100+ Years of Women's Athletics at UCO
March 2021
During the early 20th century female students engaged in play and games as a form of physical activity. It was not lady-like to exert oneself, girls should aim to glisten and glow not sweat. Back then the only needed benefit of physical activity for women was to develop poise, self-confidence and beauty. Competitive sports for women were frowned upon as a threat to female fertility and femininity.
After a century of fighting for gender equality on many fronts and the passage of new legislation toward the end of the 20th century, the playing field finally began to level out. While there is still room for growth and improvement, UCO has continued to develop and evolve women’s athletics on campus. Many of Central's noted female athletes have gone on to win regional conference and national championships. Go Lady Bronchos!!!
Cheerleading
1905
Women's basketball field
1908
Women's basketball
1911
Women's basketball
1911
Women's track meet
ca. 1913-1919
Carrie Wantland
1920
Zora Smith
1928
Women's field hockey
ca. 1920-1930s
Women's softball
ca. 1920s-1930s
Women's tennis
ca. 1920s-1930s
Women's archery
ca. 1920s-1930s
Emma Plunkett
ca. 1930s
Women's swim team
ca. 1930s
Women's volleyball team
1936
Women's Recreation Association basketball, 1937
Women's softball
1939
Women's tennis
ca. 1930s-1940s
Female sport group portrait
ca. 1930s-1940s
Women's softball
ca. 1930s-1940s
Women's tumbling
1940s
Women's field hockey
ca. 1954
Women's swimming
ca. 1950s
Women's volleyball
ca. 1950s
Women's softball
ca. 1950s
Women's golf
1961
Women's golf
1961
Women's track and field
1967
Women's track and field
1967
Women's fencing
1968
Virginia Peters
1968
Cheerleading
1970s
Women's field hockey
nd
Women's field hockey
1980s
Women's cross country
2013
Women's rowing
2015
Women's softball
2015
Women's tennis
2015
Women's volleyball
2016
Women's cheer and pom
2017
Curator
Kristi Kohl, Archives Specialist
