RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Athletics Department will join the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Title IX legislation passed into law in 1972, celebrating throughout the 2022-23 academic year.

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which was signed in 1972. The law changed the landscape of college athletics, creating equal opportunities for female athletes at the collegiate level. This year, we celebrate the impact of Title IX on Falcon Athletics and honor the women who paved the way and the incredible success and achievements of female athletes and women's sports at UW-River Falls.

"As a former student-athlete and current athletics administrator, I am thankful for all of the women who blazed the trail before me," said UWRF Athletics Director Crystal Lanning. "Without their sacrifices, I would not have had the opportunities I had. As we look forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Title IX legislation, we must also recognize that we still have work to do. During the next year, I look forward to honoring the women of our past, present and future and creating new opportunities to support UWRF women's athletics."

UWRF Athletics will be sharing website and social media features, hosting several events and feature games throughout 2022-23 to honor Falcon Trailblazers and celebrate Title IX.

On Thursday, June 23, 2022, UWRF will kick off the year-long celebration with a social event at Belle Vinez Winery. Join Falcon Athletics as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passing of Title IX legislation and raise funds to support UWRF women's athletic programs.

The event is $20/person and includes brick oven pizza and appetizers, with a cash bar available. Donations to support UWRF women's athletics are also accepted.

Title IX 50th Anniversary Social Event: Thursday, June 23, 2022
6:00-8:00 p.m. 
Belle Vinez Winery
W10829 875th Ave,
River Falls, WI 54022

REGISTER HERE

UW-River Falls has a history of success in women's sports, combining for over 40 conference championships, 80 national championship appearances, and more than 120 All-Americans. Off the field, the Falcons have garnered 35 WIAC Scholar-Athletes and nine Academic All-Americans.
 
UWRF Key Title IX Moments/Timeline:

• 1958 – Wisconsin Athletic & Recreation Federation formed to coordinate athletic activities among Wisconsin Colleges
• 1969 – Limited women's sports at UWRF were passed
• 1971 – Member schools of the Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC), including UWRF, joined to form the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC)
• 1972 – On June 23, Title IX is passed, giving women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports in educational institutions that receive federal funds
• 1974 – First varsity season of UWRF women's gymnastics
• 1975 – First varsity season of UWRF women's swimming & diving
• 1976 – First varsity season of UWRF women's basketball
• 1977 – First varsity season of UWRF women's track & field
• 1978 – First varsity season of UWRF women's cross country
• 1982 – The Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) dissolved and became affiliated with the NAIA and NCAA
• 1983 – First varsity season of UWRF softball
• 1986 – First varsity season of UWRF women's tennis
• 1987 – First varsity season of UWRF women's volleyball
• 1987 – UWRF softball wins the first conference championship by a women's team in school history (WIAC Champions)
• 1988 – UWRF women's basketball wins its first WIAC Championship and earns its first trip to the NCAA Tournament appearance
• 1990 – Mickey Gillespie (Gymnastics) is UWRF's first woman to win an individual national championship, winning an NCGA title in the Uneven Bars
• 1993 – All UWRF women's athletic teams became NCAA Division III members
• 1993 – UWRF softball wins both the WIAC regular season and tournament to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history
• 1992 – First varsity season of UWRF women's soccer
• 1996 – UWRF men's and women's athletics combined into one athletic department, with Connie Foster named first athletic director of the combined department
• 1996 – First varsity season of UWRF women's golf
• 1996 – UWRF volleyball wins its first WIAC regular season and tournament titles
• 1996 – Jen Ponthius becomes the first UWRF women's track & field individual national champion, winning the outdoor discus throw
• 1999 – First varsity season of UWRF women's hockey
• 2001 – UWRF women's hockey earns its first conference title, winning the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Playoff Tournament
• 2003 – UWRF women's soccer wins its first WIAC Championship
• 2003 – UWRF women's hockey earns its first trip to the NCAA Tournament and reaches the "Frozen Four"
• 2007 – Jill Crandall wins the NCAA outdoor high jump national championship, and is named the National Field Performer of the Meet
• 2008 – UWRF Women's Outdoor Track & Field wins National Championship, totaling 35 team points in Oshkosh, Wis., to become the first women's team to win a national championship
• 2008 – Becca Jordahl earns her third consecutive All-American finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships
• 2015 – UWRF women's hockey takes third place at the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year
• 2016 – UWRF women's hockey reaches the NCAA National Championship game, falling to Plattsburgh State for a runner-up finish
• 2017 – Dani Sibley becomes the first UWRF women's hockey player to be named the AHCA Laura Hurd National Player of the Year
• 2019 – First varsity season of UWRF women's lacrosse
• 2021 – UWRF women's lacrosse earns its first at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament

 
Currently, UWRF offers 11 women's varsity athletic programs for over 170 female student-athletes.
 
Stay tuned to UWRFsports.com for updates and announcements, along with @UWRFalcons on Twitter, @uwrffalcons on Instagram, and UWRFAthletics on Facebook.