WIAA & Superior Schools To Be Honored During the State Softball Tournament
In addition to being the 200th birthday of this country, 1976 was a watershed year for female athletes in Wisconsin. That half-century landmark is being celebrated across the state as the year a foothold toward equity in women’s sports was made.
That was the year the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) – the private, non-profit regulatory body that oversees, organizes and regulates interscholastic athletics for public and nonpublic high schools – allowed girls sports teams to face-off in state competitions, same as the boys.
The Superior High Spartans were one of four teams to make it to the state tournament that historic inaugural year.
On June 11, during the 2 p.m. Division 4 game at the Goodman Softball Complex on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, those Spartans will take the field one more time to be recognized for their pioneering contribution to the sport.
Team members at the May 21 celebration at Superior High School.
The School District of Superior is proud to honor the original 15 players who went 14-1 in the regular season to claim their historic spot in the 1976 WIAA State Softball Tournament. The team was made up of:
● Wendy (Lach) Benton
● Cora (Roy) Liebaert
● Mary Jo “Moe” Smith-Miller
● Janet (Cismoski) Martens
● Kathy (Berg) Johnson
● Debbi Ruhnke
● Lee (Warnack) Mueller
● Barb (Berg) Swanson
● Patty (Meysmen) Lier
● Carol Hennessy
● Jeanne Vicklum
● Shaun (Farmer) Christiansen
● Diane Heytens
● Lynn Hermondson
● Kathy (Nelson) Swanson
● Head Coach John Rickstorm
● Assistant coach – Kathy (McGinns) Lisdahl
● Manager Jeff Ohvall
● Pitching Coach Butcher Odlevak
● Catching Coach Mark O’Brien
“At the end of the movie A League of Their Own, the team recognized each other—it feels very similar to that, ” said Kathy (Berg) Johnson. “It’s been a lot of fun. I just feel really grateful. I get to tell my grandkids, ‘See, I was a real athlete!’”
Congratulations to the SSHS softball team on paving the way for girls athletics and their dedication to the sport.
Check out the fascinating celebration ceremony video from May 21, 2026 at Superior High School, where team members talk about hat historic first season. One member comments that despite having no support from parents or fans, the girls played their hearts out for love of the game.
For more information on the WIAA softball tournament, head to the WIAA website.
