This weekend marked the 30th anniversary celebration of women’s sports at the University of Wisconsin. While the athletic department has been busy writing articles, conducting interviews and setting up celebrations in honor of the moment all season, Sunday afternoon was culmination of their hard work.

Originally set up as a way to honor the historic women who have graced this campus with their accomplishments, the celebration quickly overtook the Wisconsin versus Michigan women’s basketball game it was the background for.

“In regard to the 30-year reunion of women’s sports and as an old coach, I have a great appreciation for that, and for (former Wisconsin great) Barb Franke,” Michigan head coach Cheryl Burnett said after the game. “I want to commend [Franke] and her coaches and Wisconsin for this day.”

The festivities began even before the game began as Barb Franke, UW women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer, was honored in a half-court ceremony to open the contest. The crowd erupted in cheers and standing ovations as the former basketball standout turned in a circle, broad smile showing, waving an appreciative hand to the audience.

At the first media timeout of the contest, Wisconsin continued their celebration, honoring UW’s Judy Sweet. Sweet was a member of the Badminton squad in her time at Wisconsin but her most revealing accomplishments came after her days at UW.

Sweet, currently the Vice President for Championships for the NCAA, was the first woman to hold the office of President of the NCAA when she was elected to a two-year term in 1991. Sweet was also the first to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for the NCAA and was one of the first women to head a co-ed athletic department when she took over as the AD at the University of California San Diego.

Quite a list of accomplishments, but the celebration was far from over.

At the next media recess, the athletic department honored perhaps the most decorated athlete in UW, men’s or women’s, history — Suzy Favor-Hamilton. As the tiny runner strolled out onto the court the Kohl Center erupted in a chorus of cheers, entering a decibel level usually reserved for concerts or last season’s men’s basketball game against Marquette.

But as the announcer read through the list of her accomplishments — nine-time NCAA champion, 14-time All-American, 23-time Big Ten champion, 3-time Olympian, etc. — the crowd became even more raucous in honoring the timeless Badger great. And as the game wore on Favor-Hamilton did her best to thank the crowd.

The former distance runner could be seen in the stands conversing with fans, young and old alike, signing autographs for awestruck young ladies and whatever else she could to show her immense appreciation.

The next media timeout brought out the last individual honoree, Badger senior swimmer Carly Piper. By now Piper’s Olympic exploits have been well documented, not only on campus but around the world. And as she stood at half court on the Kohl Center floor, just as had the generations of ladies who so recently preceded her in that very same spot, she exuded the confidence and pride of generations of UW women’s athletes.

Halftime would prove the climax of the celebration, as hundreds of former athletes, coaches and administrators entered the Kohl Center floor to the bellows of the over 9000 fans in attendance. Slowly they made their way across the floor, divided into the decades in which they competed or coached.

The march began with the athletes who created their own club teams in a pre-Title IX era, and ended with likes of current Wisconsin head coaches Dean Duerst, coach of the women’s soccer team, and Todd Oehrlein, coach of the women’s golf team.

As the honorees lined the court, generations came together in the supreme homage to the University of Wisconsin, joining fans “with the singing of the time-honored ‘Varsity’.”

As I sat observing this spectacle, momentarily forgetting the work in front of me, a flood of emotions poured over me. As a member of this university I began to feel a sense of pride in these accomplishments, despite the fact that I am neither female nor participated in any of the endeavors.

But something else came over me as well. As I watched the generations of honorees singing in unison I stopped seeing the celebration as the 30th Anniversary of Women’s Sports, and saw it as just a celebration. This was a celebration of UW’s history, yet the event still needed to be given the moniker of the anniversary of women’s sports.

But the celebration got me thinking of all the amazing athletes, coaches and administrators in attendance. How common were these athletes’ names and their accomplishments to the average sports fan or even the campus fan?

Needless to say that thought ended quickly with the sharp realization that very few, if any, average fans knew the accomplishments of these individuals.

As an editor I understand the desires of my readers, and I know that women’s sports articles are not as popular. I also know that attendance at these events is lower than in their male counterparts, and I in no way expect this to change. Frankly, if I weren’t in my current position, I undoubtedly wouldn’t know who these women are.

But as it stands, I do know who they are and what they accomplished, and I am here to say they deserve some credit.

I am not trying to make anyone attend women’s sporting events. What I am saying is that we need to recognize and congratulate them on their accomplishments. Suzy Favor-Hamilton accomplished more in her college career than any current member of the Badger football team but still doesn’t get the same amount of recognition.

Appreciate, understand and accept the weight of these accomplishments, and don’t discount them because they came in the women’s ranks. These women showed their pride and their love for their alma mater just as much as any male athlete ever has. Now it’s time for their alma mater to return some of the love they deserve.