Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Title IX, wmubroncos.com takes a look at 40 key moments/females in the history of women's athletics at Western Michigan University. Though the selection process, an effort was made to highlight a moment and player/coach from each of our current women's sports programs, as well pay respect to our women's legacy sports. A different feature will be released each of the 40 days, July 24 through Sept. 1.

(Pictured in photo above: Bottom Row, L-R, Jackie Klein, Melanie Waite, Lisa Munger. Second Row: Angel Bolwerk, Brigitte Boyer, Head Coach Kathy Beauregard, Becky Howe, Lisa Gray. Back Row: Mary Kay Meyer, Cindy Mazei, Ingrid Racka, Renee Williams, Raeanne Smith, Linda Moran, Kim Weaver)

1986 & 1987 MAC Gymnastics Championships

The Mid-American Conference began hosting women's gymnastics championships in 1981, and it did not take Western Michigan long to position itself at the top under a young, ambitious coach named Kathy Beauregard.

After finishing as runners-up in 1985, which earned Beauregard her first of two-straight MAC Coach of the Year honors, Western Michigan claimed its first gymnastics championship in 1986, and repeated with a second title in 1987.

Hosting the championship meet at Read Fieldhouse in 1986, Western Michigan's first title came in record-breaking fashion, as the Broncos scored an overall total of 180.65, shattering the previous conference record of 175.80 set by Bowling Green in 1985.

Linda Moran won the school's second-ever individual title, reaching the top of the podium on the floor exercise. She also placed second on the uneven bars and in the all-around, earning her one of seven spots on the All-MAC team.

The Broncos returned two seniors, three juniors and four sophomores in 1987 and had no problem repeating as champions with four All-MAC recognitions.

Jackie Klein (vault), freshman Bonnie Boggiano (floor exercise) and Moran (all-around) each won individual titles. Boggiano would also place second in the all-around and Cindy Mazei took second on the balance beam. All four earned All-MAC status.

Western Michigan nearly made it a three-peat in 1988, falling by just one tenth of a point to Kent State. WMU did however set the school record for dual meet victories in a season, posting a 14-3 record, which included a run of seven-straight wins to begin the year.