SUNY Cortland Athletics

As a SUNY Cortland undergraduate, Joanne “Jodi” Schmeelk ’73 was an exceptional student-athlete who successfully advocated for academic improvements to the curriculum and dress code. In her 30-plus years as a physical educator and coach in the Fairport (N.Y.) School District, Schmeelk’s behind-the-scenes determination ensured expanded athletic opportunities for female competitors throughout Section V.

Schmeelk, who grew up in Emerson, N.J., was omnipresent on the SUNY Cortland campus. She played outfield for four seasons and was a senior captain for Coach Sally Wallace’s softball team. She played point guard for one year in basketball and was active in intramurals and the Women’s Athletic Association (WAA).

The president of Theta Phi sorority in 1971-72, she participated in its Hellenic Sing, Homecoming Parade and Theta Nine singing troupe. A junior counselor at the Outdoor Education Center at Raquette Lake, Schmeelk successfully lobbied that female physical education majors be allowed to student teach for an entire semester and became the first to do so. At the time, female student teachers were required to wear a blue tunic. Schmeelk persuaded the departmental administrators to allow more appropriate wear to demonstrate activities.

In 1973, Schmeelk became the first physical education major to earn a bachelor’s degree with a dance emphasis. She began her professional career at Hamburg (N.Y.) Central School District, where she taught physical education and coached synchronized swimming, basketball and softball and ran intramurals. From 1975-2006, she taught physical education at Fairport (N.Y.) High School, and from 1992-2006, to ninth graders at Minerva DeLand in the same district.

She coached junior varsity women’s soccer (1975-96), women’s basketball (1975-76) and softball (1975-2003). In 1977, she took over the varsity women’s basketball reins and continued until 1989. As the class coordinator for Girls’ Section V Basketball from 1976-96, Schmeelk was instrumental in establishing the first girls’ basketball state tournament in New York. She chaired Section V Girls’ Basketball from 1996-2002.

Schmeelk ran free girls’ basketball camps at William Smith College and the University of Rochester to help grow the sport. She worked with Booster Clubs at Fairport for girls basketball, soccer and softball. She helped to schedule officials for both boys and girls sports in Section V.

A contributing member to the creation of the Section V Hall of Fame, Schmeelk was inducted in the section’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She was named the Grater Rochester Coach of the Year, and received the University of Rochester Teacher of the Year Award, and both the Crystal Apple Award and the Cornerstone Award from the Fairport School District for her outstanding teaching and service.

She was the first East Coach in the Ronald McDonald Exceptional Senior Games and was honored by the Section V Officials Board for her outstanding sportsmanship.