Jean Magrane
Indiana - Softball, Volleyball and Swimming - 1971-75
Back in the days when you could finish a sport in one season, it was nice to compete in different sports. Of course, you often had a different coach, who was usually a graduate student, every year.
In 1971, I started my freshman year playing our softball games on Woodlawn Field. I remember staying up late the night before to wash my uniform before we had Martha in the locker room of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) - what a luxury that became. If you qualified for nationals in swimming, it was usually over spring break and you had to pay your own way to the meet. Volleyball was played upstairs in the HPER building. Ball State was our rival, and they were very good. But when state tournament time came in 1974, we rallied to beat them and qualified for Midwest Regionals. It was a highlight for all of us.
Although there are not as many records or history recorded of this period, I guarantee we practiced just as long and hard as today's athletes - and we definitely had just as much fun.
