in 1973. The Riley Field Hockey Stick was named in her honor.
Stephens (Evanston, Ill.) was a dominant athlete in the early years of the women's track program from 1981-84. She was EIU's first track All-American earning multiple honors at the AIAW and NCAA Division II level. Stephens was an All-American during the 1981 indoor track season and placed sixth at the AIAW Outdoor Championships in 1982 in the 300m dash. During the 1982 season Stephens ran one leg of the 1600m relay as the Panthers won the event at the NCAA Division II National Championships. Stephens currently holds two EIU outdoor track records.
The EIU 1982 softball team finished the season third at the AIAW II World Series. The Panthers posted a 45-8 record during the season under head coach Deanna D'Abbraccio.
The EIU 1988 basketball team won the Gateway Conference Tournament advancing to the program's first NCAA Division I Women's Tournament appearance. EIU would play host to Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as the Panthers finished the season at 22-8 coached by Bobbie Hilke.
The EIU 2001 volleyball advanced to the program's first NCAA Division I Tournament as the Panthers won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. EIU posted a 21-9 record losing to Arizona in the NCAA first round. The team was coached by Brenda Winkeler.
The EIU 2001 soccer team started a run of four straight NCAA Women's College Cup Tournament appearances as the Panthers made their first showing after winning the OVC Tournament. EIU would lose its initial post-season match to Notre Dame. The team was coached by Steve Ballard.
