Title IX is a federal law that was passed in 1972 to ensure that male and female students in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. It protects against discrimination based on sex. This law has influenced females in all high school, and throughout the month of November, Spartanburg High School has recognized the anniversary of such an important law. It has impacted the future of female student athletes so that they could push beyond their limits in athletics.

The Spartanburg High School Lady Vikings track and field team has had a lot of success throughout history, thanks to the inclusion of Title IX. The team has won six State Championships and 20 Region Championships.

Nia Glover (11) is very grateful for the opportunities that Title IX has awarded her and her teammates in her sport of track and field.

“Title IX has impacted me in a tremendous way. If it wasn’t for the Title IX, I wouldn’t be able to participate in my sport,” Glover said.

Other athletes who would not be where they are in their careers today without Title IX are former Viking basketball superstar, Kionna Jeter, who graduated in 2015, and recently-graduated Viking track star Camren Gist.

Jeter was a four-year starter for the girls’ basketball team for Spartanburg High School and is the all-time career points leader with 3,067 points in total. She was so successful that she got drafted in the third round of the 2021 WNBA draft by the Los Vegas Aces. She scored the game-winning jump shot to steal the first-ever CAA Championship title in program history.

Gist is a three-time State champion, four-time All-State champion, and nine-time Region II champion. She was also named the 2022 SCCAW 5A and 2022 Region II-5A Female Athlete of the Year.

Head basketball coach for the Lady Vikings Sharon Dillon knows that Title IX has impacted female athletes so much and that it has impacted her life through the game of basketball.

“For me personally, it opened many doors that would have been closed to me otherwise. I was able to receive a basketball scholarship and get a college degree, which led to me becoming a teacher and a coach. Throughout my coaching career, I have had many players go on to play basketball in college. They have very much benefited from Title IX,” Dillon said.

Another sport that has had success because of the Title IX is the Lady Vikings golf team. There are many past players who committed to Division I colleges. Some of these players include Paige Morehead (LSU), Elle Johnson (Ole Miss), Katie Funk (Wofford), Anne Taylor Hough (Virginia Tech) and Anna Morgan (Furman).

Perrin Little (10) is forever thankful for Title IX and how it impacts her sport.

“Title IX impacted my sport by helping more and more girls play high school golf around the country. I am grateful for this because it lets our school have a golf team and have plenty of schools around us to compete against us,” Little said.