Coach retires after 33 years of service
HUGHESVILLE – For 66 seasons Hughesville native Beth Myers coached tennis at East Lycoming School District bringing the tennis team to the top of the Heartland Athletic Conference as one of the best teams in the area.
Having graduated herself from Hughesville High School in 1973, it was with great remorse to leave her vocation. “I got to teach and coach for 33 years and work with my best friend too,” Myers said. April Brown assisted Myers throughout her coaching years teaching both boys and girls since 1976. “We were best friends in high school and still remain best friends,” she said. They also play doubles together in the Tri-Town Tennis League and they teach lessons to the “pee-wees” at the West Branch Tennis Club.
Coaching both boys and girls was a challenge she said when she first started. “I was the only female coach for a boys tennis team in 1978, but then I really enjoyed it and wanted to keep doing it,” she added.
Her passion is tennis and she certainly brought that out in her team players for her record is evident leading boys and girls to record wins year after year. Under her leadership, the Spartans had a total of 55 winning seasons, nine undefeated seasons plus winning 18 league championships. Since the district team championships started in 1992, Myers and Hughesville collected 12 championships.
Between 1994 and 2001 the girls’ team held 109 remarkable consecutive wins over an 8 year period. Myers also led them to a 160-2 record between 1991 and 2000. Additionally, the Spartans have had 8 district individual champions, twice had PIAA Final Four teams and had a total of 48 state qualifiers.
Myers was also conducted into the West Branch Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Hughesville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. She was also a founding member of the PA High School Tennis Coaches Association. She has also been a member for 25 years with the US Professional Tennis Association and was named its high school Coach of the Year in 1990, 1997 and 2000. Another accomplishment included her nomination for the Pennsylvania High School Tennis Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2001.
Myers does not plan to be idle. Due to her love of people, she is working as a real estate agent for Robin Real Estate. “I love people and will continue working with people,” she said. “I have been truly blessed. I was able to teach at the school where I graduated. My heart is here,” said Myers. She also plans on spending some spare time playing golf and bridge and relaxing at her cottage on Lake Makoma in Sullivan County.