Nine for IX: Taking a look at some of Morgan County's most decorated female athletes

While Morgan County is famed for producing the likes of John Wooden and Branch McCracken, it has also produced plenty of high-level female athletes over the course of its history.

In celebration of Title IX's 50th anniversary, here's a look at some of the many decorated athletes to have represented Morgan County on the highest of levels.

Leigh Anne (Hardin) Creavy, Martinsville

The legendary Martinsville golfer didn't just attract the attention on a local scale, her fame reached the national level after winning the 1998 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship. As an Artesian, she's one of only two golfers in state history to have won three individual championships, claiming victory in 1997, 1998, 1999.

Her success followed her to the collegiate ranks where she was a standout golfer for the Duke Blue Devils, helping lead them to a national championship win in 2002. She finished her time at Duke with two-time second team All-America honors, four-time All-ACC selection, four individual wins and 11 top five finishes.

Following her time as a Blue Devil, Creavy continued her career among the professional ranks in the LPGA.

Beth (Piepenbrink) Schwecke, Mooresville

Dominant is certainly an adjective one can use to describe legendary Mooresville girls' basketball star Beth Piepenbrink Schwecke.

Leading the Pioneers during the inaugural years of girls' basketball in the IHSAA, Schwecke helped fuel the program to a 67-12 record during her career, and 41-4 record in her final two seasons.

Schwecke's 14.4 points and 15 rebounds played a key factor in Mooresville's 1978 final four state finals berth. The Pioneers also claimed four sectional titles and four regional titles during the Indiana All-Star's four-year stay.

After dominating the high school level, Schwecke continued to have her way at the collegiate level at Butler University where her teams went an outstanding 88-12. Throughout the course of her career with the Bulldogs, she amassed 1,378 career points and 1,103 rebounds, being the first in school history to eclipse 1,000 in both categories.

Her name has been long immortalized after receiving inductions into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, Butler University Hall of Fame and Mooresville High School Hall of fame.

Kristen (Bodine) Lovell, Martinsville

A key member of Martinsville's 55-1 back-to-back girls basketball championship teams, not many could slow down Kristen (Bodine) Lovell, no matter which end of the floor. During the Artesians' championship run in 1996-97, as a junior, she led the team in points (20.1) and assists (3.75) while also coming up with 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 steals per contest.

Lovell's numbers maintained her senior season with 18.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and an increase in assists to 5.9 per game, plus another state title.

Following her senior season, Lovell went on to play for Butler University for two seasons, leading the Bulldogs in scoring (12.2) and assists (5.2) her sophomore season, earning an all-conference selection, before transferring to Indiana University.

As a Hoosier, Lovell saw an NCAA Tournament berth during her junior year and completed her senior season serving an important role, averaging 8.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.

Lindsey (Tansel) Schnell, Monrovia

When Lindsey (Tansel) Schnell left Monrovia in 1997 to move to the next level at Marian University, only she could see the path that was to come.

The Bulldog was a standout track star, qualifying for the state meet twice, winning regional, sectional and conference titles primarily in the 400-meter dash. Schnell was also a legitimate volleyball player, earning all-conference honors twice.

Her volleyball career took off as a Knight, finishing as the program's all-time leader in blocks and kills, a mark which has since been broken. But on the track is where she continued to distinguish herself, winning conference eight times, qualifying four times for the NAIA national championships, where she placed as high as second in the indoor.

After college, Schnell joined the professional ranks, placing top five nationally in the 800-meter race in 2010 and 2012. Her hard work and fast times paid off with an invite to the Olympic trials in 2012.

Jama Sharp, Mooresville

Sharp serves as the most recent player on this list, and for good reason. She shattered nearly every Mooresville record during her time with the Pioneers from 2007-11. The four-year starter is the school's record holder in points (1,735), assists (447) and steals (363). She holds single season records in the three categories as well.

Her play was recognized by many, earning all-state, all conference and Indiana All-Star selections, even guiding Mooresville to a semi-state berth in 2009. Sharp landed at Stetson University where she continued to contribute.

The Madhatter ranks second all-time in games played (133), fourth in 3-pointers made (167), fourth in steals (291), fifth in assists (441) and 10th in three-point field goal percentage (34.4%). She finished with 1,261 points scored, 13th in school history. Her Stetson teams went 97-35, making the NCAA Tournament once and WNIT three times.

Sharp is now an assistant coach at her alma mater, previously serving the same role for the Florida Gators, Texas Longhorns and Virginia Cavaliers. She was inducted into the Mooresville Hall of Fame in 2022.

Heather (Wright) DeVaughn, Martinsville

Martinsville dominated the girls' sports scene in the 90s, and its volleyball program was part of that machine. Heather (Wright) DeVaughn was one of the most talented Artesian volleyball players to play for the school during three consecutive trips to the state finals from 1994-96.

In her senior season, DeVaughn led the Artesians to their first state championship win in program history, totaling 415 kills, 142 digs and seven assists. She earned three all-state first-team selections and was named in Volleyball Magazine's Fab 50.

Her high level of play earned her a scholarship to a power five program, becoming a Florida Gator. She became a two-time All-SEC player in Gainsville, finishing her career with the NCAA's, SEC's and Florida's record in career hitting efficiency (.424), a mark which she ranks sixth in now.

Mackenzie (Curless) Graft, Martinsville

The Jan Conner years weren't the only time Martinsville had talent on the basketball floor. Mackenzie Curless Graft, who dominated for the Artesians from 1993-96, left her own mark in the school's long history.

Earning Indiana All-Star status, Graft averaged an incredible 23.8 points and 11.2 rebounds her senior year, leading Martinsville to a sectional title. She still ranks first in school history in rebounds (920), fourth in points scored (1,497) and second in field goals made (622) and field goal percentage (57%).

The successful time as an Artesian landed her a scholarship to play for the Purdue Boilermakers, participating all four seasons. Graft averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds for Purdue while shooting 44%. She was a regular contributor for the Boilermakers' 1999 national championship winning squad and made the NCAA tournament all four seasons.

Dana (Ferguson) Haggenjos, Mooresville

Dana (Ferguson) Haggenjos was a dual-sport athlete with the Pioneers, excelling on both the basketball and volleyball courts, earning all Mid-State honors among other awards. After graduating from Mooresville, she made her mark at DePauw University.

Haggenjos helped lead the Tigers to a 87-20 record during her four years as a player. In her senior season, she finished second in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year voting after averaging 14.5 points per game on 54.8% shooting, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.6 assists per game. The Tigers went 22-5 her senior season and 26-4 her junior season, finishing as the NCAA Division III third-place winners.

Haggenjos is still ranked top five in school history in field goal percentage (.528), free throws made (282) and free throws attempted (358). She's been coaching ever since. She was an assistant coach for her alma mater for 10 seasons, helping the Tigers to a NCAA Division III championship in 2013.

She got her first head coaching gig at Franklin College, where she's coached ever since, guiding the Grizzlies to a 94-95 record and three postseason appearances.

April Traylor, Martinsville

Traylor and Bodine formed one of the most powerful one-two punches during the Artesians' back-to-back title seasons. Traylor earned all-state and all-star status, leading the team in points, steals and assists. Her play at the high school level earned her a power five scholarship to Florida State.

Her basketball career came to a peak in 2001 when the Seminoles rallied to a 19-12 record and NCAA Tournament berth, defeating Tulane 72-70 in the first round before falling to Iowa State. She was the team's scoring leader at 15.1 points per game.

Traylor is ranked eighth all-time in school history in points scored (1,503), seventh in assists (387) and games started (106) and sixth in steals (217). She was an ACC All-Freshman selection as well as an All-ACC third team selection.

Contact reporter Devin Voss at dvoss@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @DevinVoss23.

This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Nine for IX: Looking at some of Morgan County's most decorated female athletes