Beavers Win Title: Iowa Time Machine May 22, 1984

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On May 22, 1984, the Buena Vista Beavers captured the NCAA Division III softball national championship. Finishing the season with a 29-8-1 record, Chanel Finzen, Jeannie Demers, and Libby Kestal helped Buena Vista complete a run for the ages.

The Beavers dominated the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the spring of 1984. 12-0 over the course of conference play, Buena Vista only gave up fifteen runs while posting seven shutouts across the IIAC slate. Primed for postseason play, the Beavers prepared to make a run at the school’s first-ever national title in any sport.

Running through the double-elimination format national regionals and World Series with only a single loss, Buena Vista squared off with Trenton State in two games for the title. Chanel Finzen, the IIAC’s MVP for the season, dominated the circle and held Trenton State to only one run across the two games. With 2-0 and 3-1 wins, the Beavers took the title back to Storm Lake.

Head Coach Marge Willadsen took home both IIAC and DIII National Coach of the Year Honors, while many team members also found recognition. Nine Beavers gained distinction as All-IIAC, placing eight on the First Team. Jennie Demers and Libby Kestal each garnered First Team All-American selections, while Finzen gained honors as a Second Team All-American. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar