Induction Graduation Sport

2023 1995 Basketball | Softball

Growing up, sports were immediately integrated into my life. From sunup until sundown, I played outside with a group of boys. We played football, basketball, baseball, and everything in between. The competitiveness and commodity that resulted in the simplicity of these days and our group of friends absolutely contributed to my love for sports overall. Without sports in my life growing up, I genuinely don’t know where I would be today. Playing sports throughout my school days significantly contributed to helping me get through school. I owe so many thanks to the North Canton community, Hoover High School, and to Coach Bob Beardon, Coach Gerry Goodpasture, and Coach Jeff Hite. These coaches taught me so much both on and off the field. Coach Hite took me under his wing my freshman year. He held me accountable while also supporting and guiding me. I cannot thank him enough for his impact on my life.

My college route was not the traditional 4-year track towards a degree. I originally went to Akron right after high school and joined the softball team. After dealing with several injuries my freshman year I made the difficult decision to hang up the cleats. At Akron, I met my future husband and moved to Philadelphia where I attended Temple University. I got married and had my daughter, Kaitlyn. After two years in Philadelphia, we moved to Colorado where I got my degree and had my son, Daniel. Again, continuing the pattern, we moved to Kansas. The constant travel that comes with marrying a college football coach was deemed true as we further moved to Houston Texas, back to Kansas, to Philadelphia, then on to Maryland, and finally back to Philadelphia, where I currently live. Throughout these moves, I have taught for 13 years. Teaching gives me an inexplicable sense of satisfaction knowing that doing small things can create a big impact on someone’s life. So many people have acted as a role model for me, and teaching allows me to strive for the same. Further, in my free time, I am lucky enough to coach a travel softball team that takes me all over the country. At first, coaching travel softball began as something that I did when my daughter began to play at the age of seven. As she got older, I realized that coaching the girls was something that I truly enjoyed and wanted to continue. There is no better feeling of seeing the girls proud of themselves when they accomplish a goal or recognize improvement. These smiles keep me coaching. Now, Kaitlyn is 21 and starting her senior year of college at the University of Pennsylvania. She plays softball and is studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Legal studies and History. She is independent, confident, driven, and I have no doubt that she will have much success. My son, Daniel, is starting his senior year in high school. He plays football and lacrosse and is currently navigating through the recruiting process for both of those sports. He is compassionate, fun loving, and an undoubtedly natural leader who will absolutely be serving others in some capacity in the future. It is truly an honor to be chosen and recognized in the North Canton Hall of Fame. This school and community have provided me with so many opportunities and lessons that I will forever be indebted to.