| School: Marshall | Graduation Year: 1980 |
Sports Played: Soccer, Basketball, Track and Field
Year Inducted: 2024
High School Honors: 3 Soccer letters. 1st Team All-PIL as a Junior and Senior. Captain two years.
4 Basketball letters. Co-Captain 2 years. 2 PIL Championships, Most Inspirational as Senior.
4 Track & Field letters. MVP as a Sophomore. Scored points in Shot Put, Discus, Javelin. MAC Scholar Athlete as a Sophomore. National Honor Society, Co-Editor of school newspaper, Student Body Vice President, Valedictorian
Post High School Career: Pomona College, 1981-1984; 2 letters in Basketball, Conference Champions and 3rd place nationally in NCAA Division 3 as a Sophomore, 4 letters in Track & Field, Conference Shot Put Champion and 2nd in Discus as a Freshman. National qualifier in Javelin two years. BA degree in English. Coached Girls’ Basketball and Co-ed Track at Open Door Academy. Produced publications and graphics for Wood Village Baptist Church for the last 12 years
Commentary:
In my neighborhood, we didn’t have organized sports. We just headed to the grade school and shot hoops for hours, hoping to get enough kids for 3 on 3. If not, there were numerous games of HORSE and AROUND THE WORLD, taking breaks now and then to play handball against the outside of the gym wall. When I walked into Marshall High School as a freshman, I had no idea how to try out for a team or even what organized sports were. Little did I know that sports would help shape my life, teaching me lessons on teamwork, caring about others before yourself, the importance of listening and executing your coach’s directions, and winning (and failing!) with grace and dignity.
I am thankful that a friend’s dad talked to Coach Ken Trapp and told him I had untapped talent in basketball. Coach Trapp sought me out and told me when to show up. I was unconfident, shy and unsure, but I did as told and I’m so glad I did! Coach Greene approached me later that year and asked if I would join the track and field team. He had checked the softball distance throws that were required by PE class, and told me I should be a thrower, especially javelin. So once again, it was a coach that sought me out and gave me direction. Trapp also encouraged me to try soccer as a sophomore (ok maybe it was more of a command than a suggestion lol) and I loved it right away. My love for soccer continued later in life, where I played on several city league and indoor teams.
Coach Trapp was instrumental in my development as both a player and a person. He taught me the value of hard work (oh those sore muscles from all those LINES), discipline, respect and resiliency. He is also the reason I played basketball in college. He did lots of legwork, sending film and notes to the coach at Pomona College, who then recruited me to play. I am forever grateful for his guidance, rides home when it was too dark to walk (along with Coach John Hughes), being tough on us so that we grew tough too, and that million-dollar smile every time we chalked up another win