From Underdogs to Pioneers: The Amazing Story of Iowa State Softball
Introduction
The story of Iowa State softball is one of resilience, determination, and unexpected success. Emerging from humble beginnings in 1971, the program quickly captured hearts and achieved remarkable milestones. This article delves into the captivating history of Iowa State softball, celebrating its early triumphs and tracing its journey through the years.
The Genesis of a Team: 1971
In the fall of 1970, Iowa State University didn't have a softball team. However, a group of passionate students, many of whom were former Iowa high school softball stars, sought to change that. They petitioned the university to start a program in the spring of 1971. Despite receiving minimal support, their determination led to the formation of a team. Pat Noe, a physical education teacher, volunteered to coach the team, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
A Cinderella Story Unfolds
What happened next can only be described as a "Cinderella story." After playing only two regular-season games, the Cyclones qualified for the 1971 Women's College World Series (WCWS) in Omaha. The WCWS, organized by the Division for Girls' and Women's Sports (DGWS), was the forerunner to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
Stunned by Success
The Cyclones defied expectations, stunning the tournament field and advancing to the championship series. Ultimately, they fell to two-time defending champion John F. Kennedy College, securing a remarkable second-place finish.
Reminiscing About the Early Days
One of the team members recalled the early days: "In the spring of 1971, I was a freshman at Iowa State, mourning the loss of playing softball. In my dorm complex, I had already met two former opponents I played against all through high school. Their names were Joyce Howard and Diana DeWitt. They shared my feelings, and I decided to ask my favorite physical education teacher, Pat Noe, if we could start a team. I believe she had already thought about it because her response was, 'YES!'"
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The team's formation involved resourcefulness and collaboration: "We asked our friends to join, and Coach Noe put an advertisement in the ISU Daily. Soon we had enough girls to complete a team. We borrowed P.E. equipment, bought our own reversible T-shirts, and played in blue jeans. I was the catcher, and I even caught in blue jeans! We could only find one other college in the state with a women's softball team - Graceland College in Lamoni."
To fund their journey, the team organized car washes and bake sales. They stayed at the YMCA in Omaha during the WCWS.
Triumphs at the World Series
The Cyclones' success at the WCWS was fueled by their passion and teamwork: "We won our first game and kept winning. Our fourth game was against John F. Kennedy College (Wahoo, Nebraska), the defending WCWS champion, and we beat them 7-6. JFK came through the loser’s bracket, and we met again in the finals."
Their unexpected success made them a crowd favorite: "The Cyclones became the crowd favorite, and I’ll never forget as we took the field in the finals, the crowd all sang along to our “fire up chant” we would sing before games. Many of us had called our parents and high school coaches, who made hurried trips to Omaha to watch this “Cinderella” team."
The team was rewarded with the Runner-Up Trophy and the Crowd Pleaser Trophy. Although they returned to the WCWS in subsequent years, they never quite reached the same heights as their inaugural season.
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Reflections on Being Pioneers
Looking back, team members recognize the significance of their achievement: "People call us 'pioneers,' but we were just young gals who wanted to play ball. We are all thankful for Pat Noe Hicks and her talented, easy-going approach in coaching us."
The team's camaraderie and love for the game were central to their success: "An 'unfunded' sport at the time created some of the best memories! Car washes and other money raisers were just chances to hang out! I played because I loved the sport and to share it with girls I had played against in high school, which made it that much more fun. What a joy it was to be able to play on the first Iowa State softball team in 1971. Sharing the infield with my best friend in high school, Joyce Howard, on third and with me on second was made even sweeter by having our high school competitor, Kathleen Proescholdt, catching behind the plate."
Another team member fondly remembers the excitement of those early days: "What a joy in my first spring at Iowa State as a Bishop Babe (Willow Hall), I was made aware of a flier posted in the women’s gym asking if anyone was interested in forming a collegiate softball team at Iowa State. And so, it began."
The initial interest was overwhelming: "I remember meeting in the gym for the first time. There were SO many of us! We were packed in the gym and softballs were flying everywhere. The next thing I remember, we were meeting in the Armory. The field of players that returned for practice had slimmed down quite a bit. We shared that space with the ISU baseball team, also practicing at the other end."
Resourcefulness defined their early uniforms: "Before long, we were selling baked goods and using the proceeds to purchase cardinal and gold, reversible T-shirts that passed for our first uniforms. Little did I know that I would find myself on the pitcher’s mound at the third annual Women’s College World Series in Omaha that same spring. I was backed by the best defense I could ever have imagined, an offense that could outscore anyone and an All-Tournament coach (Pat Noe) leading us. Fairy tales really do come true."
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The 1971 Women’s College World Series Results
The Cyclones' impressive run at the 1971 WCWS included the following results:
- Southwest Baptist College, W, 12-2
- Northern Colorado, W, 3-2
- Illinois State, W, 3-1
- John F. Kennedy, W, 7-6
- Southwest Missouri State, W, 21-8
- John F. Kennedy, L, 6-0
Awards and Recognition
The team's achievements were recognized with the following awards:
- Runner-Up Trophy
- Crowd Pleaser Trophy
- Coach of the Year (Pat Noe)
- All-Tournament Team (Kathy Proescholdt, Valerie Haraldson, Julie Wykle)
Team Roster
The members of the 1971 Iowa State softball team included:
Kathleen Proescholdt, Valerie Haraldson, Sue Sievers, Cathy Anderson, Diana DeWitt, Joyce Howard, Julie Wykle, Marilynn Hartsook, Sherry Meinecke, Jana Peters, Deb Hold, Judy McAndrew, Cheryl Jenkins, Karen Fagerhaug, Marilyn Buck, Chris Green, and Denise Metheny.
Iowa State Softball: Continuing the Legacy
The Iowa State Cyclones softball team represents Iowa State University (ISU) and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The team is currently coached by Jamie Pinkerton.
Early Success and AIAW Appearances
The Cyclones had a women's softball team by 1971 and appeared in two of the early AIAW Women's College World Series in 1971 and 1973. In 1971, the Cyclones advanced to the championship final series against John F. Kennedy College.
The 1980s: Continued Growth
Iowa State continued their strong start into the 1980s under Head Coach Deb Kuhn. In 1987, the Cyclones made their first-ever appearance in the Top 20, culminating in Coach Kuhn being named Big Eight Coach of the Year.
Challenges in the Big 12
The transition from the Big Eight to the Big 12 has proven difficult for the Cyclones. The team has not won more than six conference games in any season since joining the conference.
Recent Coaching Changes
Jamie Trachsel was the coach of the Cyclones for the 2017 season.
Home Field Advantage
The Cyclones play their home games at the Cyclone Sports Complex, which opened in 2012.
The 50th Anniversary of Title IX: Celebrating a Legacy
Iowa State is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX with a series of profiles highlighting the achievements of former and current Cyclone student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. The story of the 1971 Iowa State softball team is one of the most amazing - and little known - in Cyclone athletics history. The 1971 Cyclone softball team reunited at Iowa State’s 50 Years of Title IX celebration. Members of the 1971 Iowa State softball team were recognized on the field during the Iowa State-Kansas State football game.
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