Hall of Fame
The 1980 women’s cross country team earned UW-Parkside’s first team national championship. The 1980 season was the first year women were a part of the NAIA. Up until that point, all women’s university sports programs were affiliated with a women’s-only governing body, which made UW-Parkside the NAIA’s first-ever women’s national champion! In addition, this was the first complete women’s cross country squad at UW-Parkside.
Led by individual national champion Wendy Burman and joined by All-Americans Kellie Benzow (3rd place), Sharon Keller (13th place) and Dona Driscoll (17th place), the Rangers won the title with a total of 52 points, well ahead of runner-up Emporia State, which totaled 100 points. The notable moment in UW-Parkside and NAIA history took place in Salina, Kansas, and was engineered by National Coach of the Year Bob Lawson.
The solid Ranger roster was solidified by Barb Osborne, Joanne Carey, Sandy Venne, Joann Carey and Linda Pfeilstifter.
