50-Year Anniversary of Florida Women’s Athletics
Mary Howard
6/23/2022
A storied tradition of success that started 50 years ago continued this season.
It was a season-long celebration to salute the 50th anniversary of Florida women's athletics.
Florida women's teams continued their history of success in 2021-22.
A pair of NCAA team titles, a trio of conference crowns along with 12 individual national wins added to the program's tradition of success.
Take another look at the history of Florida women's athletics, now updated with 2021-22 triumphs.
The first University of Florida women's athletic staff (1972-73) - front row (from left): Catie Ball (swimming & diving), Janice Thompson (track & field), Mimi Ryan (golf). Back row: Dr. Ruth Alexander (athletic director), Sue Widdon (tennis), Linda Bittner (gymnastics)
The Start
In March of 1972, a proposal written by Dr. Ruth Alexander (Chair of the Department of Physical Education for Women), Donna Deutsch (tennis coach), Linda Hall Thornton (tennis coach) and Mimi Ryan (golf coach) requesting a women’s program of intercollegiate athletics was approved by the Faculty Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. The effective date for the proposal was set for the 1972-73 school year -- the first official year for University of Florida women’s athletics.
This marked an important moment in history, as Title IX was not yet implemented, and would not follow until three months later, and no other school in the Southeastern Conference had yet to accomplish funding a women's program.
The initial sports offered were golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis and track & field/cross country. Basketball, softball and volleyball were elevated to varsity status in the 1974-75 season. Florida fielded a slow-pitch softball team from 1975-83. When women's intercollegiate sports transitioned from AIAW to NCAA play in 1982, fast-pitch softball was sanctioned by the NCAA, thus signaling the end of UF slow-pitch softball. Florida added fast-pitch softball team for the 1997 season. Volleyball was offered at UF from 1974-78 and was reinstated to varsity status for the 1984 season. Soccer opened play at UF in the fall of 1995. Lacrosse’s first season was in 2010.
Florida funds the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the NCAA for each of its 11 women's sports, totaling 115 scholarships for the 2021-22 season.
Success Celebrated
Florida women’s program have found success in the conference, national and international stages.
22
20 NCAA team titles | 2 AIAW team titles
National team titles earned in eight different sports:
Golf, Gymnastics, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field (Indoor), Track & Field (Outdoor)
1978 Florida women's swimming & diving claimed the program's first national team title.
Florida track & field swept 2022 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor team titles. The indoor title was UF's first in 30 seasons and the outdoor win was the first for the Gator women's program.
Gallery: Women's National Team Titles
191
Individual National Titles (NCAA & AIAW) by 112 Gators
171
Individual NCAA titles is No. 4 among nation’s programs.
5 Gators won 12 NCAA Individual titles in 2022
| Talitha Diggs | 2022 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor 400 meters |
| Anna Hall | 2022 NCAA pentathlon & heptathlon |
| Jasmine Moore | 2022 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor long and triple jump |
| Grace Stark | 2022 NCAA Indoor 60-meter hurdles |
| Trinity Thomas | 2022 NCAA all-around, uneven bars & floor exercise |
Three Gators claimed 2017 Honda Awards - Kelly Barnhill (left - softball), Belinda Woolcock (tennis) and Alex McMurtry (gymnastics).
21
with 26 Honda Awards as sport’s top female collegiate athlete of season. The total is No. 3 among nation’s programs.
Trinity Thomas represents the Gators at the 2021-22 Collegiate Sports Awards on June 27 (CBS Sports Network - 9 p.m. ET) as the 2022 Honda Award recipient for gymnastics.
Tracy Caulkins twice (1982, 1984) received Broderick Cup (award’s previous name) as top overall female collegiate athlete.
Everything School: Florida Honda Award winners have come in a national-high eight different sports.
Gallery: Honda Award Winners
148
Conference Team Titles.
Florida’s 137 Southeastern Conference title leads the league.
11
conference titles for Gator lacrosse.
24
Southeastern Conference Women's All-Sports trophies claimed by Florida - a league high. Florida won the 2021-22 Women's All-Sports trophy.
6
Claimed seven SEC Overall Female Athlete of the Year (sharing the league’s high for women’s honors.
86
Gators with 116 SEC Athlete of Year in 11 sports.
2022 conference Athlete of the Year honors claimed by seven Gators
| Maha Amer | SEC Co-Diver of the Year |
| McCartney Kessler | SEC Women’s Tennis Player of the Year |
| Jasmine Moore | SEC Indoor & Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year |
| Danielle Pavinelli | AAC Attacker of the Year |
| Sarah Reznick | AAC Goalkeeper of the Year |
| Trinity Thomas | SEC Gymnast of the Year |
| Emma Wightman | AAC Defender of the Year |
Gallery: SEC Female Athletes of Year
64
Olympic medals (29 golds, 14 silver and 21 bronze).
92
Olympians for Gator women since 1976.
Half of the U.S.'s 1992 Olympic gold medal 4x100 freestyle relay team were Gators - Nicole Haislett (left) and Dara Torres (right with arm raised). Photo: George Long-USA TODAY NETWORK
Gallery: Florida Women Olympic Medalists
95
CoSIDA Academic All-America honors earned by 63 UF female student-athletes.
Three Gators named 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
| Leah Clapper | Gymnastics (At-Large) | Second Team |
| Charla Echols | Softball | Third Team |
| Megan Skaggs | Gymnastics (At-Large) | First Team |
Seven named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year for their sport
Gallery: CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of Year
