On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, February 5, 2025, Lake Michigan College is proud to spotlight 50 years of women’s athletics at LMC. The day brings attention to the accomplishments of girls and women while promoting equality in sports.
The College currently fields five women’s teams - basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball – which are represented by 70 female student-athletes during the 2024-2025 season. The Red Hawks compete as part of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The LMC women’s athletic program began during the 1974-1975 season. This was at a time when gender equality in many aspects of American life was emerging including Title IX which granted women equal access to education programs and activities, including intercollegiate athletics.
The program began under the leadership of three-sport coach Liz Miller. Volleyball and basketball debuted first, with softball introduced as a club sport and elevated to intercollegiate competition two years later during the 1976-1977 season.
In 1978, Miller became LMC’s athletic director, during which time she continued coaching softball and volleyball. In addition to being the first female athletic director at LMC, she was also the first female athletic director of both a men’s and women’s intercollegiate program in Michigan.
The program flourished under Miller’s leadership. She led the volleyball squad to two national tournament appearances while the softball program became a national powerhouse with 10 appearances at the NJCAA National Tournament between 1981 and 1991.
The tradition of excellence established by Miller set an ongoing tone of progress and achievement for women’s athletics that continues today. Notable achievements include:
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In 1981, track team standout Sheila Atcher became the national long jump champion.
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The women’s basketball team has advanced to the national tournament 11 times in the program’s history.
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In 1993, the softball team won the NJCAA national championship.
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The softball team has made a total of 16 national tournament appearances, including the most recent in 2024.
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Women’s soccer was added in 2012.
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In addition to Miller, two other women have served as LMC athletic director: former three-sport LMC athlete and two-time All-American Kathy Leitke from 1991-2000, and former softball coach Mel Grau from 2017-present.
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Women’s cross country was added in 2022.
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In 2023, Olivia Ippel captured the individual NJCAA Division II women’s cross country national championship.
“With all the options young women have in sports today, it’s difficult to imagine a time when those didn’t exist. The trailblazers who worked to close the opportunity gap between men and women in athletics deserve our gratitude. It’s because of them that so many student-athletes are benefiting today,” stated Mel Grau, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Life.
The success of women’s athletics at LMC isn’t just measured in wins and championships. Former LMC student-athlete and current Red Hawks softball coach Katie Scheuer sums it up best “From day one, I stress how important the degree is here. School comes first.”
This has been a guiding philosophy across all sports since the beginning, and women’s athletics have played a big role in LMC’s record of academic success. Since 1985, when Karla Huebner became the first LMC women’s NJCAA Academic All-American, LMC has had a long history of female student athletes who have earned this honor. This includes 47 in the past five seasons, nine of who are two-time Academic All-Americans.
NJCAA also recognizes Academic All-American Teams of the Year for a collective team GPA of 3.0 or greater. LMC softball, volleyball, and women’s soccer have earned that recognition three of the past six seasons, and women’s basketball twice during the same period.
In addition to LMC celebrating 50 years of women’s athletics, NJCAA is recognizing the 50th anniversary of its women's division. NJCAA became the first intercollegiate organization to establish a women's division in 1975 and currently hosts 30 national championships and invitationals.
For more information about LMC Red Hawks athletics, visit:
Website: redhawks.lakemichigancollege.
Facebook: @LakeMichiganCollegeAthletics
Instagram: @lakemichigancollegeathletics
Lake Michigan College
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Laura Kraklau Senior Marketing Strategist
- February 03, 2025
- (269) 923-9461
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