Jean Neuser
The Godmother of AHS girls athletics, Jean Neuser was a longtime physical education teacher who started and supported most of Arrowhead’s girls sports.
Growing up, Jean always knew she wanted to be a physical education teacher. Jean and her twin sister Joan loved sports, and they were the only girls to play football and basketball on the boys’ teams. They won many fitness certificates, played on several fast pitch softball teams across the country and were very active in Girls Athletic Association (GAA) sports activities.
Both Neuser sisters went on to be physical education teachers. Jean got her start at Williams Bay in Lake Geneva and then came to Arrowhead in 1962. Before Title 9 and competitive sports for girls, Jean developed a successful GAA program at AHS. With about 100 girls, she ran it like an intramural program. Jean also started a “gym assistant” program at Arrowhead, giving girls the opportunity to develop leadership skills.
When Title 9 came into effect, Jean was in charge of developing the tennis, volleyball, basketball, and track & field program for both junior and senior varsity AHS teams. She was the only coach, and had no assistants. Jean says, “Arrowhead was very generous to the girls’ programs, as we received uniforms and equipment, plus bus trips to different high schools in our conference.”
Early on, Arrowhead’s tennis program had the most success, winning eight straight Conference Championships and placing 5th at the State meet.
As Arrowhead looks back, many female athletes have benefited from Jean’s hard work and dedication to developing the girls’ athletic program. She was on the “ground floor” and a major contributor to Arrowhead’s success throughout all these years.