Title 9 was signed into law June of 1972. With this came the new enforcement of equal opportunities for girls and women, including athletics at both the high school and collegiate level.
About the Scholarship
|
“Title IX is huge for sports but also is helped move our nation to a place where we can accept women in the workforce as well. It’s opened up a lot of jobs for women.”
Maya Moore, 2017 Sports Illustrated Performer of the Year, WNBA player |
The Westby Norse Fund Title 9 Scholarship has been established to enable the continued advancement of the young women of WHS.
Despite the 1971 the Westby gymnastics team winning the state championship for Westby High School, those team members were unable to become a member of the “W” Club, which was an honor reserved only for letter-earning male athletes since the 1950’s!
Title IX became law in June of 1972, and the “W” club finally opened to the female athletes in the 1975-1976 school year.
This scholarship was first conceived in memory of Ann Kurth, but it is in honor of the countless others that supported her goal of a level playing field.
To continue in their honor, and follow the trail they blazed for us, we are taking this small action toward a more equal field. Although to some this action itself may seem biased, but that is not our intent, rather we hope this small act of a scholarship will enable others to carry the torch of equality with their future (bigger) actions.
Despite the 1971 the Westby gymnastics team winning the state championship for Westby High School, those team members were unable to become a member of the “W” Club, which was an honor reserved only for letter-earning male athletes since the 1950’s!
Title IX became law in June of 1972, and the “W” club finally opened to the female athletes in the 1975-1976 school year.
This scholarship was first conceived in memory of Ann Kurth, but it is in honor of the countless others that supported her goal of a level playing field.
To continue in their honor, and follow the trail they blazed for us, we are taking this small action toward a more equal field. Although to some this action itself may seem biased, but that is not our intent, rather we hope this small act of a scholarship will enable others to carry the torch of equality with their future (bigger) actions.
|
“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”
Wilma Rudolf, 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Track and Field |
Ann Kurth and her influence in Female Athletics in Westby High School
|
“I’m a little uncomfortable with People saying ‘Trailblazer’ ... because I know somebody else blazed the trail for me to even have the opportunity to play basketball. I never want to lose sight of the women who came before me and laid the groundwork for me to be able to talk through this door.”
Becky Hammon, 1st female full-time NBA coach and former WNBA player |
Ann (Enos) Kurth graduated from Monona Grove High school in the spring 1960. During high school Ann was active in Girls Athletic Association (GAA), the only organization for girls to participate in intramural sports before Title IX.
In the fall of 1961, Ann began her college career at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Coaching. During her time at UWL she was involved with the L-Bar-X Dancers. This square dance group traveled around the state providing entertainment. Ann was the assistant director for the L-Bar-X. She also played intramural field hockey.
Ann began her teaching career in Westby in the fall of 1965. When she started her teaching career, Ann coached the Tumbling Club, and she was also the advisor for GAA and cheerleading. At the time, there were hints of what was to come with Title IX, but nothing yet set in stone.
During the 1969-1970 school year, well before Title IX became law, the visionary educator established and coached Westby High School’s first women’s competitive gymnastics team. Her pioneering efforts along with other area women advisors, inspired schools during this time to drop their school tumbling clubs and create school gymnastics teams.
In 1971 the Westby gymnastics team was Wisconsin’s first gymnastics state champions! There were 22 ladies on Westby’s team, and 83 teams competed in the state meet.
In the spring of 1972, a second girls sport started at Westby High School: Girls’ Track. Elna Aasen was the head coach. Due to lack of funding, the team competed in the uniforms they wore for physical education class. Eventually, the GAA raised funds for uniforms.
Title IX became law in June of 1972. With an unwavering commitment to providing equal opportunities for girls, Ann worked diligently and tirelessly to expand women’s athletics at Westby High School. With the collegial and steadfast support of Athletic Director, Marc Nelson, they worked with school administration and the board of education to provide Westby High School girls the opportunity to take the court, compete on the fields, and track events.
Budgets being tight in the 1970’s, Ann spearheaded funding through athlete-led fundraisers through the GAA and, over time, district budgets were expanded to fully support women’s athletics. “It was a whirlwind time,” said Nelson. “Each year added another team to the budget, including locker room space, sports equipment, uniforms, referees, and travel. In short, the athletic department doubled in a few short years,” he said.
As a result of her relentless work in support of women athletes, high school volleyball found its start at Westby High School in the fall of 1975. Ann was the first head coach. The 1975-76 school year was significant not only because of its inaugural splash into high school volleyball, it was also the first year that female athletes were welcomed into the “W” Club, a prior honor reserved only for letter-earning male athletes since the 1950’s.
Ann’s unwavering support for female athletes continued with the addition of Westby’s first softball team in the spring of 1977, and Westby’s first girls’ basketball team during the 1977-78 school year. As an exclamation point to her advocacy, a girls’ cross-country team was added in the fall of 1979. Later in her career, when the boys added golf, she helped to ensure the girls did too. And in addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ann also served as assistant athletic director for several years.
As a result of Ann’s guidance and tenacity, Westby High School started six women’s sports programs in ten years with many sports fielding multiple teams to ensure that all women athletes, grades 9-12 could participate.
Ann’s forward thinking, her persistence, and her leadership and the support of athletic director, Marc Nelson, the district administration, and the board of education changed Westby High School forever.
Ann’s career positively influenced the lives of thousands of girls. She consistently modeled for young women the courage and commitment to do what was right, and her legacy lives on each time a girl takes the field or a court to play for Westby High School. She retired in the spring of 2000.
In the fall of 1961, Ann began her college career at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Coaching. During her time at UWL she was involved with the L-Bar-X Dancers. This square dance group traveled around the state providing entertainment. Ann was the assistant director for the L-Bar-X. She also played intramural field hockey.
Ann began her teaching career in Westby in the fall of 1965. When she started her teaching career, Ann coached the Tumbling Club, and she was also the advisor for GAA and cheerleading. At the time, there were hints of what was to come with Title IX, but nothing yet set in stone.
During the 1969-1970 school year, well before Title IX became law, the visionary educator established and coached Westby High School’s first women’s competitive gymnastics team. Her pioneering efforts along with other area women advisors, inspired schools during this time to drop their school tumbling clubs and create school gymnastics teams.
In 1971 the Westby gymnastics team was Wisconsin’s first gymnastics state champions! There were 22 ladies on Westby’s team, and 83 teams competed in the state meet.
In the spring of 1972, a second girls sport started at Westby High School: Girls’ Track. Elna Aasen was the head coach. Due to lack of funding, the team competed in the uniforms they wore for physical education class. Eventually, the GAA raised funds for uniforms.
Title IX became law in June of 1972. With an unwavering commitment to providing equal opportunities for girls, Ann worked diligently and tirelessly to expand women’s athletics at Westby High School. With the collegial and steadfast support of Athletic Director, Marc Nelson, they worked with school administration and the board of education to provide Westby High School girls the opportunity to take the court, compete on the fields, and track events.
Budgets being tight in the 1970’s, Ann spearheaded funding through athlete-led fundraisers through the GAA and, over time, district budgets were expanded to fully support women’s athletics. “It was a whirlwind time,” said Nelson. “Each year added another team to the budget, including locker room space, sports equipment, uniforms, referees, and travel. In short, the athletic department doubled in a few short years,” he said.
As a result of her relentless work in support of women athletes, high school volleyball found its start at Westby High School in the fall of 1975. Ann was the first head coach. The 1975-76 school year was significant not only because of its inaugural splash into high school volleyball, it was also the first year that female athletes were welcomed into the “W” Club, a prior honor reserved only for letter-earning male athletes since the 1950’s.
Ann’s unwavering support for female athletes continued with the addition of Westby’s first softball team in the spring of 1977, and Westby’s first girls’ basketball team during the 1977-78 school year. As an exclamation point to her advocacy, a girls’ cross-country team was added in the fall of 1979. Later in her career, when the boys added golf, she helped to ensure the girls did too. And in addition to her teaching responsibilities, Ann also served as assistant athletic director for several years.
As a result of Ann’s guidance and tenacity, Westby High School started six women’s sports programs in ten years with many sports fielding multiple teams to ensure that all women athletes, grades 9-12 could participate.
Ann’s forward thinking, her persistence, and her leadership and the support of athletic director, Marc Nelson, the district administration, and the board of education changed Westby High School forever.
Ann’s career positively influenced the lives of thousands of girls. She consistently modeled for young women the courage and commitment to do what was right, and her legacy lives on each time a girl takes the field or a court to play for Westby High School. She retired in the spring of 2000.
“A good Coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.”
John Wooden, 10-time NCAA national championships, UCLA basketball coach
John Wooden, 10-time NCAA national championships, UCLA basketball coach
Thank you, Ann, for your service to the Westby Area School District for 35 years. Your legacy lives on. This scholarship would not have been possible without the thoughtful support from Ann’s daughter, Kelly Elgstuen. Ann’s friends, former students and athletes, colleagues, and the Westby community.