​Betty Whiting wanted to try out for Ida High School’s baseball team, but the rulebooks of the 1940s wouldn’t permit it. At a time when girls’ high school sports were still nearly nonexistent in Michigan, Whiting faced a barrier that prevented her from stepping onto the same field as the boys. It wasn’t until nearly thirty years later that girls would begin to gain organized opportunities to compete at the high school level in the state. Faced with that limitation, Whiting shifted her ambitions toward the professional arena. After graduating from Ida in 1944, she joined the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, the league that later gained wider public recognition through the film A League of Their Own, and she played from 1944 to 1952.
Jeremy Potter, who teaches the Ida Middle School course Ida’s Backyard History, described Whiting as Ida’s lone professional athlete at the time. Potter shared that Whiting tried out for the high school baseball team, but the team’s rules barred her from playing. Her story highlights the obstacles that early female athletes faced, even as they pursued opportunities beyond the classroom. The progression from barrier to breakthrough for girls in Michigan sports has been substantial in the decades since, aided by the landmark protections established by Title IX, which opened doors for girls to participate in organized high school athletics.
As we reflect on Whiting’s legacy and the broader arc of regional female athletic achievement, the question remains: does she still stand as the region’s best female athlete? In the spirit of celebrating America’s milestone anniversaries, The Monroe News and its parent company USA Today have compiled stories highlighting some of the region’s most outstanding female athletes. The following profiles showcase a lineage of excellence across multiple sports, illustrating how far female athletic achievement has progressed.
Elizabeth Anderson emerged as a standout sprinter for New Boston Huron, claiming state titles in the 400 meters in 2022 and 2023, and taking the 200-meter title in 2002. She was named the Monroe County Region Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year for her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons and is currently pursuing collegiate competition at Michigan State University.
Kristen Arthurs made her mark in volleyball for St. Mary Catholic Central, earning the Monroe County Region Volleyball Player of the Year honor in 2007 and guiding SMCC to a state championship. Her performances earned her national recognition as the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year that same season, and she went on to play four years at Purdue University.
Lindi Bankowski also left a lasting legacy in volleyball, earning Monroe County Region Volleyball Player of the Year honors in 2000 and 2001. She set Bedford High School records for digs, points in a season, and career points, culminating in a state championship with the Mules in 2001. Bankowski later continued her athletic career at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Alex DelPiombo starred in both volleyball and softball for SMCC and was named Monroe County Region Volleyball Player of the Year in 2007. She finished with an impressive 1,754 career assists at Gannon University and went on to become the head volleyball coach at Bowling Green State University.
In 2016, Meghan Beaubien of St. Mary’s Catholic Central delivered a defining moment for Michigan high school softball when she pitched a perfect game against Gladstone in the Division 3 state semifinals at Michigan State University, a scene captured as teammates Kelsey Barron and Morgan Antonelli celebrated. Beaubien would later add another perfect game to secure her second Division 3 state title, defeating Grandville Calvin Christian. Her achievements continued to bloom as she led SMCC to three consecutive softball state championships from 2015 to 2017, compiling a remarkable 100-11 career record, amassing 1,442 strikeouts, and posting a 0.28 ERA while earning the Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year award in three separate years.
Together, these profiles illustrate a trajectory of female athletic excellence across the region, from the barriers faced by early pioneers like Betty Whiting to the contemporary champions who now serve as role models for aspiring athletes. The arc of progress over the decades shows how Title IX and broader changes in society transformed opportunities for girls to compete, excel, and be recognized for their talents on par with their male counterparts.