At Michigan Tech, any discussion on the history of women’s
sports must start with Cheryl DePuydt.
Forty years after Title IX was enacted, 38 years after Michigan
Tech began its women’s athletic programs and seven years
after DePuydt’s passing, her legacy lives on through 115
female student-athletes at Tech.
“Cheryl always had an appreciation for athletics and the
value it provided students in their development,” said
Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret. “Her role
in getting women’s athletics programs off the ground
demonstrated her commitment that athletics opportunities be given
to both men and women.”
DePuydt, a Marquette, Mich., native, graduated from Northern
Michigan in 1972 and came to Tech right away to teach skating. She
was the first female instructor in the Michigan Tech athletic
department.
When it came time to start women’s athletics in 1975,
DePuydt volunteered to become the coach for basketball and
volleyball in addition to her full load of classes.
Then-athletic director Ted Kearly didn’t hesitate calling on
DePuydt. “She was one of the most fantastic people I’ve
ever worked with,” he said. “She coached both teams,
and she didn’t receive extra pay for it. That was her
donation to the development of women’s athletics at Michigan
Tech.”
DePuydt coached the volleyball team six seasons (1975-80) and the
basketball team three seasons (1975-78). She built the foundation
for both teams to have success in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference in the years to come.
Her constant passion was figure skating. Thousands of Copper
Country youth learned to skate under DePuydt’s tutelage.
“She had so much patience,” added Kearly. “She
had beginning classes, and some of these kids had never put on
skates before. If they were willing to work, she’d be willing
to help them,” added Kearly.
DePuydt received Michigan Tech’s Distinguished Teaching
Award in 1982. She was honored statewide for her teaching in 1991,
and was named chair of Tech’s Department of Physical
Education in 1995.
She later received the Clair M. Donovan Award for outstanding
service.
With her position in the physical education department, DePuydt
remained a role model for student-athletes and co-workers
alike.
“Cheryl was my first female mentor in athletics,” said
Sanregret. “She influenced me in understanding that Title IX
wasn’t about men or women. It was about giving all of our
student-athletes a positive, meaningful, educational experience. It
wasn’t a line drawn in the sand between men and women, but
cooperation and mutual respect between all of our programs to make
them all better.”
DePuydt continued to hold the role of PE department chair until
her passing in 2005 following a battle with cancer.
She will forever be remembered for her positive contributions to
Michigan Tech and women’s athletics.
“Cheryl helped create a culture of doing things the right
way and giving equality to women’s sports,” said
Sanregret. “Her commitment, values, ethics and morals are
still present in our athletic teams today.”
--Adapted from a story printed in Tech Today, Sept. 27, 2005.


May 1, 2013
GVSU Ranked 9th in NFCA Coaches Poll










April 18, 2013
Former NMU Athletic Director Ken Godfrey Passes Away






April 10, 2013
GVSU Ranked 12th in NFCA Coaches Poll







April 3, 2013
GVSU Ranked 12th in NFCA Coaches Poll





March 27, 2013
GLIAC Receives Membership Grant From NCAA







March 22, 2013
MTU's Haidar Named To The Daktronics All-America First Team

March 20, 2013
GVSU Ranked 17th in NFCA Coaches Poll





March 18, 2013
USTFCCCA Program of the Year Races Heating Up



March 13, 2013
GVSU Ranked 18th in NFCA Coaches Poll




March 5, 2013
Title IX Initiatives at Tiffin University

March 5, 2013
Senior Bowl Announces Team Ohio



March 2, 2013
2013 GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament Field Set

March 2, 2013
2013 GLIAC Women's Basketball Tournament Field Set

March 1, 2013
Northern Michigan Launches New Athletics Website






February 28, 2013
WBCA announces the 2013 ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ class


February 27, 2013
Tiffin University raised $3500 toward the Kay Yow Cancer Fund

















February 15, 2013
Ohio vs. Michigan College Football Senior Bowl Quarterbacks Announced

February 14, 2013
Northwood University Basketball hosts Breast Cancer Awareness Day


February 13, 2013
Lake Erie's Matt Vandermeer Named GLIAC Wrestling "Athlete of the Week"

February 12, 2013
SVSU Board Approves Major Renovations and Upgrades to Ryder Center


February 11, 2013
Title IX Through Barb’s Eyes



February 10, 2013
Notre Dame College Claims 2013 GLIAC Wrestling Championship




February 6, 2013
2013 GLIAC Football Signing Day Releases





February 6, 2013
Ashland's Bryson Hall Named GLIAC Wrestling "Athlete of the Week"




January 31, 2013
GVSU Begins 2013 Tied for 24th in NFCA Coaches Poll

January 30, 2013
Tiffin's Darby Roggow to Lead GLIAC Select Team Overseas







January 29, 2013
Notre Dame's Joey Davis Named GLIAC Wrestling "Athlete of the Week"



January 23, 2013
Findlay's Mason True Named GLIAC Wrestling "Athlete of the Week"



January 22, 2013
SVSU's Wassermann Tabbed NSCAA DII "Coach of the Year"



January 17, 2013
Northern Michigan Army ROTC cadet will pursue NFL dream






January 9, 2013
GLIAC Announces Fall 2012 Commissioner's Award Recipients





January 8, 2013
Tiffin vs. Findlay is more than just a conference match-up




December 21, 2012
Walsh Names Ted Karras Jr., Football Coach




December 18, 2012
SVSU Women's Basketball a Springboard to Future Success



December 18, 2012
Saginaw Valley's Zach Myers Named NSCAA National "Player of the Year"


December 17, 2012
Schileru’s Splash Still Resonates, 40 Years Later


December 17, 2012
AU's Labry Named GLIAC Wrestling "Athlete of the Week"




December 11, 2012
GLIAC Fall All-Academic & All-Academic Excellence Teams Announced

December 10, 2012
Ohio Dominican's Feak a Pioneer in Women's Athletics

December 10, 2012
Ashland's Housewright Named To AFCA All-America Team




December 6, 2012
Three GLIAC Athlete's Named to the NSCAA D-II All-America Team




December 3, 2012
Tech's Plitzuweit Competitive Fire Still Burning













November 19, 2012
Ashland’s Plice Used Title IX to Create Thriving Career

November 19, 2012
Ashland's Housewright One of Eight Harlon Hill Finalists



November 18, 2012
GVSU Advances to NCAA D-II Women's Soccer Final Four on Penalty Kicks

November 16, 2012
Savage Overtime Goal Sends Cardinals to NCAA DII Quarterfinals


November 13, 2012
Walsh University's Jim Dennison to Retire



November 12, 2012
Gloria Blanks A True Pioneer For Malone Women’s Basketball



November 9, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 11




November 5, 2012
Celebrating Title IX, A Look at NMU Volleyball in the 1990s





November 1, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 10

November 1, 2012
Tiffin Hires Swimming and Diving Coach

October 31, 2012
2012-13 GLIAC Men's Basketball Season Preview

October 31, 2012
2012-13 GLIAC Women's Basketball Season Preview


October 29, 2012
Ferris State Volleyball Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Title IX


October 28, 2012
2012 GLIAC Men's Soccer Tournament Field Set

October 25, 2012
Northwood Launches New Athletics Website

October 25, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 9





October 20, 2012
GVSU Claims 2012 GLIAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships

October 19, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 8




October 15, 2012
Walsh University Celebrates Title IX; Marcy Harper


October 12, 2012
GLIAC Commissioner to Speak at Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon


October 11, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 7




October 4, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 6






September 27, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 5



September 25, 2012
Tiffin University Adds Swimming and Diving




September 24, 2012
Notre Dame's Erik Beattie Named GLIAC Men's Soccer "Athlete of the Week"

September 22, 2012
Hillsdale College Football Team Wins 600th Game in Program History

September 20, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 4



September 17, 2012
Findlay's Clay Belton Named GLIAC Football "Offensive Player of the Week"

September 13, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 3


September 12, 2012
Former Wayne State Standout Joique Bell Scores First NFL Touchdown



September 10, 2012
Findlay's Mark Sleasman Named GLIAC Men's Soccer "Athlete of the Week"

September 7, 2012
Former Ashland Standout Pendleton To Make NFL Debut Sunday

September 6, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 2



August 30, 2012
GLIAC Football Preview Notes - Week 1

August 30, 2012
Tiffin Names Erica Brown New Women's Lacrosse Coach

August 29, 2012
LSSU Athletics Announces Staff Changes for 2012-13

August 29, 2012
Michigan Tech Names 2012 Sports Hall of Fame Class




August 15, 2012
The 2012 GLIAC Football Media Day Website Launches


August 14, 2012
The 2012 GLIAC Football Media Day Website To Launch on Wednesday


August 9, 2012
LSSU Names Eggers Interim Head Women’s Basketball Coach

August 8, 2012
New FerrisStateBulldogs.com Officially Launches


August 6, 2012
Michigan Tech's Men's Basketball Team Headed to Italy

August 3, 2012
NORTHWOOD ANNOUNCES SEVENTH ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS


July 27, 2012
Barnes Retires As NMU Track and Field Coach

July 26, 2012
Next Stop on the Kruger Road Show - London



July 17, 2012
Former GLIAC Quarterback Shines in Poland
