To the Editor:

History was made at the recent Port Clinton High School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction! The 1998 Girls’ Tennis Team was among the honorees in recognition of its amazing season. Their record was 12-0 as SBC champs and 19-1 overall. One more win in the Ohio Tennis Coaches tournament would have put them in the final four at State representing Northwest Ohio.

Four players earned All-SBC honors, three advanced to Districts and one placed in the top eight players at State. A skilled, but young varsity with three seniors, two juniors and two sophomores plus a talented JV team forged a strong overall team work ethic. Their competitive spirit was the spark that led them to their success. The team slogan was “refuse to lose.” The community got excited about them because the press coverage was incredible.

Why is this History? This was the first girls’ team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame! Many of their mothers and grandmothers went to school when girls had no opportunity to play competitive sports. Ringing the PCHS victory bell was reserved for boys only. No girl, not even a cheerleader, was allowed to touch the bell, let alone ring it. Times have changed and changed for the better. Kudos go to all the women and men who helped make that happen.

These girls represented their school and community with talent and class.

They rang the victory bell 19 times in ’98 and they rang it again symbolically at the Hall of Fame Induction. They were a class act and they made history.

Karen Coffin, Head Coach