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Mary Paczesniak '68
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I was born and raised in Coos Bay, right above Mingus Park, where we spent most of our time playing everything we could think of. I went to Blossom Gulch and Marshfield Junior High, doing well in academics and enjoying watching the boys compete in athletics. Both of my parents were teachers - my mother taught kindergarten and my father taught US History and coached at Marshfield. I always thought I'd be a teacher and when I got to MJHS I discovered there was such a thing as a PE teacher. Well, from then on there was no question as to what subject I would teach.
While at Marshfield I was quite active in various clubs and organizations. I was in Latin Club, Future Teachers of America, Pep Club, National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll. I was on the Student Council, was Mahiscan junior editor and Mahiscan Co-editor.
And, of course, Girls Athletic Association, where we were able to "play sports." There were not many opportunities for actual competition for girls in those days but we enjoyed our intramurals in the Girls Gym and our volleyball and basketball play days with girls from the other high schools in Coos County. But the OSAA did sanction girls tennis and there was a tight group of us who fell in love with tennis, fell in love with competition and loved spending time with each other. If it wasn't raining, you could find us at the Mingus Park tennis courts playing tennis with each other for hours and hours. I played #1 singles all four years and qualified for the State Tournament all four years. My junior year I advanced to the State semi- finals as our team tied perennial powerhouse Roseburg for the team State Championship.
I graduated from Marshfield in 1968 and attended Oregon State University where I competed in volleyball, basketball and tennis. I competed in tennis for two years, winning the Pacific Northwest Doubles Championship one year and coming in 2nd the other year. I was fortunate to have been a starter on the volleyball team all 4 years as our team was highly successful and competed in the first two -ever - National Volleyball Tournaments for Collegiate Women, advancing to the Sweet 16 one year and the Elite 8 the next. We received little financial assistance from Oregon State at the time but in 2018 were honored by being inducted into the Oregon State Athletic Hal of Fame.
I taught PE and coached at Marshfield in 1972-74, starting the power volleyball program in 1972. I taught PE and coached at Rogue River Middle School.from 1975-203. I was honored by the OSAA in 2001 by being selected as one of two State Middle School Coaches o f the Year.
I retired from teaching in 2003 and moved back to Coos Bay, where I've gotten involved in a number of projects to bring recognition, honor and opportunity to past and present students. Some of these projects are:
• In 2006 I organized an event where Marshfield awarded athletic letters to over 40 pre-Title XI female athletes
•Lady Pirates Gallery of Champions
•Hall of Fame selection committee
•Coos Bay Schools Community Foundation board member
•Heritage Hall committee
•Pete Susick Stadium Committee
While at Marshfield I was quite active in various clubs and organizations. I was in Latin Club, Future Teachers of America, Pep Club, National Honor Society, Quill and Scroll. I was on the Student Council, was Mahiscan junior editor and Mahiscan Co-editor.
And, of course, Girls Athletic Association, where we were able to "play sports." There were not many opportunities for actual competition for girls in those days but we enjoyed our intramurals in the Girls Gym and our volleyball and basketball play days with girls from the other high schools in Coos County. But the OSAA did sanction girls tennis and there was a tight group of us who fell in love with tennis, fell in love with competition and loved spending time with each other. If it wasn't raining, you could find us at the Mingus Park tennis courts playing tennis with each other for hours and hours. I played #1 singles all four years and qualified for the State Tournament all four years. My junior year I advanced to the State semi- finals as our team tied perennial powerhouse Roseburg for the team State Championship.
I graduated from Marshfield in 1968 and attended Oregon State University where I competed in volleyball, basketball and tennis. I competed in tennis for two years, winning the Pacific Northwest Doubles Championship one year and coming in 2nd the other year. I was fortunate to have been a starter on the volleyball team all 4 years as our team was highly successful and competed in the first two -ever - National Volleyball Tournaments for Collegiate Women, advancing to the Sweet 16 one year and the Elite 8 the next. We received little financial assistance from Oregon State at the time but in 2018 were honored by being inducted into the Oregon State Athletic Hal of Fame.
I taught PE and coached at Marshfield in 1972-74, starting the power volleyball program in 1972. I taught PE and coached at Rogue River Middle School.from 1975-203. I was honored by the OSAA in 2001 by being selected as one of two State Middle School Coaches o f the Year.
I retired from teaching in 2003 and moved back to Coos Bay, where I've gotten involved in a number of projects to bring recognition, honor and opportunity to past and present students. Some of these projects are:
• In 2006 I organized an event where Marshfield awarded athletic letters to over 40 pre-Title XI female athletes
•Lady Pirates Gallery of Champions
•Hall of Fame selection committee
•Coos Bay Schools Community Foundation board member
•Heritage Hall committee
•Pete Susick Stadium Committee
