GINA PIATT – JOHNSTON

As a pioneer of women’s sports, Gina Piatt had many accomplishments in tennis, basketball, golf, and track and field, with the latter gaining her the most recognition.

Playing tennis, Gina captured both the singles and doubles title for Washington County Women in 1975. As a basketball player, Gina was a 3-year letter winner and team captain her senior year at Trinity High School.

Competing with the boys never bothered Gina as she participated on the boy’s golf team at Trinity for four years. As a junior, she was a WPIAL champion in the girl’s division and finished 10th place in the PIAA golf tournament. In her senior year, she took 2nd place in the WPIAL competition, which led her to the PIAA tournament where she finished in 5th place.

In the early seventies, Gina began competing in track and field for the West Penn Track Club. In 1974, she traveled to California and won the National Championship in the shot put for her 12-13 age division. In 1975, she finished 2nd place in both the shot and the discus on a national level. As part of the 1976 National Championships Gina qualified for the U.S. Junior Track and Field Team, which competed in West Germany and Russia. During those meets, she set a National 15-year old record in the discus with a throw of 142’10”.

In her Trinity High School track days, Gina racked up five WPIAL 1st places, three 2nd places and was a four-time winner of PIAA State events in the shot and discus as well as two runner-up finishes.

In 1978, Gina attended Auburn University on a golf/track and field scholarship. At Auburn she set a school record in the shop put event. She still remains on the Auburn top ten Women’s Indoor and Outdoor records for the shot put. With golf being her true love she gave up track after her sophomore year. After graduating from Auburn with a degree in Business Management, she continued her golfing career by turning professional and playing tournaments across the country. After playing a couple years Gina regained her amateur status and since played in may U.S. amateurs, Mid-Amateurs and other National Amateur Events.

Gina now resides in Palm City, Florida with her husband, Bob and her two children, Tara and Lance George. She continues her interest in sports and keeps extremely busy with her daughter’s fast pitch softball and her son’s hockey and golf.