Title IX at 50: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 31, 2021
Before the passage of Title IX in 1972, fewer than 300,000 females participated in athletics nationwide, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
During the 2019-20 school year – the most recent not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic – nearly 76,000 girls competed in athletics in Michigan alone, filling more than 120,000 spots on teams for 750 high schools statewide.
By protecting people of all genders from discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, Title IX began a now half-century long journey toward equalizing those opportunities.
In advance of next June’s 50th year since the passage of Title IX, every Tuesday this school year we’ll celebrate a person, team or moment that has contributed to Michigan’s rich history of females participating in athletics at MHSAA member schools.
We begin with Michigan's contributions to the yearlong NFHS celebration, which last week highlighted a trailblazer, moment of magnitude and pioneering program across its social media channels.
Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.
Diane Laffey's 50-year career at @ReginaWarrenMI HS features a state-best 1,212 wins & 7 🥎 state titles, & 6th-best 659 girls 🏀 wins. Also an AD & 🏀/🏐/🥎 official, she is a National HS HOF inductee & received the 2nd @MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Award. #TitleIXat50 pic.twitter.com/Jxg39KZZ4j
— NFHS (@NFHS_Org) August 24, 2021
The @MHSAA conducted its first sponsored competitive cheer postseason in 1994. It has since grown to nearly 7,000 annual HS participants (nearly 7,800 in 2006-07) from 350+ schools, providing another substantial winter participation opportunity for female athletes. #TitleIXat50 pic.twitter.com/WnLGRnuDEj
— NFHS (@NFHS_Org) August 26, 2021
The @MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Conference debuted in 1990 thanks to Suzanne Martin. It is the nation’s first, largest & longest-running conference promoting females in interscholastic athletics & annually draws more than 600 attendees. #TitleIXat50 https://t.co/LKi08bOHrz
— NFHS (@NFHS_Org) August 23, 2021
Performance of the Week: West Bloomfield's Indya Davis
February 10, 2023
Indya Davis ♦ West Bloomfield
Junior ♦ Basketball
Davis scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds as West Bloomfield defeated Detroit Edison 59-49 in a matchup of last season’s Division 1 and Division 2 champions, respectively. The Lakers also had defeated Edison during the 2021-22 regular season, when they became the first in-state opponent to defeat the Pioneers since January 2018. This winter, Davis is averaging 16.1 points – connecting on 51 percent of her shots from the floor – with 9.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game.
A 5-foot-9 guard, Davis was the leading scorer in both the Semifinal win over Rockford and the championship game victory over Hartland last year at the Breslin Center. West Bloomfield is 16-2 overall this season and has clinched a share of the Oakland Activities Association Red championship, and among a talented cast Davis continues to team with twin sister Summer, the Lakers’ leading scorer at 19.6 ppg who like Indya is considered among the state’s elite players. They’ll continue to team up after high school as well, having committed to sign with Michigan State.
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Indya Davis #performanceoftheweek #basketball #bigwin #highscorer #buckets #westbloomfield #lakers #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok #mistudentaid #fyp ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat
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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
2022-23 Honorees
Feb. 2: Braydon Sorenson, Onekama skiing - Report
Jan. 26: Shayna Hruska, Iron Mountain wrestling - Report
Jan. 19: Kayla Tafanelli, Warren Woods-Tower bowling - Report
Dec. 20: Brenden Paden, Riverview Gabriel Richard hockey - Report
Dec. 16: Tuff Scott, Holton bowling - Report
Dec. 9: Macey Fegan, Standish-Sterling basketball - Report
Dec. 2: Treyton Siegert, Gladwin football - Report
Nov. 24: Lily Witte, Dexter diving - Report
Nov. 17: Navea Gauthier, Shelby volleyball - Report
Nov. 10: Derek Huisman, Holland Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3: Thomas Westphal, New Baltimore Anchor Bay cross country - Report
Oct. 27: Justin Wickey, Colon football - Report
Oct. 20: Owen DeMuth, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood tennis - Report
Oct. 13: Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills golf - Report
Oct. 6: Shawn Foster, Grand Ledge football - Report
Sept. 30: Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15: Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1: Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25: Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report
(Top photo courtesy of the Davis family.)