PENNY STARKEY

Abington Senior High School (Philadelphia)
University of Pittsburgh
(Long-time physical education teacher and coach for
Washington High School)

Started and pioneered female athletics at Washington High School.

In the spring of 1974, she inaugurated girl’s track at Wash High and in the fall of ’74 she started and coached girls’ volleyball and basketball at the school.

Initially, Mrs. Starkey coached volleyball and track for five years and basketball for two years. She resumed coaching volleyball in the fall of 1985 and in 1988 hired Julie Gaul as her assistant.

They coached together for 11 years and in that span, Wash High won 10 section championships.

She finished with a 19-year record of 168-65.

She coached track under Don Clendaniel and Guy Montecalvo and the girls team from 1974-78 finished as runner-up in the WPIAL team championships. She ended her career in 2004 as track coordinator.

Mrs. Starkey also coached tennis in 1984 and was an umpire with ASA softball from 1988-1997, serving as vice president for several years in the local chapter