Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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LINDSAY BURN WORTHAM • TENNIS (1971-72) What was your favorite memory as a student-athlete at UVA? Wortham: "Oh my gosh, there are so many! Tennis was a club sport when I transferred to UVA and we did play many of the other colleges and universities in Virginia and North Carolina. "When we traveled our wonderful volunteer coach, Ted [Pearce], had a Volkswagen sta- tion wagon that he would let us use. We would all climb into that car for our away matches. What fun we had!" What was life as a female student-athlete like in the early years at UVA after Title IX? Were there any special challenges? Wortham: "Title IX changed things for sure in 1972. The women's tennis and field hockey teams immediately became intercollegiate sports. This was big! "We may not have had all the bells and whistles that the men's sports had at the time, but we were excited to be a part of the university athletics program. Progress came, but then we played because we loved the game." Were there people at UVA that were influential in your success as a student-athlete and even after you graduated? Wortham: "I had many wonderful mentors. Gene Corrigan, who was the athletics director, was wonderful to work with and Ted Davenport, who was head of the then Virginia Student Aid Foundation, looked out for me as well. Barbara Kelly was head of women's athletics and was a real advocate for women. "Another person that I have known since I was in Charlottesville was Gordon Burris. What a wonderful advocate he has always been for the university. He coached men's tennis when I was there, then coached soccer, then went on to be assistant to the President under [John T.] Casteen and [Teresa] Sullivan. Recently, it has been very exciting to be able to raise money and name the exhibition tennis court at the Boar's Head facility in his honor!" LINDSAY BURN WORTHAM PHOTO COURTESY WORTHAM ANN WATKINS FIELD HOCKEY (1974) How did growing up in Charlot- tesville impact your passion for UVA sports? Watkins: "I was born in Charlottesville and growing up I attended UVA sports, con- certs and events. I think it was watching the graduation ceremony on the Lawn on top of my dad's shoulders that made me want to attend UVA. My dad liked going to the men's basketball games and I went with him starting when the team played at Memorial Gym. I remember 6-10 John Naponic, who made his foul shots underhand. "When University Hall was built, I would sit with Jane Gibson, an elementary school classmate and Hoot Gibson's daughter, in the cavernous empty stands and yell at the opposing teams to miss their shots. In high school, like so many others, I had a crush on Barry Parkhill, loved watching him play, the crowds he drew and what he did for the program. "I joined the Pep Band at UVA so I would be sure to get into the men's basket- ball games to watch Wally Walker, Bobby Stokes, Ralph Sampson and the other great players of that era." Was there someone either at UVA or in your personal life that played a large impact on your athletic success? Watkins: "Barbara Kelly was the wom- en's athletics director when I was there and she is due much credit for starting and growing women's athletics at UVA. Her efforts paved the way for bigger and better programs. She was a true visionary. "She was a great example for the women athletes of what one could accomplish." What was life as a female student- athlete like in the early years at UVA after Title IX? Were there any special challenges? Watkins: "We were just excited to have a team and to play. Compared to high school, it was luxurious. For basket- ball, we had practice uniforms that were washed for us. We rode to the away games on large buses and stopped at Shoney's for dinner on the way home. Our favorite place to stop was White's Truck Stop on I-81. It had a great cafeteria." How do you think being a student- athlete helped you as a student and later on in your career? Watkins: "I remember one play during a basketball game, I was wide open but my teammate, instead of passing me the ball, took a more difficult shot. She made the shot and I gave her a high five and asked if she saw me open. She said yes, she saw me, but was weary of me always shooting the ball. "In my corporate career, I tried to re- member not to always shoot the ball; to make lots of assists." ANN WATKINS PHOTO COURTESY WATKINS DECEMBER 2020 17