Women's athletics
The history of women's athletics
Bemidji State University has always been a trailblazer within the world of women's athletics. BSU's proud history predates not only Title IX by half a century but also predates the Super Bowl, the NBA and World War II.
The founders
BSU's three official founders of women's athletics – Marjory Beck, Ruth Howe and Betsy McDowell – brought the Beavers to regional and national relevance well before the benefit of an equal playing field.
Howe and McDowell sat down with us in 2019 to discuss Bemidji State's 50th anniversary of intercollegiate women's athletics.
