The Frostburg State University Department of Athletics will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Title IX with a number of activities and initiatives throughout the upcoming 2012-13 year, Director of Athletics Troy Dell announced recently.

“It is vital that we recognize the importance and impact that Title IX has played in providing equitable opportunities,” Dell said. “We are extremely excited and proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary and the role that women's athletics have played at Frostburg State University. We look forward to honoring our female student-athletes throughout the upcoming year.”

The Department of Athletics will be releasing various events and initiatives at various times throughout the year in honor of the anniversary.

The year's first initiative is the release of a customized logo that features the department's FSU brand logo alongside a banner that commemorates the 40th anniversary of Title IX. Look for the new logo throughout the year on publications produced by the Department of Athletics as well as the official website, www.frostburgsports.com.

“Universally, I think Title IX has given girls and women an opportunity to reap the benefits of participating in sports that boys and men have long enjoyed. Women get to experience not only the joy and satisfaction of competing and winning, but everything it takes to get there like discipline, accountability and self confidence,” said Senior Woman Administrator and head women's basketball coach Jody Pepple.

“As a former college player and coach, both when I was competing and looking back now, it's been a thrill to see the increased participation at the youth level as a function of Title IX. Because of the legislation, there are so many more programs that girls can participate in today and I think, ultimately, that is Title IX's greatest achievement. A generation of women are growing up with the ability to apply the positive elements learned from sports to the world around them. There's no doubt in my mind that where I am today is in part due to the opportunities that Title IX created.”

The history of female athletics at Frostburg State University dates back to 1964 with the first varsity season of women's basketball. Since that time, the women's basketball team has won over 650 games and made 14 postseason appearances in either the NCAA or ECAC Tournaments.

Most recently, FSU introduced women's soccer, softball and volleyball as varsity sports in the mid-1990's and the sporting trio have represented the Bobcats in the NCAA Tournament 16 times.

Individually, Laura Schlegel of the Bobcat swimming team became the school's first female All-American in the winter of 1981 and she earned the honor in three different events; the 50, 100 and 200-yard backstrokes. At the conclusion of the outdoor track & field season just a few months later, Gail Glave (Heptathlon) and Val Pearce (400-meter hurdles) became the second and third women to earn All-American honors.

In all, fifty-one women have been named All-Americans since the trio earned the first three awards in 1981. Furthermore, nine of those women have captured National Championship trophies in both indoor and outdoor track & field.

Frostburg currently sponsors 11 Division III women's varsity sports – basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track & field and volleyball.

Stay tuned for future events celebrating the anniversary of Title IX.