Page 8 - Dresden Buzz 07-26-24

PAGE 8 | SPORTS JULY 26 - AUGUST 8, 2024
They were the Pioneers of Girls Basketball –

and Athletics – at TVHS by Gregg Meadows

They started it all! Pictured on the left
is the very first Tri-Valley girls’ basketball
team, the 1971-72 Lady Scotties! Below this
picture in the 1972 TVHS yearbook, the last
sentence in the caption read, “Maybe this is
the first step toward women’s liberation in
school!!” Front row: (l-r) Mary Anne Cordray,
Vickie Wilson, Karen Ross, Diane Lane,
Joyce Graham, Martha Ross, Debbie Ridg-
way, Debbie Lacy, Diane Ludinich, Candie
Prince, Kathy Hahn. Row 2: Mrs. Hartong,
Jill Randall, Arlene White, Debbie Wolford,
Johnna Headley, Betty Conkle, Becky
Wolford. Row 3: Betsy Gray, Darla Foraker,
Christy Lacy, Ellen Howard. Row 4: Christie
Daniel, Jerri Border, Cindy Tyo. Not pictured:
Holly Woods.
The early years of Lady Scottie Growing up in a household as the play – in the new gymna-
hoops formed a firm foundation youngest child – and only girl – of John sium. We practiced in the
and Mary Ellen Hahn with two older
evenings, and played our
for over half a century of Tri-Valley brothers who played sports, she could games at the old fresh-
girls’ basketball excellence - and have been mistaken for a typical tom- man annex (Jefferson High
also – girls’ athletics at TVHS boy in the athletic sense. Sidwell and School) on Saturday morn-
ings.”
her childhood friends romped and biked
over the playgrounds, streets - and ball- But perhaps the most
“I’ll never forget that day in the fields - of Dresden in the mid-to-late ironic twist in the first
first week of school my junior year,” 1960’s. years of girls’ basketball
says 1973 TVHS graduate Kathy (Hahn) “I would go to my brothers’ athletic (at TVHS and across the
Sidwell. events, and I would watch them play and country) was the size of
TVHS legendary principal Jack An- say, ‘I can do that… I can hit the baseball the basketball. “We used
derson had just ushered a large throng that far… I can make that basket too’, the boys’ basketballs and
of the first period girls’ physical educa- and so could some of my girlfriends,” never thought anything
tion class into the gymnasium in the first Sidwell stated as she watched from the of it,” stated Sidwell. It
week of school at the new high school sidelines. would be another 10 years
building in the fall of 1971, to meet their “It was frustrating for girls with ath- before a smaller ball was
new teacher. letic interests growing up in the 1960’s,” officially put into play for
“Girls,” exclaimed the Jefferson and states Sidwell. “We had nothing to do - high schools and colleges
Tri-Valley High school principal, “this is the boys got to be on all the sports teams. in women’s basketball.
your new physical education teacher, I was always asking why I couldn’t play “Our first year was a learning pro- basketball coach.
Barbara Hartong.” sports and always got the same answer.. cess for sure,” said Sidwell. “We didn’t Though Miss Hughes was short in
“And,” Anderson said with a wry BECAUSE YOU’RE A GIRL!” That’s what play in a league, had about only 10 stature – she was affectionately called
smile that only he could manufacture, eventually pushed me into cheerleading games with area schools that fielded “Shorty Coach” – she played a large role
“Mrs. Hartong will also be coaching our later on; it was something athletic to do, teams and of course, there weren’t any in the early days of TVHS girls’ athlet-
very first girls’ basketball team this win- and I could earn a varsity letter and get post-season tournaments. We didn’t ics, not only coaching basketball, but
ter here at TVHS.” a varsity jacket!” have any crowds at our games so to was tabbed as the school’s first volley-
“I couldn’t believe my ears,” said a It wasn’t until Sidwell got to Frazeys- speak; it was mostly just parents that ball coach as well, in the fall of 1974.
thrilled Sidwell. “Finally, the girls I grew burg Junior High and met a huge influ- came to the annex to watch us play,” She took a pair of Lady Scottie basket-
up with and played intramural and junior ence in her life - and many others in the laughed Sidwell. ball teams all the way to Regional play
high sports with were going to have our 1960’s,70’s and 80’s, Physical Educa- “I’ll never forget that first year in the 1970’s, enjoyed a 30-year career
own basketball team!” Sidwell wasted tion teacher Bob James, that things though,” stated Sidwell. “We started it as an educator with Tri-Valley Schools,
little time in spreading the word in the changed. all.” and in 2014 was justly inducted into the
halls and classrooms at TVHS after James taught physical education to With the second year of basketball school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
meeting Coach Hartong. “I busted out middle school students in the Tri-Valley for the TVHS gals, things changed, start- Sidwell went on to have a successful
of those gym doors searching for friends School District for over 30 years. But he ing at the top. senior season (1972-73) under first-year
(and later teammates) Vicki Wilson, Jill taught (all of us) so much more. Just Coach Hughes (Sidwell scored 18 points
Randall, Candi Prince, Johnna Headley, ask anyone (of us) who changed into in a game vs. River View) and at the end
Diane Ludinich - and anyone I could find gym clothes for his classes (cotton white of the season, the Lady Scotties were
– to tell them, WE CAN PLAY!” shorts and white t-shirt for the boys) with invited to be a part of the TVHS Winter
And with that, not only basketball, our names marked on them in ball point Sports banquet, where senior Arlene
but girls’ athletics as we know it today in pen, then stood in a line for inspection White became TVHS girls’ basketball’s
Scottieland, had finally arrived. (Thank and further instruction! first Most Valuable Player!
you, Jack Anderson). Push-ups, sit-ups, squat thrusts, iso- Sidwell was also a cheerleader, and
Sidwell was a true home-grown, metrics, trampoline jumps, swimming went on to cheer for TVHS all four years
Dresden, Ohio girl. in the Frazeysburg Pool in the fall during in high school. She married TVHS Ath-
phys ed class (1st and 2nd period were letic Hall of Fame charter member - and
real ‘waker uppers’), flag football, the Scottie hoops legend - Charlie Sidwell in
much beloved indoor pin kick-ball, and 1977. They have two daughters, Shayna
yes, the best – square dancing – made and Kelsey, and two granddaughters
James a junior high phys. ed. legend. and a grandson. Shayna – a 2009 TVHS
And his quest for physical fitness for grad - played for the Lady Dawgs under
his students is what really lit the light Coach Marty Bice and was an integral
bulb in a young Kathy Hahn’s life, in par- part of the ’09 squad that ran the table
ticular on the hardwood, as James start- during an undefeated regular season
ed and organized a junior high hoops and finished with a 22-1 record.
program for girls in the late 1960’s, even As far as girls’ athletics go, Sidwell
driving the bus (they were never late) to is proud of what she and her ‘pioneer’
scheduled contests with other schools. teammates and good friends accom-
“Mr. James planted the seed for girls plished in their high school years, but is
organized sports when we were in junior still a bit miffed that over 50 years later
high,” explains Sidwell. And it was Mr. Enter Miss Debera Hughes, a first (1972’s Title IX withstanding) it took
Jack Anderson that opened the door for year physical education teacher at TVHS somebody like the recent hardwood he-
girls athletics at TVHS,” beams Sidwell. for the 1972-73 school year, who was roics of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark to really put
But the birth of girls’ basketball – appointed as the new girls basketball the spotlight on girls basketball.
and athletics - at TVHS didn’t come with- coach for the Lady Scotties as well. “Better late than never, but my
out growing pains. And just as Jack Anderson was the goodness, girls’ athletics have come a
“The first year, we had to buy our right hire at the right time back in 1962 long way; I’m so glad my granddaugh-
own shorts, and for our ‘jerseys’ we for the Jefferson High School’s principal ters are able to play any sport they want
wore the Scottie boys basketball team’s job, Debera (Hughes) McCloy proved the in school - starting in kindergarten!,” a
practice jerseys with numbers,” explains perfect fit for Tri-Valley HS as its new grateful Sidwell sums up.
Sidwell. “We never got to practice – or physical education teacher, and girls’
photos on this page were submitted