Nov. 18, 2011 -
PRLog -- Scituate’s Carol Anne Costa was inducted into the RI High School Girls Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame Thursday November, 10 2011 at the West Valley Inn. Costa founded the Association and held its first banquet in 1987. She coached girls’ high school tennis from 1983-1989 at Bishop Keough Regional High School in Pawtucket. Carol Anne Costa’s relationship with RI high school tennis dates back to 1983, when she took over a struggling team of netters at Bishop Keough Regional High School. Until Costa’s arrival, the school made several attempts to field a team and those attempts largely failed through the years. 1983 proved to be a turning point for tennis at Keough, but also the entire athletic program. Costa enticed many girls to join a squad made up of girls who never held a racquet. Her motto was; try, learn, play hard and have fun. At a time when tennis divisions were larger, the Keough Koala’s played in a division against the likes of Mount St. Charles, North Smithfield, East Providence and many other tennis powerhouses. But, she encouraged the fledgling team to compete and improve. The team responded with slow and steady promise. The program drew much media attention for its determination, as the squad and Costa were featured on a Channel 6 sports package about the shear positive energy of the program and the girls themselves. The Koala’s were also recipients of great press from the Evening Times and Providence Journal sportswriters. Costa reacted to the news with great joy, “I am so humbled and thrilled to be selected for this honor. Although I have been away from high school tennis for some time now, I assure you, I have remained a champion of girl’s tennis and athletic opportunities for girls throughout my entire life. I cannot express my gratitude enough to the Coaches Association for this great tribute.” She continued, “If not for Title IX and tennis pioneers like Billie Jean King and Peachy Kellmeyer, I would not have had the opportunity to coach girls tennis and make a difference in so many girls lives, for this I remain eternally grateful.”
Peachy Kellmeyer offered this on Costa’s induction, “There is no greater gift than the one Carol has provided which is to allow young women athletic opportunities, as it can and does result in life changing experiences.”
Costa created a strong base for growth at the school and it was only recently that Keough failed to field a team. Costa brought energy, drive and a solid foundation to a small school who gained respect through the years. In 1987 at 27 years of age, Costa founded the RI Girls Coaches Association, and was succeed by Sal Federici of Lincoln. The intent of the Association was to provide awards, a banquet and a voice for girl’s tennis coaches in RI high schools. Her legacy is long and has remained a part of RI girls’ tennis to this day. Costa was coach of Keough’s tennis basketball and softball teams and served as AD from 1983-1989. She was a member of the Bishop Keough school board; she serves as a Scituate Recreation Commissioner, and is the Chair of the St Peters School, Development Board.
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