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Friday, October 15, 1976
University Daily Kansan
Women athletes shedding roles to compete
Participating in women's athletics at the University of Kansas can demand an abbreviated social life, a lack of sleep and a need for high levels of exercise to constrain battle to correct the misconception
that all women athletes are muscle-bound monsters.
Members of the track and field, volleyball, field hockey, gymnastics, tennis, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer.
Staff photo by DAVE REGIE
Gymnastic coach Ken Snow teaching the ropes
Pro football . . .
From naze one
Minnesota after his senior season, his finest, when he rushed for 712 vards.
One of KU's most famous pros, John Hadl, is a back-up quarterback at Houston. Hadl, a two-time All-America at Kansas, had his best years in the pros as starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers and Los Angeles Rams.
AT KU, Hadi was named an All-America in 1960 as a halfback and in 1961 as a fullback. At the University of pittsburgh, averaging 49.6 yards, including a conference record point of 94 yards against Oklahoma. In his first varsity season he intercepted pass 98 wards for a touchdown.
Nesmith said that wide receiver Ron
"Well, Ron wasn't exactly spectacular when he received 182 reception for 644 yards. I wasn't so good as to catch the ball but I never expected him to do the tremendous job be in now doing him."
Jessie, who played at KU in 1969 and 1970 before being drafted by the Detroit Lions, was named to the All-Pro team.
Defending against receivers like Jessie is Eddie Lewis. Lewis, a second-round draft pick last year, has been seeing plenty of players for the defenders in the defensive secondary.
that their association with the program at KU was worth the demands placed on them
"I wish I could be 100 per cent sure that a guy has professional ability," Nesmith said. "If I was never wrong I sure could strike it rich as a scout. But you just can't be sure."
LAURA FROST, Shawnee Mission sophomore, said that she regretted missed football games, but that she thought participation in athletics was worth it.
The 20 women questioned said they thought the woman life suffered, but not label them. Label them.
The athletes said that their friends could study during the afternoons, but that they would not.
Terry Frynn, Lewood senior, said her friends seemed to keep a step ahead of her in getting studying done so that they could party.
"I'm at practice when my friends are studying," she said, "so when they're ready to go out, I'm just starting to think about studying.
"When I do go out, I can't really party after the partying I can't practise."
**WEEK NIGHTS are definitely out as far as partying goes, the athletes said, because they don't get any classes so that their afternoons can be devoted to practices. Late-night cram sessions are also especially tiring for parents, and sleep can't be made up in afternoon naps.**
"Sidling till on week nights can mess you up, just like partying, because you're worried, nervous, and pooped." "It tells us how much we tell on your practice the next day."
Early morning departures to away games and late-evening returns from them often
SEVERAL ATHLETES said they didn't think that participation in athletics restricted how much they socialized but that it did limit the group they went out with. Other members of the team are the only they usually "do things with," they said.
Angie Wagle, Wichita sophomore, said her participation in gymnastics hadn't caused her to lose her social life, but to 'rechannel' it.
"I consider gymnastics part of my social life because I want to do it," she said. "Practice takes out five afternoons a week, but I don't like it, but it make up for it in the evenings."
An ability to organize study time and to stick to a schedule are requirements for women athletes. They must maintain a high level of university to remain eligible for competition.
Debbie Kuhn, Aitchison junior, said she is the only girl with a good diversion from study atraine. study routine
"I like it because it gets you away from the academics for a while. A lot of kids get bummed out on school because they aren't involved in anything outside of class," she
The problem of unused spare time isn't common among women athletes. Many are involved in more than one sport, and also play tennis or basketball. Participation of time even more important. Participation in volleyball and field hockey or softball is particularly common because
AS PARTICIPATION in women's athletics programs is increasing at universities, the training requirements are also becoming more extensive.
Members from all teams questioned said workouts and practices at KU were much more demanding than those they'd known in high school. Competition is more intense at the university level, they said, because are nationally ranked athletes on each team.
The women said training and work-outs in all sports became more difficult each year because the abilities of incoming athletes continued to improve. Records are broken when a player said, and each athlete must work harder to maintain or improve her standing on the team.
Women on the track and cross country
trails will have their training schedule
for spring testing in April.
CINDY SKILLIAN, Overland Park
sophomore, said. "I've never done so much
with the boys."
training program, but I'm not a quitter, so I stick with it."
Karen Schneller, Kansas City, Kan.
union, junior, all coaches in the program
By Courtney Thompson
Sports Writer
expected dedication from team members during practices.
"I get so tired I don't feel like doing anything, but when I think about it I realize I feel better after going through what seems like torture." she said.
WOMEN ON ALL the teams questioned said it was important to them to stay in shape, and many said they jogged on weekends in place of regular practice. No one had tried before, but athletes to keep them in shape, but all said they imposed restrictions on themselves.
The athletes agreed that practices helped prevent weight problems by providing them with a safe and healthy lifestyle.
Ever since the East German women dominated the swimming competition
BUT KU ATHLETES questioned we empathic in their belief that participation in sports in no way compromised their femininity.
Flynn said the idea that a woman must be in a muscle-bound dynamo to excel was a
"Our big things are flexibility, agility, speed and endurance. These qualities make for a better-conditioned athlete, not an Amazon," she said.
during the summer 1976 Olympics, the
community among women athletes
has been
Two sports were said to be specifically related to women.
"Field hockey is definitely a woman's sport," Parkliffhurst, Lafayette, La., freshman said. "And besides, we wear it all the time." A male or female, what's the difference?"
MEMBERS OF THE gymnastics team thought femininity was an integral part of that sport. Body structure and grace are the two most important elements, they said.
Frost said she thought the whole idea that women athletes weren't feminine was a mistake.
"Women aren't afraid to be involved in athletics now if they have the ability," she said, "and they don't have to be embarrassed about entertaining sports."
Involvement in the women's athletic program at KU is an avocation with little application to a career when most athletes graduate.
Most women see their participation in the program as an extra-curricular activity that provides an added learning experience from college.
SEVERAL ATHLETES said they were interested in coaching. But most said their participation in athletics wouldn't continue past college.
Some of the college majors the women are pursuing are prelaw, engineering, foreign languages, art, math education and physical education.
For most women, especially those involved in sports that emphasize individual achievement, the primary goal is improvement of their own record
THE ATTITUDE among members of the track, gymnastics, swimming and tennis teams, all of which emphasize individual rather than team performance, was that, despite the nature of these sports, there wasn't a lack of team spirit.
Beezoho, Lawrence junior, said she bought her pilot team an exception to the rule.
"We're all at the course together, but each player concentrates on her own game," she said. "For me, golf won't ever be a team sport."
If my score helps the team, great. but I haven't adjusted to the team aspect, and I won't. I'll probably stick to my core.
Dan Bowerman and Eric Martincich also helped prepare this story.
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