Swimming World Presents “Pioneers of Title IX: The Prohibition of Sex Discrimination in Educational Programs”

Sandra Bucha with Kinsella Pioneers of Title IX - Swimming World August 2019 1000x720
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Pioneers of Title IX: The Prohibition of Sex Discrimination in Educational Programs

By Bruce Wigo

As Swimming World presents this year’s Female High School Swimmer of the Year, we take a look back to the years when there were only isolated opportunities for girls to swim while in high school. We also remember two pioneers who helped make swimming a high school sport for women: Donna de Varona and Sandra Bucha.

For most of history, at least in Europe, swimming was like all other forms of physical exercise: in the realm of the man’s world.

But as women began to travel in great numbers by water, it was discovered that women drowned in disproportionate numbers to men when accidents happened. Thus, swimming was recognized as being more than a sport, and women started exerting their right to swim so they could save themselves when necessary.

Once women were allowed to learn to swim for safety, some also wanted to participate in swimming as a sport—like the men. While the Amateur Athletic Union recognized a national swimming championship for men in 1876, women would have to wait until 1916 to crown national champions.

The first college to offer swimming was the University of Pennsylvania in 1897. Others followed, and within a few years, leagues were being formed and the first intercollegiate championships were held—for men. In 1937, the NCAA officially recognized men’s swimming as a championship sport. From 1917 through 1980, an intercollegiate and/or NCAA swimming guide was published that included all the results from high school, junior college and college meets—again, for boys and men.

While the USA was producing many of the finest women swimmers in the world, it was through AAU clubs, not from school programs. In fact, until the passage of the landmark legislation of 1972, known as Title IX, there were very few high schools that offered competitive sports programs. If girls sports programs did exist, they were mostly “non-competitive” in nature…and state championships for them were not even considered.

Of course, there were exceptions. The state of Florida began hosting a high school swimming championship for girls in 1920, although very few schools participated due to the dearth of pools.

BEGINNINGS OF TITLE IX
The gender equity discussion took a major leap forward with the publication of the July 25-Aug. 1, 1964 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. On the cover were the two American stars of the 1964 Olympic Games, Donna de Varona and Don Schollander. Both had attended Santa Clara High School in California. Both swam for legendary Coach George Haines and the Santa Clara Swim Club. Haines was also the coach of the high school, but only Schollander swam for the school since there wasn’t a girls’ team…

To access the full article about the female pioneers of Title IX,
check out the full July 2019 issue of Swimming World Magazine, available now!

Swimming World August 2019 Cover Torri Huske

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FEATURES

016 EXPLOSIVELY FAST…AND ONLY A SOPHOMORE
by Dan D’Addona
Torri Huske of Yorktown High School in Arlington, Va., is a national high school record holder, the fastest female this past high school season in two individual events and Swimming World’s Female High School Swimmer of the Year. And she still has two more years remaining of high school!

018 SHARING THE SAME PATH TO SUCCESS
by David Rieder
Swimmers Carson Foster and Luca Urlando: both are high school juniors…both were U.S. teammates and four-time gold medalists at the 2018 Junior Pan Pacs in Fiji…and both were named as Swimming World’s Male High School Co-Swimmers of the Year. And they also share the Olympic dream of competing next year in Tokyo!

022 THE BATTLE FOR FIRST
by Dan D’Addona and David Rieder
Not only did this year’s top high school swimmers turn in impressive performances, but six of the top eight will be returning next season, providing optimism for another year of fast swimming.

024 TOP HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITS
by Chandler Brandes
Swimming World takes a look at the swimmers it considers to be the 10 best high school recruits (both male and female) from the Class of 2019 and where they’ll be attending college in the fall.

027 HISTORY IS ON THEIR SIDE
by David Rieder
Back before Mack Horton, Mireia Belmonte, Tyler Clary, Kyle Chalmers and Caeleb Dressel became Olympic gold medalists, they were World Junior champions. Who will emerge from the 2019 FINA World Junior Championships and follow the same path as many of those before them?

029 PIONEERS OF TITLE IX
by Bruce Wigo
Swimming World takes a look back to the years when there were only isolated opportunities for girls to swim while in high school. We also remember two pioneers who helped make swimming a high school sport for women: Donna de Varona and Sandra Bucha.

032 NUTRITION: AROUND THE TABLE WITH MICHIGAN LAKESHORE AQUATICS (Part 3)
by Dan D’Addona and Dawn Weatherwax

COACHING

010 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: JERRY HOLTREY
by Michael J. Stott

014 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: THE PREVALENCE OF SHOULDER PROBLEMS IN SWIMMING
by Rod Havriluk
Shoulder injuries are as prevalent now as they were 40 years ago. This is especially troubling given what we know about technique adjustments to prevent shoulder injury. To decrease the number of shoulder problems, it is vital that injury management strategies emphasize prevention and not just provide treatment.

036 SPECIAL SETS: LISA BRATTON—WOMAN AT WORK
by Michael J. Stott
Coaches preach that swimming is a process, a journey honed by dedication and perseverance. Presenting Exhibit No. 1: professional swimmer Lisa Bratton.

038 TRAINING PARTNERS
by Michael J. Stott
While pool and open water practice may seem dissimilar, the two are actually remarkably complementary. Open water offers a host of transferable skills, including variety, aerobic benefit and strategic training.

041 Q&A WITH COACH RICK ROWLAND
by Michael J. Stott

042 HOW THEY TRAIN SCOTT TOLMAN
by Michael J. Stott

TRAINING

013 DRYSIDE TRAINING: CHAMPIONSHIP SPEED
by J.R. Rosania

JUNIOR SWIMMER

034 GOLDMINDS: WE, NOT ME!
by Wayne Goldsmith
What makes swimming teams great? It’s the power of selflessness.

045 UP & COMERS: ERIN GEMMELL
by Shoshanna Rutemiller

COLUMNS

008 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT

009 BEYOND THE YARDS

031 DID YOU KNOW? CLARE DENNIS

044 HASTY HIGH POINTERS

046 GUTTER TALK

048 PARTING SHOT

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