Whether on Instagram, Facebook or any other social media platform, Drake University shows off its achievements— be it the latest college ranking, a new academic program or a big win for one of the teams.

That spotlight rarely extends to some of the University’s lesser-known women’s sports like rowing, softball and golf.

“Even if a basketball team doesn’t win, they still [get shouted out], but when it comes to us, we get nothing,” said senior Gracie Joblinske, a member of Drake’s rowing team. “It really hinders how we race. It hinders how we go into races. Sometimes, it’s like, ‘Well, if we win this, no one’s going to care. So why would we care?’”

In a direct message on Instagram, Joblinske wrote, “We’re clearly at the bottom of the totem pole.” 

That means the team is hardly, if ever, featured in the campus-wide athletic update emails, recognized for breaking school records or highlighted on Drake Athletics’ social media.

Between March 30, 2024, and March 30, 2025, the official Instagram account of Drake University Athletics (@dubulldogs) posted 148 times. Of those posts, 65 promoted or highlighted male athletes, their teams and/or events. Only 24 were dedicated to Drake’s female athletes and teams. The remaining 57 either did not promote any gender or featured both male and female athletes. Percentage-wise, that is 44% male, 16% female and 39% neutral. 

As one would expect, the page features the most popular sports the most. Basketball was featured 64 times, football 22, track and field 17 and soccer eight. Softball, volleyball and cross country each saw a single shoutout. Golf, tennis and rowing were never featured on the athletics Instagram page. Eight posts asked followers to go, “All In” for Drake’s giving challenge and two posts featured the Bulldog Shop and one post highlighted the Beautiful Bulldog Contest. 

“Of course, I would love to see softball featured on there more,” said Molly Hoekstra, a fifth-year softball player. Hoekstra described the team’s zero features on the Instagram page as “shocking.”

The athletics communications department would love to promote all the teams equally, but it comes down to “supply and demand,” according to Director of Athletic Communications Dave Shindelar. Drake’s volleyball team had a “phenomenal run,” and Shindelar’s athletic communications team “found success on the back end” through social media engagement. But now, not so much. 

“We want to promote every single one of our teams and every single one of our student athletes on the same level. But unfortunately, that’s just not the reality of college athletics,” Shindelar said. “Those women work incredibly hard for their teams, but you know, we’re coming up on March Madness time.” 

Shindelar shared that there is a certain level of “required” coverage that includes the “basics” regardless of whether a team is winning or losing. The athletics website holds the bulk of the coverage. But beyond that, it comes down to external media attention, popularity and interest. 

Plus, some sports lack local events, making it hard to develop a following, Shindelar said. Women’s golf hosts zero home events. By comparison, the men’s team will host two this year. Meanwhile, rowing hosted one in November.  

“I think the lack of home events exacerbates that idea that there isn’t as much support,” Shindelar said. “I think that there is support for those teams. It’s just because of the schedule, it’s almost impossible — I shouldn’t say that — it’s rare to see that manifest.”

The women’s golf team experiences this firsthand. 

“We don’t really have a fan following. If we have spectators, it’s just the parents that travel,” said junior Erika Holmberg. “That’s definitely one of the hardest parts, for sure.”

Holmberg agrees with Joblinske that, like rowing, women’s golf does not receive the same media representation as the higher-profile teams. But she says it comes with the sport.

“From a marketing standpoint, I completely understand why,” Holmberg said. “I wouldn’t say it’s ever made me feel disappointed or [a] lack of support from the University.”

Holmberg does, however, want to see a few changes.  

“It would be nice if we had some highlights,” Holmberg said. “I even think of the end-of-the-year videos at the sports banquet and they include one women’s golf video and one men’s golf video amidst an abundance of football and soccer and volleyball stuff. If we could get a sports videographer or photographer to come to one of our matches, that would do so much for us.”

When the athletes are promoted equally, their reputation on campus improves.

“I do wish there was more of an understanding and advocacy for the fact that we are a real Division I sport and we had to work hard to get here,” Holmberg said.

This story was originally published on The Times-Delphic on April 21, 2025.