Sports

Costa Earns Place In RI Tennis Coaches Hall Of Fame

Carol Anne Costa, administrative assistant at Johnston Housing Authority, founded the coaches association which honored her on Nov. 10.

Carol Anne Costa, who works as administrative assistant at , was inducted into the Rhode Island High School Girls Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Nov. 10 at the West Valley Inn before a crowd of more than 500.

Costa founded the Association and held its first banquet in 1987. She served as Athletic Director and coached the tennis and basketball teams, at Bishop Keough Regional High School in Pawtucket from 1983 to 1989.

According to a press release, Costa took over a struggling team at Bishop Keough, which had made several failed attempts to field a team. Following her appointment to tennis coach, 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."

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Her teams' determination at playing in a division that also included Mount St. Charles, North Smithfield, and East Providence was featured in local newspapers and on television.

“I am so humbled and thrilled to be selected for this honor," Costa said. "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.”

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Costa also noted the impact of Title IX, the federal law that requires equal sports opportunities for men and women.

“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," Costa explained. "For this, I remain eternally grateful.”

Costa also serves as a Scituate Recreation Commissioner, and is the Chair of the St. Peter's School Development Board.


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