The names and likenesses of pioneering women athletes and those who helped move Title IX forward are all around campus and often come up in conversations. A recent celebration introduced current students and athletes to what their predecessors accomplished.
“Through Title IX, young women and girls learn leadership, we find our voice and learn to be strong,” says Lauren Lavigne ’94, ’96G, assistant athletics director, who helped organize the event. “It’s how we are able to continue to encourage them to get involved in athletics and leadership.”
Fifty years of Title IX, the 1972 law that prohibits discrimination based on sex at a school or program that receives federal government funding, was traced in a Friday presentation. The next day, all fall women’s teams were at home and three alumni games were played.
“I’m so proud of how this came together,” says Lavigne. “There was such a cross section of people, all who pushed the needle on women’s athletics. To be able to listen to these stories that we talk about so much—like about Dot Diehl and Janet Nell—brought generations together.”
Diehl, professor emerita of physical education, captured an ECAC field hockey championship in 1984 during her 16-year coaching career, which included eight straight postseason appearances. She will be inducted into the PSU Hall of Fame later this year.
“Dot was a leader fighting for equality at Plymouth State, especially in athletics,” recalled Julie Bernier ’77, professor of athletic training, health and human performance and former provost and vice president for academic affairs. “She was a mentor for all of us younger women.”
Nell coached basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis for more than two decades. She started the lacrosse program and led the Panthers to an undefeated campaign in 1979 and held the position of women’s athletics administrator.
Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Joan Forge ’77, ’00G made it real for today’s competitors. Two years ago, during the pandemic, she said, “Everything we lived for was taken away: no more competitions, practicing skills, hanging with teammates, strength training, or athletic trainers taking care of your aches, pains, and injuries. Pre-Title IX, that was my way of life.”
Former Athletic Director John Clark ’71, ’73G, who led the department in the early years of Title IX, made sure women’s sports were on an equal playing field. It soon led to success; in the early 1980s alone, the Panthers hosted and captured their first-ever ECAC women’s soccer and softball championships and played in the inaugural field hockey finals.
Deb Biche-Labbe ’92 was honored for being inducted into the Little East Hall of Fame. During her four years, PSU compiled a 62-10 record and participated in four NCAA soccer tournaments. She currently serves as associate athletic director and head women’s soccer coach at Thomas College.
Her remarks emphasized “championing each other,” a concept that resonated when reading soccer icon Abby Wambach’s book, The Wolfpack. “When a goal is scored, you point to all the teammates who helped you out along the way,” said Biche-Labbe. She then invited her former PSU soccer coach, Nancy Feldman, and several former teammates to join her at the podium, telling the audience, “Whenever I scored a goal or had an assist, they were all a part of it.”
In a similar vein, Clark implored current female athletes to help build on the successes and advancements of those who came before them. “The reality in our society in 2022 is that women are not treated equally with men,” he said. “I ask you to carry the torch handed off to us.”
The event helped many current students, including Taylor Healey ’24, grasp their inheritance. “Title IX has impacted my life in many ways, specifically to achieve my goal of playing college field hockey,” she said. “Title IX doesn’t just allow us to play a sport that we love but it helps us build character as a team and strive to be great.”
“It gives me the ‘goosies’ to see how far we’ve come in promoting female sports,” said Coach Forge. “Never take any of this for granted, because there’s a lot to love and be proud of.”
50 Years of Title IX—Celebrating the Women of Panther Athletics
