The following is a press release from the USFA. When I was in college, one of our womens team's toughest opponents was always Temple. Nikki runs a great program and I'm very happy to see her receive this honor.
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On October 20, one of fencing's long standing collegiate coaches who has had
a positive impact on numerous women fencers was honored by the Women's
Sports Foundation. Nikki Franke, fencing coach at Temple University was
inducted into the WSF International Hall of Fame.
WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION
Hall of Fame
Description
Founded in 1980, the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame recognizes
female athletes and coaches who have made history in women's sports.
Athletes from around the world are selected based on achievements,
breakthroughs, innovative style and ongoing commitment to the development of
women's sports.
The athletes are segmented into two categories; Pioneer category for
pre-1960 athletic achievements and the Contemporary category for post-1960
achievements. To be eligible for nomination, athletes must be retired from
her sport for at least five years.
In 1990, the Hall of Fame introduced a Coach category. To be eligible for
nomination, a woman must have coached in the United States and have at least
10 years of coaching experience. A nominee is evaluated on her: win-loss
record, impact on the style of play or sport, number of years in coaching,
number of outstanding athletes coached, record of mentoring and community
service. There are 98 members inducted into the Hall of Fame. Inductees
include Mildred "Babe" Didrikson - Zaharias, Althea Gibson, Billie Jean
King, Wilma Rudolph, Flo Hyman and Mary Lou Retton. Pat Head Summit, Sharron
Backus, Nell Jackson, Tara Van Derveer and Constance Applebee are members of
the coach category.
The International Women's Sports Hall of Fame's Pioneer category recognizes
individuals who have broken barriers in women's sports before the help of
Title IX.
The inductee into the Hall of Fame for coaching is the head of Temple
University's fencing team, Nikki Tomlinson Franke. Entering her 31st year of
coaching at Temple, Franke has become one of the most decorated coaches in
the history of fencing. A veteran of two Olympic Games and coach of the 1992
NCAA national championship team, she is the only African-American woman to
coach an NCAA Division I fencing team.
For More Information Please Contact:
Cindy Bent
US Fencing Media Relations
614.284.4605 *
USFencingMedia@earthlink.net www.USFencing.org
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