IGHSAU | Matthew Putney Media
I had the honor of working on a very special project as part of last week's Girls State Basketball Tournament. With it being the 100th state tournament in Iowa (the longest running in the country, by the way), we created a campaign to honor women from the earliest forms of the game. Thus, the campaign to identify the "Oldest Known Living Iowa Girl" was born. (Link to press release)
Through an online nomination process, over 150 submissions were received, all with stories and memories of girls basketball in the 30s and 40s. The response was incredible. We identified a woman living in Guthrie Center who played high school basketball in Bayard, Iowa. She is 104 years old. Of the nominations, over 75 were age 90 and above. We invited these women to the state tournament for a special recognition ceremony.
Through an online nomination process, over 150 submissions were received, all with stories and memories of girls basketball in the 30s and 40s. The response was incredible. We identified a woman living in Guthrie Center who played high school basketball in Bayard, Iowa. She is 104 years old. Of the nominations, over 75 were age 90 and above. We invited these women to the state tournament for a special recognition ceremony.
IGHSAU | Matthew Putney Media
During halftime of the 4A Championship game, we honored 28 women who made the trek to Des Moines. Their families came out in droves to support them and thank them for their leadership as a female athlete in the early days of the sport. The crowd erupted in a standing ovation. I wouldn't be shocked if a few tears were shed, too. Even Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, who was in attendance, stopped over to visit with them and share stories (Governor Reynolds is a former high school athlete, too).
IGHSAU | Matthew Putney Media
These women are the reason why the game of girls' basketball in Iowa thrived and continues to shine today. They played an instrumental role in women's athletics well before Title IX was a blip on the radar. They deserved to be celebrated and I am so blessed to have played a role in bringing them together.
As we celebrate #InternationalWomensDay, let's be sure to thank those that paved the way; the ones that stood up and played the game when advised against it. Let us celebrate these women along with those that continue to #BreakBarriers today. Let's continue to encourage young women to break through the glass ceilings. It's what the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is all about - providing young women the opportunity to grow as leaders through interscholastic sport. Remember, we are better together.
As we celebrate #InternationalWomensDay, let's be sure to thank those that paved the way; the ones that stood up and played the game when advised against it. Let us celebrate these women along with those that continue to #BreakBarriers today. Let's continue to encourage young women to break through the glass ceilings. It's what the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is all about - providing young women the opportunity to grow as leaders through interscholastic sport. Remember, we are better together.
IGHSAU | Matthew Putney Media
RSS Feed