Lake Michigan College is marking 50 years of women’s athletics this week.

will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Wednesday, remembering the launch of its own women’s athletics program during the 1974-1975 season.

The college says women’s sports began on campus with volleyball and basketball, soon followed by softball introduced as a club sport and elevated to intercollegiate competition two years later during the 1976-1977 season.

Women’s athletics at LMC started under the leadership of three-sport coach Liz Miller, who later became the college’s athletic director. The college says the program flourished under Miller’s leadership as she led the volleyball squad to two national tournament appearances while the softball program became a national powerhouse.

Women’s soccer was added at LMC added in 2012, while women’s cross country was added in 2022.

The Women’s Sports Foundation is planning events around the country to mark National Girls and Women in Sports Day this week.