Sports

Marple Newtown Coach of the Year: Tricia Dyal

Tricia Dyal, the head coach for the Marple Newtown High School cheerleading team, recently received the Vera Egner Award for MNHS Coach of the Year 2010-2011.

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Her first official position as a cheerleading coach, Tricia Dyal recently received the Vera Egner Award for 's Coach of the Year for the 2010-2011 school year.

"I was very surprised with the whole thing," recalled Dyal about receiving the recognition.

She credits her large team of coaching staff for the squad's success. "Without them, the program wouldn't happen without them," she shared. In addition, she believes the high school administration staff from Principal Ray McFall to Athletic Director Dennis Reardon has been "incredibly supportive to grow the program where it's competitive."

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Dyal has been serving as the head coach for the Tigers cheerleading team since 2003. Prior to taking on the position as head coach to the high school Tigers squad, she was just a volunteer parent helping out with the community's Jr. Tigers Cheerleading League for her three daughters.

When the position opened up for head coach, Dyal jumped on the opportunity. She took over the position from her own high school cheerleading coach.

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"I cheered in high school at Marple in 1988," said Dyal. "I actually took the position of coach after my own cheerleading coach retired."

Having a huge impact on her own life, Dyal said she's learned some of life's most important lessons from her high school cheer coach and has brought that to her own squad now.

"My cheerleading coach was a huge impact on me," said Dyal. "She taught me how to be positive and look on the bright side of things, and you determine how your life is going to be. I always tell the girls these things and want them to remember these things when they need to make a decision in life."

Cheerleading has always been a part of Dyal's life. She started to cheer on the Bengals, Newtown Township's community cheer league, when she was just around the age of 10.

"I just really like getting other students involved about school spirit–that's the biggest thing for me and get my fellow classmates to come to games to cheer our fellow athletes," said Dyal when she first became a cheerleader.

Dyal said it was her mom who always told her to "get involved." Though she also played softball as well, cheerleading stuck with Dyal throughout her schooling up until now in her position as head coach.

Dyal and her team of coaching staff has brought the program around, rebuilding the squad. This past season, the in Orlando, FL.

One of her memorable moments was receiving the bid to Nationals because, "it was the recognition of their accomplishments," said Dyal. "The girls–they bring the talent and you just try to teach them and lead them the best they can. If they weren't positive and if they weren't working hard, then this wouldn't have happened."

Dyal believes her time cheering on a squad was the "best moments" of her life. She created long-lasting friendships with her fellow cheer teammates and hopes to bring that type of memorable experience to her squad now.

"It may sound corny, but I have the best high school memories and I still get together with these people I used to cheer with," shared Dyal. "It was such a positive memory for me. Being on the team taught me to always give my best and if I respect people, they will respect me."

"Coaching to me is about building relationships with girls–it's about encouraging them and building them up and just giving them those life skills they need," Dyal continued.

Dyal is a mother of three daughters–two of which who participated on the cheerleading teams at and Marple Newtown High School. She currently works in the Haverford School District as a guidance counselor.


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