50 Years Strong Honoring Women’s Athletics Trailblazers

Westmont celebrated 50 years of women’s athletics during Homecoming weekend, drawing what may have been the largest gathering of athletic alumnae and current student-athletes in college history. The weekend’s sport-specific events culminated in a dinner honoring women’s athletics trailblazers and legacy builders, attended by about 200 guests and 125 current female student-athletes Oct. 18 at Montecito Covenant Church.

“It has felt magical to be back here with the nostalgia and the energy,” said Karin Sullivan (soccer, 2001-03), a two-time All-American and NAIA Player of the Year. “It feels like coming home.”

Kirsten Moore, head coach of women’s basketball since 2004, served as master of ceremonies for an evening that brought together Warriors from every generation.

Part of the evening’s festivities included current women’s basketball player Molly Garnand ‘27 interviewing Kathy (Perkins) McGuigan '77, who played on Westmont’s first women’s volleyball and basketball teams beginning in 1973. McGuigan recalled some challenges of those early teams, including having to provide their own uniforms, no athletic trainers, no money for meals and sleeping on the gym floor at away tournaments.

“We got pushback from students,” McGuigan said. “They just weren’t ready. There was a lot of turmoil in society, and they weren’t ready to suddenly see women’s sports. The men actually laughed at us and thought, ‘Why are you here and what are you doing?’ Some women were scornful because we were running around in sweats and shorts and were sweaty. We’d have to run back up to the dorm, Page Hall, put on a dress, go to chapel, then change again for our next class.”

Garnand asked McGuigan how those challenges helped shape her character. “Athletics is like a mini arena for life,” she said. “Everything good and bad is right there in the cauldron. You have to deal with it and work with others. You experience the highest highs—the togetherness of your team—and the lowest lows, from unfair officiating to injuries or things beyond your control.

“That carries into real life. You don’t always expect what hits you. Being resilient and bouncing back from disappointment is rare today. Sports teach you to handle the ups and downs—to stay steady in the storm.”

“Athletics is like a mini arena for life. Everything good and bad is right there in the cauldron. You have to deal with it and work with other people. You have the highest of highs with the togetherness of your team, but the lowest of lows when you get unfair officiating or injured, or all kinds of things you can’t predict and can’t do anything about. You have to keep an even keel in the storms.”

Lauren (McCoy) Shafer '18 (basketball, 2014-18), a two-time All-American and GSAC Player of the Year, reflected on her time at Westmont and coming to faith through basketball. “When I look at the story of my life I wonder how else would that have happened,” she said. “He could have found a way, but this is the way He chose.

“Putting in the effort and work, being intentional and choosing to do hard things the Westmont Warrior way pays dividends and has made me a better person.”

Sandra Asimos ’88 (soccer, 1984–87), the 1985 NAIA Player of the Year and a three-time All-American, chose Westmont for its Christian environment and close-knit community. She still holds program records for career goals (79) and assists (34) and later founded the women’s soccer program at Sacramento State, where she served as head coach from 1994–2001.

She praised two mentors, kinesiology professor Crystal (Jorden) Mutz and coach J.P. Verhees ‘75.  “Crystal Jorden was an outstanding teacher who prepared me with the tools to be successful in teaching at all levels,” Asimos said. “I enjoyed coach J.P.’s dedication to soccer, skills and knowledge, as well as his passion for the game.”

Kathy (Moyer) LeSage ’85 played tennis at Westmont from 1984–86, earning All-American honors before coaching the team for 28 years (1986–2013). Her squads captured 12 conference championships and qualified for 20 NAIA National Tournaments.

“When I think about the combination of being a player and a coach, that’s half my life spent at Westmont,” LeSage said. “It was the best part—for my growth and development as a Christian, I give all the credit to God and to Westmont for guiding me. I miss those relationships the most.”

A more recent graduate that attended the event was Patty Kerman ‘21 (volleyball, 2017-2021), who was there with her teammates Libby Dahlberg ‘19 (2015-18) and Cassidy Rae ’19 (2016-19).

“My Westmont experience on such a great stretch of volleyball teams makes me feel like I am a better person now,” said Kerman “I had amazing teammates that taught me what it meant to be a team. The most impactful time was when I was out with an ACL knee injury my sophomore year. Feeling the love and support from all my teammates while healing and going through the recovery process showed me so much of how to be loving, how to be caring, and how to take care of your people.

“Libby was my mentor my freshman year when she was a junior. She took me under her wing and made sure I was doing well and integrating with the other players on the team.

“I met Cassidy Rea at the prospect camp in 2015. She was going into her senior year of high school and I was going into my junior year. It worked out that we became teammates and best of friends – someone I could really rely on.

“Coaches Patti Cook and Ruth McGolpin are two fantastic people to play for. It felt so encouraging playing for them because they wanted to pull out the best in you as a player. I remember leaving practice every day satisfied because we worked hard that day.”

Twin sisters Karin ’04 and Kristi Sullivan ‘04 were both two-time All-Americans and NAIA Player of the Year with Westmont women’s soccer. Kristi said overcoming adversity and jelling together as a team were the most important topics during her time as a student-athlete. “As a team, you face so much,” she said. “The bond that it creates for players is so strong. All this time later and you just pick up where you left off with these people you struggled with and sweat with. It means a lot.”

Karin said that it’s impossible to duplicate the strong bonds you develop with teammates. “Determination and grit and fight and discipline, working really hard for one common goal, being part of a team—I have never really had something that came close to that experience — and never will,” she said.  

Kristi said that Homecoming was a special time to meet new people and learn about their awards and accomplishments. “Hearing Perkins’ stories about how sports started at Westmont was really cool,” she said. “I was able to see how my little part in the story connected to the greater history and to those who are still competing and winning today. It was really special to feel a part of that.”

The weekend also recognized members of Westmont’s first women’s team, the 1973 volleyball team, who received Trailblazer Medals before Friday night’s match in honor of their pioneering spirit: Shelley (Bourland) Ekstrom ’77, Jayne Presnell ’78, Cindy (Vanderdussen) Hardeman ’78, and Kathy (Perkins) McGuigan ’77.

In addition, Westmont honored 50 Legacy Builders representing the dedication, leadership, and excellence of women’s teams over the past five decades.