
Century of School Sports: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 4, 2025
There has long been a mighty sense of pride at the MHSAA for its Women In Sports Leadership Conference – which remains the nation’s first, largest and longest-serving event promoting the roles of females in athletics.
The event has continued to grow tremendously since the first group of 130 administrators, coaches, high school and college students assembled in Lansing in 1989. It’s easy to argue as well that the WISL Conference has become even more impactful over its 26 editions, the most recent beginning a year ago today with the theme “Share the Vision.”
Nearly 800 participants – mostly female high school student-athletes – attended last year’s two-day event, where they were able to engage in several of 36 workshops and learn from a group of 45 speakers with expertise in a wide variety of sports-related fields. The WISL Conference has welcomed Olympians, leaders in Michigan government and Hall of Fame coaches at all levels of athletics among several who have put their voices to the goals of encouraging women and growing their presence at all levels of sport.
Attracting women back to coaching and officiating was the mission of the first WISL Conference – percentages of both had fallen dramatically since the dawn of Title IX nearly two decades prior had led to rapid growth in athletic competitive opportunities for females at various levels. The first WISL events were organized by MHSAA assistant director Suzanne Martin, under the leadership as well of then-executive director Jack Roberts, until Martin retired in December 2002. Fun fact: The first Michigan legislative resolution recognizing Feb. 5 as Girls and Women In Sports Day statewide (in addition to nationally) was presented during the 1990 WISL Conference.
Kathy Vruggink Westdorp took over the WISL program upon joining the MHSAA staff as assistant director during the 2003-04 school year after more than two decades as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Grand Rapids area. Under her leadership, WISL has continued to build and thrive – it’s currently an every-other-year event, generally hosted during the first weekend in February although the 25th WISL took place during October 2022 as part of the culmination of the MHSAA’s year-long celebration of “Title IX at 50.” Topics covered still include coaching and teaching and learning leadership, but also sports nutrition and performance, empowerment and goal-setting, and several more areas of interest.
In 1990, the MHSAA also awarded its first of now 38 Women In Sports Leadership Awards, recognizing pioneers who have elevated athletics in Michigan as pioneers, advocates, voices and leaders, particularly at the interscholastic level. The 39th Women In Sports Leadership Award winner will be announced later this month.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
(MHSAA file photos.)

This Week in High School Sports: 2/5/25
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
February 5, 2025
In this week's edition, we detail ways to watch MHSAA Tournament competition this winter, award Game Balls to high achievers in basketball and hockey, and highlight the growth of girls sports in Michigan.
The 5-minute program each week includes feature stories from MHSAA.com or network affiliates, along with "Be the Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating.
"This Week in High School Sports" is powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).
Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.
Previous 2024-25 Editions
Jan. 29: 2024-25 Scholar-Athlete Award finalists, 1958 Hall of Fame matchup - Listen
Jan. 22: Salem legend Dena Head, MHSAA's Sam Davis selected to Wrestling Hall of Fame - Listen
Jan. 15: MHSAA.com history, officials recruitment news - Listen
Jan. 8: MHSAA Basketball Tournament schedule, 2023-24 attendance report - Listen
Dec. 18: Ice Hockey season underway, Representative Council presidential succession - Listen
Dec. 11: 2024-25 MHSAA Winter Tournament schedule, inaugural girls wrestling team title - Listen
Dec. 4: 11-Player Football Finals review - Listen
Nov. 27: 8-Player Football Finals review, 1975 Football Finals recollection - Listen
Nov. 20: 8-Player Football Finals history, Southwest 10 Conference Legacy officials - Listen
Nov. 13: "Flashback 100" series, flashback to Escanaba's football championship - Listen
Nov. 6: Boys Soccer Finals, Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals review - Listen
Oct. 30: 2024 Football Playoffs, Lower Peninsula Boys Tennis Finals review - Listen
Oct. 23: Lower Peninsula Girls Golf Finals, Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals reviews - Listen
Oct. 16: MHSAA Football Playoffs primer, MHSAA/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete Awards - Listen
Oct. 9: National High School Hall of Fame, Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals - Listen
Oct. 2: MHSAA record book, 2024 Boys Soccer Tournament schedule - Listen
Sept. 25: NFHS Network streaming, DeWitt's high-scoring football matchup - Listen
Sept. 18: Cheboygan broadcaster Mike Grisdale, Michigan's national participation ranking - Listen
Sept. 11: MHSAA baseball stars in MLB, 2024 Boys Soccer Tournament - Listen
Sept. 5: Highlighting MHSAA record setters, 50th Football Playoffs - Listen
Aug. 28: MHSAA Summer Olympians, "Century of School Sports" celebration - Listen