By the time Dodie Martin reached her freshman year of high school in the fall of 1995, Title IX had been in place for more than two decades.
   The Johnson-Stanton County teenager was certainly well aware of high school girls' athletics, but admittedly hadn't looked at the historic nature of the Education Amendment of 1972 that produced opportunities for female student-athletes to compete.
   Additionally, the Lady Trojans' cross country and track and field teams from those first two decades had enjoyed immense success under the legendary and KSHSAA Hall of Fame coach Clarence "Ark" Morris.
   "My best recollection of that time is having watched my older sister, Regan, compete with her team and the success that they enjoyed," said Martin (Baalmann), now 40 and a physician's assistant in the small, central Kansas town of La Crosse where she works at the Rush County Memorial Hospital. "I think it was that type of success that motivated me to want to continue what she and the others had done before."
   Martin certainly did her part in continuing a tradition of excellence in girls' cross country, where she won all four Class 2-1A individual titles from 1995 to 1998. But the motivation to win came from a pioneer in another sport – college women's basketball – in the person of University of Tennessee coach Pat Summit.
   Martin, also an outstanding basketball player, read Summit's biography and was inspired by how she motivated her players and conducted herself on and off the court.
   "She set a high standard for herself and for the players she coached," Dodie said. "I think Coach Morris was in the same mold. We were all just a team. The attitude was the same and he was just an amazing person who was incredibly positive about life and athletics."
   Dodie said that the boys' team likely ran more miles in training than the girls, but the expectations were still the same from their coach.
   "I know there were some good teams before and there were different runners, but we had such a good group and he (Morris) treated us the same," Dodie recalled. "I believe he respected us as much as the boys. I knew a little about Title IX, but truthfully, we just thought it was normal for us to be competing."
   The tradition of running in both cross country and track and field started early in Johnson (later school name changed to Stanton County). Carolyn Gum was the school's first girls' state cross country champion in 1979, and in her four-year high school run, placed third, first, second and second at the state meet. That 1979 SC team also claimed the Class 2-1A crown. Runners like Jeri Sosa, and Marylee Ramsey would be top 10 state finishers, while Kelli Shore added to the school's championship roster with a first in 1982. Others such as Debbie Terrill and Misty Case had their moments of top 10 glory for the Trojans in the mid to-late 1980s.
   Dodie's older sister, Regan, entered the running scene in 1991 and helped the Lady Trojans to three state titles while being a top 10 individual medalist three of those years, ending her prep XC career in 1994.
   So, it all seemed the natural thing for young Dodie Martin to focus on her fall cross country season and then for the spring 1996 track and field campaign. And she didn't disappoint.
   "I'm pretty sure that I didn't appreciate it (running and success) as much then as I do now," said Dodie, who considers herself a recreational runner who doesn't compete in any distance races these days.

   Now a mother to three girls – Wrynn (8), Willow (6) and Whitlee (4) – Martin (married name Baalmann), encourages her young ones to be active.
   "My kids have been active in gymnastics and t-ball as well as some volleyball and basketball camps," Martin Baalmann said. "I just encourage them to do things that they enjoy. We do bike rides and play some golf. I haven't pushed them into organized sports."
   Recently this past summer, Dodie's middle daughter, Willow, joined her for a morning walk/run for the first time.
   "It was 6:30 a.m. and she asked if she could go with me," Baalman said. "It was an awesome moment. We had a rare 1-on-1 time and it was just very special. I love that I have somebody who loves something as much as I love running. It was three miles and there's this 6-year-old out with me. It was peaceful. She talks a mile a minute, so we did a combination walk/run."
   Each fall, Martin would make the transition from the cross country layouts to the basketball court, helping her teams to strong finishes, highlighted by the 1999 third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament. Martin, a 5-5 guard, also was named to The Garden City Telegram's All-Area First Team in 1998 and 1999, cementing her place among the top players in southwest Kansas.
   As she wound down her prep career with two state track and field titles in 1999 (1600/3200), Martin concluded her high school days with 9 state individual gold medals – four in the 3200-meters (best time at state was 11:24.61), three in the 1600-meters (best mark of 5:18.334) and two in the 800-meters (2:22.57 best state time). Combined, it gave her 13 gold medals at state track and cross country meets.
   Perhaps surprising to many, but not to Martin at the time, she chose to forego running in college and instead went back to the basketball court where she played two years at Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colo., and finished with a two-year stint at Wayne State, Neb., a Division II school.
   Following graduation, she spent a year as an assistant basketball coach while taking one year of classes to get her pre-requisites out of the way for Physician's Assistant School. In 2005, she enrolled at Wichita State University and finished in 26 months and also served as an assistant coach at Friends University. She graduated in 2007 and took a position in La Crosse where they offered an opportunity to repay her college loans if she were to remain there for a certain amount of time.
   As it turned out, Martin met her husband, Brian Baalmann, in La Crosse at a nearby restaurant in Rush Center, and after getting married, they've settled into the small central Kansas community that Baalmann has called home most of his life. For seven years she commuted the short distance to work in Great Bend, but the last five she has worked in La Crosse.
   When Baalmann answered her cell phone call in mid-summer she was somewhat surprised and uncertain as to why a story would be of interest about someone who had just turned 40 years of age in December of 2020. Explaining the 50-for-50 project, Baalmann expressed gratitude that female athletes were being recognized for their accomplishments on and off the competitive field.
   "I think when you compete in sports, the biggest thing is that you have to have the heart to win," she said. "You have it or not. You have to have the right mindset or you will never win. I always went out with the idea I would win. There were so many lessons that help you in life."
   Now, more than two decades later, the tradition continues at Stanton County High School. Current star Chesny Peterson has smashed all of Martin's school records while posturing herself as among the top two or three middle distance runners in all classes at the 2A state meet in May.  Peterson's mother, Shawn, was Shawn Wilkerson, who placed 10^th on the 1994 state team champion Trojans with Dodie's older sister, Regan.
   "I just try to be a good supporter and wish her good luck for her runs," Baalman said of her contact with Peterson. "She knows how to run. She's focused. I try to tell her to enjoy it, that it's not a job."
   Today's life is a far cry from those early morning runs that would be punctuated by cool temperatures, light breezes and the after-practice breakfasts which were highlighted by Friday visits to the local donut shop that included orange juice.
   "Those 6 a.m. times were special," she said. "We would meet at the golf course and Coach Morris would have the flash lights ready and say "let's go!" Off we'd go on the run. I met a lot of great people and it's something I will never forget. Friday's were always the best."
   Recalling her high school running days, Baalman said she has a greater appreciation for the accomplishments than she did at the time.
   "That's what I expected back then," she said of the victories. "I look back now and it's a pretty neat thing."
We are grateful to partner with WIN for KC, an organization with the mission to empower the lives of girls and women by advocating and promoting the lifetime value of sports through opportunities for participation and leadership development. WIN for KC and the KSHSAA believe involvement in activities and sports lay the ground work for supporting well-rounded citizens in our communities and beyond. For more on WIN for KC visit: https://www.sportkc.org/win-for-kc