Retired Lawrence school district teacher and coach Patricia “Pat” Grzenda has been inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class of 2023 Hall of Fame.
Grzenda was selected to KSHSAA’s Hall of Fame for her passion for adaptive physical education as well as leading both high school swim and dive teams to several victories over her 34 years with the district.
She began coaching the Lawrence Chesty Lions in 1978 and “eventually took on the Firebirds” until she retired in 2011, according to a KSHSAA Covered article.
“During her coaching career, her teams accomplished a .850 winning percentage, 10 league championships, and eight state championships (seven girls, one boys),” according to the article. “From 1989-1994, no school other than Lawrence High hoisted the girls’ state championship trophy. Grzenda guided her athletes to 27 gold medals. In 1995, she became the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association National Boys Swimming Coach of the Year, and in 1997 and 2001, the Kansas Coaches Association Boys Swimming Coach of the Year.”
Grzenda’s contribution to swim and dive was paired with her work helping students with disabilities participate in physical activities. She earned the Kansas Master Teacher Award from Emporia State University in 2004 in honor of her “dedication and innovation in adaptive physical education” as she also served as an adaptive physical education teacher across the district, according to the news release.
Even after retirement, Grzenda’s legacy has continued. Because of her impact, the Lawrence school district named an annual adaptive triathlon after Grzenda. At the third annual Pat Grzenda Adaptive Triathlon last year, students, district staff and community members of all abilities gathered at Lawrence High to participate in the race and festivities.
Grzenda couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Monday.
The KSHSAA Hall of Fame honors alumni and retirees who made “an unusually outstanding contribution in interschool activities, either as a student with exceptional talent, or as an adult working with youth” during their time in Kansas schools, according to KSHSAA Covered. Every year, schools and communities nominate contributors to their school’s athletics and activities.
See the full list of Class of 2023 Hall of Fame inductees at this link.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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