Many girls’ sports weren’t sanctioned until the 1970s, while most male athletics became “official” before the 1930s. That information alone gives many female athletes a new special appreciation for their activities, even if they’re not considered “official.”
Boys’ basketball has been an authorized sport since 1923; however, according to IGHSAU, girls have played in non-official tournaments since 1920. In 1926, after the Iowa State Teachers’ Convention tried to end the women’s portion, the Girls’ Sports Union was formed to continue the sport and to govern other female athletics. Even though women had been playing for years, they still sought to end it until the IGHSAU was formed. To this day, Iowa is the only state with separate governing bodies for boys’ and girls’ sports. This is due to the Iowa State Teachers’ Convention deciding that young women shouldn’t have state-sponsored sports, like basketball. This is now a fight female athletes no longer have to face, thanks to the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union.
While other female activities were introduced to Marion in the 70s and 80s, girls’ wrestling wasn’t considered a sanctioned sport until 2023, over 60 years after the boys’. While the young men had an official sport, the women received only a club.
Mike Manderscheid, Marion’s activities director, has been an advocate for all the sports at the high school. Manderscheid said, “I try to attend a lot, I attend roughly 95% of our activities.” he also attends most state events to support the team. While today most sports have boys’ and girls’ teams, the one exception is football. Manderscheid said, “About the only thing we would potentially add would be a girls-sanctioned flag football, which could be on the horizon.” A girls’ flag football team would give the high school the chance to participate in the “powder puff” trend, where girls play football, and boys cheer them on.
Volleyball is the only official sport at the high school that girls have and boys don’t. Rylee Boggess is a sophomore who plays volleyball, basketball, and soccer, and knows what it’s like to be in a female sport, and sees all the support that is given to the teams.“We all know we’re supported; most of the students know and talk to Manderscheid all the time.” Both boys’ and girls’ activities are supported, whether from the sideline performance teams such as cheer and poms or by Manderscheid and the student section. Boggess also feels the strong support from Manderscheid, as she said. “He kinda goes everywhere we go.” He plays a critical role in all activities, and his effort shows.
Female sports have come a very long way in Iowa, especially at Marion. With support from the staff, the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union, and fans, female-dominated activities have made tremendous growth. As sports expand, so do the crowds and those who love their teams. Every group needs that support, whether girls or boys, JV or varsity, and whether sanctioned or not.
