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
Moment: Kamin Powers Escanaba to Final
May 14, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A number of key moments go into each championship season. And Nicole Kamin’s during last season’s Division 2 Softball Semifinals may have been the most key in Escanaba finishing its repeat title run.
Kamin, then a sophomore, sent a sixth-inning pitch over the center field fence at Secchia Stadium on June 13, 2019, pushing the Eskymos ahead of North Branch 2-1 on the way to winning an inning later by the same score.
The blast set up teammate Gabi Salo to finish her one-hit pitching performance in the top of the seventh inning. Escanaba went on to defeat Stevensville Lakeshore 7-3 two days later in the Division 2 Final.
Kamin, batting second for the Eskymos in the Semifinal, had struck out and then grounded out in her first two at bats of the game.
“The nerves were kicking in for sure,” Kamin said that day. “I just went up there and swung it. It’s just amazing, honestly. Such a big game like this, to bring us to a championship game. It’s awesome.”
Click for coverage of that Semifinal from Second Half and watch Kamin’s homer below from the NFHS Network.