Union College Athletics

In recognition of 50 years of women’s athletics at Union, a group of student-athletes are being recognized to honor the collective achievements of the strong, dedicated and persistent trailblazers that worked with the college administration to establish the women’s athletic program at Union half a century ago. Most athletes played multiple sports without the benefits of trainers, fitness centers, and quality field and equipment conditions, all while navigating a campus that only started admitting women as full-time students just four years earlier. Nevertheless, they persevered, made lifelong friends, and learned valuable life lessons.
 
These trailblazing women, part of the nearly 100 to play during the 1974-75 school year, were recognized as the top students and athletes from their respective sports during the first full year of competition for women at Union. They were named team Most Valuable Players and captains, earned the Dutchess Award for academic and athletic excellence, promoted their teams through articles and photos in the Concordiensis, and represented their school with pride. Guided by Director of Women’s Athletics Sheila Weaver and Equipment Manager Bob Ridings, these women and their teammates contributed to the infancy of women’s athletics at Union in many ways and helped to pave the way for the many athletic and academic successes achieved by women at Union in the half-century since.
 
Team Members:
Pamela Anderson ’77
Elaine Baldwin ’79
Lynn Bateman ’78
Barbara J. Dewey (Carmody) ’75
Jodie Miller (Demuth) ’77
Louise Dunn ’76
Toni Gahn ’76
Diana Gazzolo ’78
Stenie Platter (Gullens) ’76
Sarah Hart (Hansen) ’78 
Susan Harp (Santamauro) ’75
Amy L. Juchatz-Camanzo ’78
Katharine Kelley (Freeman) ’75
Priscilla Francis (Nellissen) ’77, HOF ’05
Allyne Price ’78
Catherine Reals ’78 
Deb Slotoroff (Rekant) ’78
Susan Rich ’75 
Lee Russell (Walsh) ’76
Gwen Young (Sachnoff) ’78
Eva Schmeckenbecher (Stephenson) ’77
Alison Sloat ’75
Donna Sockell ’77
Kim Waddell ’76
Madelyn Yelton ’75 
Ronni Zankel ’78 

Bob Ridings HOF ’07, Equipment Manager
Sheila Weaver, Director of Women’s Athletics