Let me honestly say, I’m not exactly sure what direction “Sport For Life” is headed.
But I do have a lot of fun ideas brewing!
I hope if you are taking the time to read this now you will pop back in on occasion and see what I have been up to.
For my first entry, I want to briefly share my personal story and how sport has shaped my life.
Through every exhilarating victory and heart-wrenching defeat, sport has been my constant companion, directing and shaping my life in countless ways.
Join me as I share my journey and passion for all sports, discover the lifelong benefits of staying active, and the importance of moving especially in our senior years.
So here it goes!
My Sport Journey
I fell in love with the competitive spirit of sports when I was a little girl chasing my 5 older brothers on the local courts and fields. Whatever they played I wanted to play too!
When I was 9 yrs. old my Mom was worried I was playing with only boys all the time and signed me up for tennis lessons. She practically dragged me to the tennis courts for that dreaded 1st tennis lesson. My brothers didn’t play tennis so why should I?
Little did I know how that day would impact me for the rest of my life. From the moment I hit that first tennis ball I fell in love with tennis!
And as they say, “the rest is history.”
Love for Competition
In addition to tennis I loved playing basketball. From the early days of competing in USTA tennis tournaments, basketball leagues, and school teams, my heart was set on the thrill of playing the game.
I realized early on sports were more than games—they were a part of me. I was always focused on the next practice, next game, next victory.
I embraced how sports taught me resilience, focus, discipline, and the importance of self motivation.
High School Achievements
In high school, my dedication paid off.
I was ranked in the top 10 for USTA Mid-Atlantic and was recognized as a Naismith All-American for Basketball.
This period was a whirlwind of achievements that reinforced my belief in the power of focused practice and unwavering dedication.
College Experience
College presented new challenges as a dual-sport athlete.
I headed off to the beautiful, historic Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla.
I became a Florida State Champion in both Basketball and Tennis while completing my major in Sports Exercise.
This incredible experience was about more than just winning titles; it was about pushing my limits to compete and succeed at an elite level. I discovered that to rise above the competition, an athlete must tap into a whole new level of discipline and commitment.
Not to mention I was having a ton of fun! If you ever visit St.Augustine you will understand what I mean.
Coaching Success
After my college days, I wanted to share my knowledge and passion with others. Coaching tennis and basketball was always a dream for me. I saw coaching as my opportunity to give back and guide young athletes on their own sports journeys.
My coaching career began at Severna Park High School, where I served as the Varsity Tennis Coach for over ten years. During this tenure, my teams were undefeated for 6 consecutive seasons in addition to 6 individual MD State Championships.
I later coached at DeMatha Catholic High School for three years… first female coach in the history of the school! My DeMatha days were a lot of fun and we brought home a team WCAC Championship as well as several individual WCAC crowns.
These coaching experiences were incredibly rewarding. Being a key part of developing these athletes’ skills and talents will always be one of the highlights of my life.
Private Coaching Experience
In addition to high school coaching, I’ve spent over 30 years coaching tennis privately.
The highlight of my private coaching endeavors is the work I did with my son. He moved through the junior rankings reaching #1 in his age group in the Mid Atlantic region, was a top 100 national ranked player, and finished up with a successful NCAA college career. This was very rewarding indeed!
Recently, I’ve moved into coaching Pickleball.
This transition is super exciting!
Pickleball Addiction
True confession.
“My name is Margie and I’m addicted to pickleball.”
Discovering Pickleball was like finding a hidden gem. It breathed new life into my competitive spirit and opened a fresh chapter in my sports journey.
I love it, much to the disappointment of my tennis peeps!
I quickly immersed myself in Pickleball, eager to see how far I could push myself in this dynamic sport. Now, I’m proud to be one of the top-ranked players in my age group(old folks), representing the Maryland region in national tournaments.
Playing pickleball is more than just the game to me—it’s about connecting with a whole new community! I love that it allows me to stay active with my husband, kids, and all my friends. Pickleball is a sport for life.
Joy, Health, Community
I invite you to join me on this Sport for Life journey. Sport is more than just a physical activity. Sport is a pathways to joy, health, and community!
See you on the courts!