Title IX at 50: 50 women who made a difference in Greater Lafayette high school sports

On June 8, 1972, Title IX was passed by the United States Congress.

Fifty years ago, it went into effect.

While the law's purpose was defined as prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools and educational programs that receive federal funding, it had a profound impact on female athletics, especially at youth levels.

There's been no shortage of influential figures in Greater Lafayette since then at the high school sports level.

Here are 50 names you should know from the area during the Title IX era.

Whitney Arion, Delphi

One of the best pure hitters area softball has seen, Arion was nearly impossible to get out during a standout career with the Oracles. Arion hit .454 in four seasons at Delphi, including .596 as a senior, while also scoring 1,036 career points in basketball. At the University of Louisville, she was a four-time all-conference selection as the Cardinals' shortstop before signing a pro softball contract. She has since coached college softball at Eastern Kentucky, Utah Valley and Fresno State.

Linda Barnett, Clinton Central

The 1966 Clinton Central graduate grew up before Title IX and before the IHSAA recognized female sports. She'd go on to compete at Indiana Central College (now University of Indianapolis) and earn 12 varsity letters. After a successful start to her coaching career at Zionsville, Barnett returned to her alma mater, ushering a successful era of Clinton Central athletics as basketball coach and the school's athletic director, where she oversaw coach Jessica Barrentine's volleyball team make a run to the Class 2A state championship match. In 2003, Barnett was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

Allison Bock, Lafayette Jeff

One of the most accomplished swimmers in state history, Bock helped the Bronchos to a runner-up finish to Carmel in the team standings in 1988. Bock won a whopping 10 state titles in four different events for coach Jim Sharp at Lafayette Jeff. She was a four-time 100-yard freestyle champ and three-time 50 free state champ. She also was a member of two 400 free relay title teams and won a 200 free championship before joining the Auburn University women's swimming team.

Cailin and Catie Campbell, North Montgomery

A two-for-one for the inseparable 2022 North Montgomery graduates who dominated on the wrestling mat throughout their high school careers, helping usher the sport into a new generation as it's now recognized as a rising sport by the IHSAA, the next step to being sanctioned by the state's athletic association. Each won three individual state championships in the girls tournament sanctioned by the coaches association. Catie Campbell also won the 120-pound individual sectional championship as a senior while competing against boys.

Sherry Cartwright, Harrison

A seven-time individual state champion in swimming, Cartwright split her high school years between Ben Davis and Harrison. At Ben Davis, she won the 200-yard individual medley state title in 1979 and '80. She'd win the event twice more as a Harrison Raider in addition to state crowns in the 100-yard butterfly three straight years from 1980-82.

Karsyn Cherry, Central Catholic

Perhaps the best all-around athlete to come through CC, the 2022 graduate heads to Louisville to embark on a college soccer career. She scored more than 1,000 career points on the basketball court, shifting to a variety of roles unselfishly throughout her career, and as a senior helped the Knights to a runner-up finish in the Class A state tournament. Cherry also competed in two soccer state finals, both against Park Tudor, winning a Class A state title in 2020. She leaves as the school's most accomplished soccer player with 124 career goals and 73 assists.

Chloe Chicoine, McCutcheon

Scheduled to graduate from McCutcheon in 2023, Chicoine has been perhaps the area's best volleyball talent, making her name not only locally but at the international level. Earlier this month, Chicoine helped lead Team USA's U21 team to a golf medal in the Pan American Cup and won a bronze in the fall with USA's U18 team at the FIVB U18 World Championships, was named 2021 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and led McCutcheon to the 2021 Class 4A state championship.

Tori Collins, McCutcheon/Clinton Prairie

A 2008, McCutcheon graduate who also spent time attending Clinton Prairie, Collins was Indiana's Miss Softball as a senior after leading the Mavericks to the Class 4A state championship. She also helped McCutcheon to a runner-up finish in 2005 and a state semifinal appearance in 2007. She would become an All-American at University of Louisville and lead the Cardinals to the 2012 Big East championship.

Sara Conkright, Lafayette Jeff

Conkright made her name for the Broncho swim team during the Girls Athletic Association era before the IHSAA sanctioned girls swimming. In 1975, at Warren Central High School, Conkright became the first IHSAA recognized state champion in both the 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle swims while leading the Bronchos to the IHSAA's first girls swimming team title.

Jan Conner, Benton Central

Conner's athletic talents didn't get a chance to blossom in her youth growing up in Benton County before Title IX. The 1970 Benton Central graduate — who did set 14 state records in track and field — still would receive a basketball scholarship to Indiana State University. She'd make her impact on girls youth sports on the sidelines coaching basketball. She'd get the program at her alma mater up and running, turning the Bison into a powerhouse that included a state championship game appearance in 1989. Conner would leave BC to coach at the college level before coming back to Indiana and winning consecutive state titles at Martinsville. She coached Lafayette Jeff's girls basketball program from 2006-09, going 20-4 with a sectional championship in her final season.

Jenny Connolly, Harrison

Connolly was a multiple time All-American swimmer for the University of Tennessee and competed in the Olympic trials, but before that she was a record-breaking state champion for the Harrison Raiders. She won the IHSAA state championship in the 100 backstroke in 2006, '07 and '08 as well as back-to-back 100 butterfly state titles in 2007-08.

Kim Corwin, McCutcheon

McCutcheon had several standout female athletes during its early days as a high school and in the immediate years after Title IX. Corwin was one of those, starring in volleyball, track and basketball. The 1982 Indiana All-Star basketball player would become a standout in volleyball at Purdue University, collecting 1,087 career kills, 1,145 digs, 139 aces and 135 blocks while helping the Boilermakers win a Big Ten championship.

Pam Dahnke, Harrison

While the IHSAA hadn't yet instituted a girls basketball state tournament, Dahnke was the best player on an undefeated Harrison team in 1974-75, averaging 18 points and 7.2 assists for a 16-0 Raider club before going on to play at Indiana State University. Dahnke also was the first recognized IHSAA state champion in shot put, winning the event in 1974 and '75 and helping coach Betty Bolyard's team win the 1974 state championship, the IHSAA's first recognized girls state champion.

Riley Dempewolf, McCutcheon

Dempewolf had a penchant for the mat and found her calling as a Maverick wrestler. Her idea was to grow the sport within her school, which hasn't happened as of yet, but along the way Dempewolf gained a path to compete in the sport at the college level. The 2022 McCutcheon graduate won four state championships in the non-IHSAA sanctioned Indiana High School Girls Wrestling tournament.

Kiersten Doyle, Benton Central

Before she helped Purdue win a Big Ten title in women's track and field, Doyle helped Benton Central to consecutive state runner-up finishes in the team standings in 1993 and '94. Doyle won seven individual state track and field championships, including three straight in the 100-meter hurdles. The 1994 IHSAA mental attitude award winner also was a two-time long jump champion and two-time 300-meter hurdles state champ.

Cathy Eastridge, Harrison

Another catalyst for Harrison winning the first IHSAA-recognized girls track and field state championship, Eastridge was the high jump state champion in 1974, the first recognized by the state's athletic association. Also a successful volleyball player, Eastridge helped Harrison to a state semifinal appearance and averaged 11.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.6 steals for Harrison's 16-0 basketball team in 1974-75, one year before a sanctioned state tournament.

Amanda Elmore, Harrison

Elmore was a three-sport athlete at Harrison, though admittedly not a standout in cross country, gymnastics or track and field. Her blend of strength and athletic ability would lend itself elsewhere though for the rowing teams at Purdue University and the University of Michigan. She'd become one of the nation's best and in 2016 won a gold medal in the eight-person rowing event at the Olympics.

Jessica Gall, West Lafayette

A four-time All-American runner and Big Ten champion for the Indiana Hoosiers, Gall is one of the state's most accomplished high school distance runners. She helped the 2000 Red Devils 3,200 relay team win a state championship. Gall individually would be a state champion in the 3,200 meters in 2002 and won the state cross country meet in 2001.

Connie Garrett, Clinton Prairie

A state championship coach in two sports with the Gophers, Garrett owns four state championship rings (three in volleyball and one in basketball). She grew up in Marion without athletic opportunities, but joined the first women's basketball team at Franklin College. By the time she arrived at Clinton Prairie in 1970, she was running programs through the Girls Athletic Associated that predated Title IX. Over the 1984-85 volleyball seasons, Garrett's Gophers won 90 straight matches and went 47-0 in 1984, winning a single-class state championship. Over 36 seasons of coaching, Garrett racked up an 841-297 record in volleyball and a 387-298 in basketball.

Lello Gebisa, West Lafayette

The Red Devils' only basketball state championship was aided by a physical 6-foot-5 presence. IN the state 1998 Class 3A state championship win over Franklin, Gebisa totaled 18 points and eight rebounds. Gebisa played two seasons for Duke University after high school before transferring to Wisconsin to play alongside her sister, Ebba.

Haiven Gipson, Harrison

On the same day McCutcheon's Crysta Dilley won the bars to become the first area gymnast to claim a state high school championship, Gipson finished second in the vault as a freshman. That became the motivation for a three-year run of dominance in the event for the 2022 Harrison graduate. She is one of just two three-time vault state champions in IHSAA history.

Gail Gripe, Lafayette Jeff

After winning a state volleyball championship a Creston High in Michigan, Gripe came to Lafayette and for 39 years led the Broncho girls volleyball program and still remains active in the sport today coaching the boys club team. Gripe also was Lafayette Jeff's first softball coach. Her emphasis was always on growing the sport and along the way, she mentored many who'd go on to become head coaches themselves. Gripe is still an advocate, pushing for more coverage and notoriety for volleyball even 11 years after she stepped aside from running Jeff's girls volleyball team. Gripe's 1993 Bronchos advanced to the state championship match before falling to powerhouse Muncie Burris after winning the first set in the then best-of-three set format with no rally scoring.

Kelly Heath, Lafayette Jeff

Heath's 1,672 career points on the basketball court remained a Tippecanoe County record for 22 years. As a senior, she averaged 24.2 points and 10.5 rebounds and had a county record 57 points in a single game while leading Jeff to a regional title. She also helped Jeff's volleyball team to a state runner-up finish before competing in the sport at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Purdue.

Essence Henderson, Lafayette Jeff

Henderson not only mopped the wrestling mat against females, but against male counterparts, and was surely set to be a state champion if not for being on an official college visit that would lead her to signing with Iowa State University's track and field team. At Lafayette Jeff, Henderson won discus state championships in 2016 and '17 and also was the 2017 shot put state champion. She'd eventually transfer from Iowa State to Virginia Tech, where she'd become an All-American thrower and compete in the United States Olympic Trials.

Jean Hilkert, Lafayette Jeff

The longtime teacher and guidance counselor also started Lafayette Jeff's girls golf program. She'd go on to become the first woman inducted into the Indiana High School Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1987. Between 1979 and 1984, Hilkert's Broncho golf teams won three state championships and finished runner-up two other times. During that stretch, Stephanie Ristau finished as medalist runner-up twice and Jody Heath also would finish second in the state individually before Annie Deets became the area's first girls golf individual state champion in 1990, representing Lafayette Jeff.

Liz Honegger, Lafayette Jeff

In 2003, Honegger brought home two state championships for the Broncho girls track and field program her mother coached. She'd win both the shot put and discus as a senior. She was an Indiana All-Star in basketball after averaging 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds as a senior. She would go on to star at Bowling Green State University, where she broke school records in 3-point field goals made and blocked shots while leading the team to a Sweet 16. She remains involved in basketball as Indiana University's director of operations.

Rachael Honegger, Lafayette Jeff

As a senior, seven years before her sister did the same, Honegger would close her high school athletic career with a state championship in shot put. On the basketball court, she scored 1,409 points and left as the Bronchos' leader in career rebounds. She would compete in both basketball and track at Indiana University.

Roberta Honegger, Lafayette Jeff

While coaching track and gymnastics at Lafayette Jeff (as well as eighth- and ninth-grade volleyball at Sunnyside), Honegger spent most of her years with Broncho athletics leading the girls track and field program. For 39 years, she led the program, retiring in 2011. She was the first female president of the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches. In 2003, she was one of more than 300 former Illinois State University female athletes to receive a varsity letter who competed for the school prior to Title IX. Honegger coached 21 sectional championship track and field teams and seven individual state champions.

Jennifer Jacoby, Rossville

For years, the Welcome to Rossville sign was accompanied by a "Home of Jennifer Jacoby." She'd help Purdue's women's basketball team reach a Final Four, but she made her name in the tiny Clinton County town as a high-scoring guard. The 1991 Indiana Miss Basketball still ranks fourth in state history with 2,344 career points before becoming a coach and athletic director at various schools.

Sally Johnson, Crawfordsville

In the late 1970s, Johnson claimed four individual state swimming championships in three different events over a four-year span. As a freshman in 1976, Johnson won the 200 individual medley and would repeat as a sophomore in 1977. In 1978, she was first at the state finals in the 100 freestyle and as a senior in 1979 won the 100 butterfly, making her one of the few in state history to win titles in all four years of her high school career.

Kelli Kerkhoff, McCutcheon

In two state games — in the old format where four teams advanced to state and competed in a semifinal and championship round — Kerkhoff averaged 20 points and 11.5 rebounds for the 1993 girls basketball state runner-up Mavericks in front of more than 16,000 fans inside Market Square Arena. She'd make the Indiana All-Stars roster after her senior season after finishing her career with 1,376 points, including a school record 51 in a single game, and 1,110 rebounds. She also was the star of McCutcheon's volleyball team and would go on to a stellar career with the Purdue Boilermakers, where she racked up more than 1,000 digs, 101 aces and 865 kills.

Sheryl Klemme, Benton Central

A star for Benton Central's 1989 basketball runner-up and the state finals mental attitude award winner, Klemme would go on to be a defensive and offensive spark for the Indiana All-Star team that summer. She scored 1,305 career points for the Bison, a record that stood for 20 years until Skyler Gick broke it in 2009. It remains third most in program history behind Caitlyn Tolen (1,648) and Gick.

Mary Lidester, Lafayette Jeff

If not for Martinsville's Leigh Anne Hardin, Lidester would've been a multiple time state medalist in golf. Hardin won three straight times from 1997-99. Lidester was the runner-up for the first two of those during her junior and senior seasons, leading the Bronchos to a team runner-up finish in 1998. She'd go on to star on the links at Indiana University.

Kourtney Mennen, Clinton Prairie

The star of the Gophers' 1999 Class A state championship basketball team, Mennen would go on to be one of the most prolific scorers in the history of Indiana State University's program, where she still ranks second with 1,843 career points. At Clinton Prairie, Mennen poured in 2,191 points and was an Indiana All-Star, while also being a key member of Class A state championship volleyball teams in 1997 and 1998.

Melissa Nance, Clinton Prairie

A volleyball, basketball and softball standout for the Gophers, Nance would go on to star in two of those sports at the University of Memphis. There, she was a three-year volleyball captain who had more than 1,000 kills and 336 blocks in her career while also becoming one of the best power hitters in the history of the Tiger softball team. She'd pitch a one-hitter and drive in a run in Clinton Prairie's 5-0 Class A state championship win over Clarksville in 2002.

Sharon Oesterling, Clinton Prairie

Clinton Prairie going 47-0 and winning a single-class state title in volleyball is still one of the most incredible accomplishments and undertold stories given the school's size. Oesterling was the team's star setter. She'd go on to a standout career for the University of Minnesota, where she still owns the school record for assists and aces and is ninth in career digs.

Cameron Onken, Central Catholic

The former Central Catholic three-sport standout earned the rare distinction of being the state finals' mental attitude award winner in both volleyball and basketball. Before joining the Villanova University women's basketball program, where she recorded the second triple-double in school history to lead a major upset over DePaul, she led Central Catholic to back-to-back state championships, one in Class A in 2015 and the second in the 2016 Class 2A state tournament, and is Tippecanoe County's career scoring leader with 1,921 points.

Brittany Rayburn, Attica

A multi-sport athlete at Attica, Rayburn made her name on the basketball court where she helped change the fortune of the Rambler program. The eventual Purdue Boilermaker sharpshooter racked up 2,337 career points at Attica, ranking her 15th in Indiana high school girls basketball history. She capped her career by earning Indiana's Miss Basketball in 2008.

Kay Sharp, Lafayette Jeff

Lafayette Jeff's first female Indiana All-Star in 1983, Sharp averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds as a senior before going on to become the Most Valuable Player for the Purdue University women's basketball team. She'd lead the Bronchos to a regional title before her college days and go on to a coaching career, where she helped the Carmel Greyhounds win a state championship. She was named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's Silver Anniversary team in 2008.

Cara Smith, Harrison

An two-time All-American volleyball player at Penn State, the 1999 Harrison graduate still owns the program record for kills with 1,311 and blocks with 665. Smith also was a standout basketball player for the Raiders. She ended her senior season by receiving Indiana's Gatorade Player of the Year for volleyball.

Christy Smith, Benton Central

The 1993 800 meters state champion out of Benton Central helped the Bison to a state runner-up finish in track and field but on the court, she continued a run of excellence for one of the state's best girls basketball programs. She scored 1,113 career points at BC and after leaving became the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and a three-time All-SEC selection while leading Arkansas to a Final Four appearance. She played in the WNBA after college and also won a gold medal with Team USA in the World University Games.

Marianne Smith, Clinton Prairie

A dynamic athlete at Clinton Prairie during the early years girls sports, Smith would star for the Gophers year-round before a stellar collegiate volleyball career where she was a two-time All-American as well as two-time Big Ten Player of the Year at Purdue and helped the Boilers win a Big Ten title. As a 1982 Prairie graduate, she was the school's standout basketball player and, in 2007, received recognition on the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's Silvery Anniversary team. Clinton Prairie won four volleyball sectionals and a regional title during her career.

Gaynelle Vogel, Twin Lakes

There have been four no-hitters in IHSAA state championship softball games. Three of those came since the inception of class sports in 1997. The only single-class state championship no-hitter belongs to Vogel, who was the star of the Indians' 1989 state championship team. That remains the school's only team to bring home a state championship after Vogel's no-hitter lifted Twin Lakes in a 4-0 victory over Bellmont. Vogel finished her career with 1,000 strikeouts exactly before becoming a standout pitcher at University of South Florida.

Marion Vruggink, West Lafayette

Unlike the other 49 entries on this list, Vruggink did not make her impact as an athlete of coach, but rather as West Lafayette's athletic trainer. In 1983, Vruggink was hired as the school's first athletic trainer, a role she'd serve until 2018. Along the way, she became the go-to advocate for athletic training at schools area, state and nationwide.

Stephanie White, Seeger

Before she was a national champion with the Purdue Boilermakers and a WNBA draft pick, White lit up the scoreboard for Seeger basketball in the early to mid 1990s. Her 2,869 points was a record at the conclusion of her career and still ranks fourth in state history. The 1995 Indiana Miss Basketball winner went into coaching after her WNBA career, helping the Indiana Fever reach the WNBA Finals before taking over the Vanderbilt University women's program.

Cheryl Wiedeman, McCutcheon

Wiedeman would return to the McCutcheon volleyball sidelines long after her playing career, leading the Mavericks to a sectional title in 2011. Long before that, she'd become McCutcheon's first NCAA Division I scholarship athlete when the 1977 graduate parlayed a standout high school volleyball career into a role at the University of Alabama.

Macee Williams, Fountain Central

Williams changed the fortunes of the Mustangs' girls basketball program en route to becoming the school's second Indiana All-Star. She led Fountain Central to a regional championship appearance in 2015 and as a senior in 2016-17, averaged 26.2 points and 16.2 rebounds. She'd go on to become four-time Horizon League Player of the Year at IUPUI and was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2022 WNBA draft.

Lani Worthington, McCutcheon

One of the pioneers of girls volleyball, Worthington made the Mavericks a powerhouse before retiring in 1999. At McCutcheon, she made five state finals trips and won 716 matches in 29 seasons. Worthington's McCutcheon teams finished as the state runner-up in 1982 and '89, each time falling in the final match to Muncie Burris.

Jeanette Yeoman, Harrison

One of the leading basketball scorers in Indiana her senior season of 1985-86, Yeoman averaged nearly 30 points per game and left as the Raiders' career scoring leader. One season after Shari Mitchell became Harrison's first Indiana All-Star, Yeoman was the second a year later and would be named to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame's Silver Anniversary team in 2011. Yeoman would go on to break numerous scoring records at St. Joseph's College before a long career coaching women's college basketball, most recently at University of Texas-Tyler in 2021.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking. 

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 50 women who made a difference in Greater Lafayette high school sports