Munster High School Coach, 1974 – 80
Growing up Betty spent her summers at a local pool. She was part of an age group swimming team and a synchronized swimming club. In high school, there were no sports available for girls, but she continued to be active in a synchronized swimming club throughout her high school years. She attended Valparaiso University, where there was no swimming team for women, but Betty was able to compete in synchronized swimming on the collegiate level, as well as field hockey. Betty began coaching swimming during her first teaching job at Munster High School. During her coaching career, she was fortunate to have been mentored by Hall of Fame coach Jon Jepsen. From 1974-1980, she also assisted in coaching the Munster Age Group Swimming Club and was the head coach of the high school girls swim team. Betty was the first coach to win multiple IHSAA Girls State Championships in swimming. She led Munster High School to three state titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977, while finishing third in 1974 and 1979. She coached three individual champions, 7 individual runners-up, 3 relay champions, two of which set a championship meet records. Betty left coaching to become a kindergarten teacher and is now a reading specialist for grades K-2 in the School Town of Munster.