During this weekends’ 2010 Homecoming Celebration, Kent State will promote the prominent history of its women’s sports teams through the festivities at homecoming weekend.

“Celebrating a Century of Kent State Women’s Athletics” will have various events, including a panel of six women formerly affiliated with the Kent State student athletes that will hold a question-and-answer session.

The “Lessons from Legends” panel will meet in the Governance Chambers in the Student Center Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Members of the panel will share stories of college and competition, which has shaped their personal life and professional careers.

The “Lessons from Legends” panel includes:

Kathy (Carroll) Beals, 1994 – Moderator

Kent State connection: Women’s basketball letter winner

Beal, who was a four-year starter and captain on the women’s basketball team from 1990-94, received recognition through the Janet Bachna Award, 1000-point club membership an All-Mid-American Conference honorable mention two years straight, Gatorade Scholar Athlete of the Week and Olive Garden All-Academic Team.

Dr. Fay (Reifsnyder) Biles, 1956

Kent State connection: Field hockey and lacrosse coach, 1959-72

Between 1959 and 1972, Biles served as a head coach of the field hockey and lacrosse teams. While coaching the field hockey team from 1958 to 1964, the team lost only once. She was the winningest Kent State coach of the time.

Joanne (Cassel) Chaney, 1964

Kent State connection: Field hockey and women’s basketball player

Chaney competed on both the field hockey and basketball teams from 1961-63. Following her career as a collegiate athlete, Chaney spent 13 years in city softball as a coach, 10 years as a high school basketball coach and four years as a high school varsity soccer coach.

Lorie (Postlethwaite) Coll, 1951

Kent State connection: Synchronized swimming, women’s basketball, volleyball, softball and archery participant

Coll competed in all five sports in each of her four years at Kent State. Coll served on the Blue and Gold Board of Directors for 13 years. During that time she was recognized as the Fundraising Rookie of the Year, MVP of the Fund Drive, and in 1994 she was the first and only woman president of the organization.

Dr. Deborah (Birdwell) Moore, 1974

Kent State connection: Gymnastics, field hockey, swimming and cheerleading participant

After competing in four collegiate sports, Moore earned Master’s and doctoral degrees from The Ohio State University. She has taught for 22 years, which included teaching at high schools and a number of universities.

Christine Plonsky, 1979

Kent State connection: Women’s basketball letter winner, 1975-78

Plonsky served as a team captain during her 1977 season, then after completing her playing career, Plonsky served as a student employee in the Sports Information Office for three years. Now, she is the Director of Women’s Athletics and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Men’s and Women’s Athletics External Services at The University of Texas.

Other events scheduled for the weekend include:

• The dedication of the Kent State Soccer Field as Zoeller Field today at 2:45 p.m.
• The women’s basketball alumnae game at the M.A.C. Center tomorrow at 10 a.m.
• “Celebrating a Century of Kent State Women’s Athletics” luncheon (Saturday, 1 p.m.) where the university will honor pre-Title IX women’s athletes with a varsity letter.
• The softball alumnae game and 1990 World Series Team Reunion at the Diamond at Dix at 11 a.m.

Contact Cody Erbacher at [email protected].