ORONO, Maine -- The enactment of Title IX in 1972 helped open the door for the proliferation of women's athletics at the University of Maine and across the country.
It wasn't until 1975 that UMaine began awarding athletic scholarships for either gender, but that dynamic helped open the door for a new era of Black Bear women's sports.
During the 1977-78 season, the UMaine women's swimming and diving squad coached by Jeff Wren seized upon that early momentum and put the program on a path to sustained success.
The Black Bears built unbreakable bonds on a close-knit team whose members, regardless of their contributions, were pulling for each other in every way.
UMaine, which competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, compiled a 10-0 dual-meet record. They captured the first of three consecutive New England titles, an accomplishment that helped land them in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
"This was the one that really got it started," Wren said of the team that sparked a decade during which UMaine won six New England crowns and finished second four times.
"They cemented us as one of the enviable programs in the region," he said.
The athletes could sense that the 1977-78 team was special.
"The team camaraderie was second to none and we all wanted only the best for each of our teammates," said Julie Woodcock Shaw, who was a dominating performer on the team.
Woodcock, who Wren said was the school's first female scholarship athlete, in 1986 became the first woman inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame. She never lost a race in four years.
At the 1978 New Englands, the premier college meet in the region featuring swimmers and divers from 40 schools, Woodcock won five individual events: the 100-yard individual medley (1 minute, 1.43 seconds) and 200 IM (2:13.13), the 200 freestyle (1:57.53), the 400 IM (4:39.14) and the 500 free (5:09.60).
She also swam on two first-place relays, teaming with freshmen Beth Carone Prelgovisk and Anne Griswold and sophomore Jill Puzas Martin on the 400 medley relay (a New England record at 4:09.45) and joined Carone, Linda LaRue and Anne Lucey to win the 800 free relay (8:11.4).
The 100 IM, 400 IM and 500 free swims set New England records.
"She was the start of the women's team really attracting attention in the region," Wren said.
"She was wonderful," said Carone, a 2022 Hall of Fame inductee. "It was fun to watch her race."
Woodcock's humble demeanor was one example of why the squad was so tight-knit.
"She was inclusive of everybody," Carone said. "She made everyone feel important and feel accepted."
The Black Bears' other individual champion at the New Englands was Puzas, who claimed the 200 breaststroke in 2:29.44. She also placed second in the 400 IM.
Carone was the runner-up in the 50 breaststroke and the 100 IM, while divers Patti Ward and Tricia Redden Haines finished third and sixth, respectively, in the one-meter event.
Other UMaine scorers included Lucey (10th, 500 free), Mia Sette (11th, 100 IM), Janice Wight Ferguson (12th, diving), Dee Dee Daniels Pramer (13th, 500 free) and LaRue (16th, 100 IM).
Wren believes that the emotional and inspirational heart of that team was its freshman class.
"They brought with them this energy and team spirit that was pervasive," Wren said. "They had a litany of cheers that they would rehearse, all kinds of stuff. That's what really did it."
Carone said the freshmen's approach was to contribute to the team's success however it could.
"I definitely think we infused a little bit of excitement and a little bit of talent that was complementary to what he [Wren] already had," she said.
The group created Maine swimming t-shirts. On the back, each had a single letter. When team members stood in a line, the shirts spelled, "Maine We've Got It All Together."
Independently, the mother of team captain Louanne Dodge ordered large pins for everyone that read: "At Maine We've Got It All."
"Spirit was very important to them," Wren said.
Team members praised Wren as the linchpin. He could teach, motivate and relate to them.
"He would do extra things. You would now call it team-building," Puzas said. "He'd take us all whitewater kayaking on wild rivers in our off time and stuff. It really helped build cohesiveness."
Wren, who had never been a competitive swimmer, embraced learning to teach, coach and build relationships.
"Jeff was definitely the catalyst," Carone said. "He had a positive attitude and treated us very respectfully."
When the team's Hall of Fame selection was announced, Wren sent hand-written, personalized letters to each team member.
"I said, 'I remember this about you,' " Wren said. "I think that really resonated with a lot of them."
Leadership was another hallmark of the 1977-78 team. Dodge was the captain for the second of three straight seasons and Carone lauded senior Val Sambrook Hudspath as being an important presence.
Team members included Debora Lander, Jackie Long Starrak, Brenda McMackin, Denise Small Howell, Laura Blumenstock Branch, Charmian Cutler, Leigh Hutchinson LaRochell, Eileen Sherlock Harriman, Jeanne McIntosh, Colleen Trainor, Linda Baird McDermott, Maureen Carter Hanley, Toni Endres, Connie Hallett, Mary Leddy, Elizabeth Mollman Behringer, and Karen Small Pelletier.
Swimmer Lee Blumenstock LeRoy and diving coach Rich Miller will be inducted posthumously with the team.
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The University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame will be inducting five individuals, as well as teams from three sports, at its annual banquet on Sept. 26 at Jeff's Catering in Brewer.
