Mary Jean Taylor, whose hybrid tenure as Villa Maria/Cathedral Prep’s girls tennis coach covered the program’s greatest achievements, has retired after 11 seasons.
Cathedral Prep announced Taylor’s departure through social media last weekend. Her first nine seasons were for Villa and the last two for Prep after the Catholic Diocese of Erie’s 2022 closure of Villa.
Taylor’s retirement wasn’t limited to coaching varsity tennis. She’s also resigned as the wellness and recreation director for Gannon University, where her husband served as president for 12 years.
Keith Taylor officially stepped down as Gannon president this past June 30. The couple is in the process of moving back to their native Buffalo.
“It was a great ride,” Mary Jean Taylor said. “I can’t say anything but good things about the opportunity I was given. I had a great administration and great parents who trusted my plan for the kind of team we were going to be.”
Coaching champions
Although Mary Jean Taylor knew this past season would be her last as Prep’s coach, the players weren’t aware until later. She didn’t want her decision to be a lengthy distraction for the 2023 Ramblers.
“At some point, I finally threw it out to them this would be my last season,” Taylor said. “Then I said, ‘Hey, let’s see it we can take it all the way!’”
That’s exactly what Taylor’s team accomplished six years ago.
Taylor was hired as Villa’s tennis coach in 2014. She succeeded Kent Peightal, who retired after four seasons in charge of the Victors and 26 for Prep’s boys tennis team.
It was Taylor’s time with Villa that will be most remembered.
The 2017 Victors qualified for that year’s PIAA Class 2A team tournament as District 10’s champions. They opened with a 5-0 victory against Neshannock in a round-of-16 dual held at Pennbriar Athletic Club’s former courts.
That result advanced Villa to the main portion of the tournament at the Hershey Racquet Club. It was there the Victors eliminated Blue Mountain 5-0 in the quarterfinals and Wyomissing, the defending champion, 3-1 in the semifinals.
Villa then concluded its 19-3 season with a 3-1 win against Lower Moreland in the state final. Sarah DeMarco, Tara Thomas and Mary Catherine Prichard accounted for the Victors’ points with straight-set victories in singles.
That 2017 season also marked the start of an unprecedented three-year run of PIAA 2A doubles titles for DeMarco and Thomas. No duo has ever received that many consecutive gold medals over the state’s 50 years of girls tennis tournaments.
Taylor was Villa’s coach for all those accomplishments.
“Great things can happen when people come together,” she said.
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Taylor retained her role as coach when Prep’s girls tennis program debuted in 2022. The Ramblers not only were the district’s 2A champs that season and this past season but reached the PIAA semifinals each time.
Prep also boasted the district’s small-school singles and doubles winners for each of its two seasons of existence.
Taylor’s last appearance as the Ramblers’ coach was the weekend of Nov. 4-5 at Hershey. Anna Poranski competed in the state’s singles tournament, with Sophia Glance and Finleigh Handzel involved in doubles.
Going forward
Prep is already accepting applications for its next girls tennis coach. Those interested should contact athletic director Bill Flanagan at 453-7737, extension 2227, or by email at bill.flanagan@cathedralprep.com.
“The program is in great shape,” Taylor said. “Whoever picks up the torch, I’m super excited for them.”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Cathedral Prep seeks new girls tennis coach with Taylor’s retirement
