Barbara Ann Dzuricsko
There is no question that Barbara Ann Dzuricsko bleeds Red and Black. The former Hickory High phenomenal athlete returned to her alma mater as a championship coach and athletic director.
She graduated from Hickory High in 1977 when she was awarded the Marsden Memorial Scholarship for "Outstanding Student-Athlete" and was high school All-American in basketball with sportsmanship and extra-curricular activities.A 4-year letter-winner in basketball, she received All-County honors her senior year and ranked in the top 10 all-time Hickory girls basketball scorers. She won all-tourney honors and MVP at the Grove City tournament.A 4-year letter-winner in track and field, she was a District 10 champion in the 440-yard relay, 880 relay and 880 medley relay. She placed 6th in the PIAA state meet in the medley relay. She was a state qualifier in the 220-yard dash, placing 12th. She holds the Hickory retired 220 record. She participated in the 1974 state meet, the first year females were permitted to compete.
She went on to Slippery Rock University and was a member of the women's basketball team for two years. She received numerous school honors before graduating summa cum laude in 1981. She had a fantastic career as head girls track coach for 29 years and head boys coach for 9 years. The girls teams posted a record of 191-26 in dual meets and had 14 undefeated seasons, including 52 consecutive meet wins at one span. Her teams won 17 Mercer County titles and 8 District 10 Championships. Her 2012 squad won the PIAA state crown, while two others finished runner-up and two copped 3rd.
She was honored as the 2012 PIAA Co-Head Coach of the Year for female teams. Barb's boys track teams posted a 49-13 mark in dual meets, sweeping 2 county titles, 3 District 10 Championships, 1 PIAA runner-up place and 1 state 3rd place. She served as head indoor boys and girls track and field coach for 8 years and coached state individual event champions as well as numerous top 8 finishers.She was assistant girls basketball coach for 10 years, the 1983 squad winning a District 10 title. She also coached Hermitage Middle School teams for 8 years with a 66-17 mark. The 1984 team went 12-0, the only Hermitage Middle School unbeaten team in school history.
Barb has worked as supervisor of athletics and activities for the Hermitage School District from 2002 until the present. During her tenure, Hickory won 9 Si Lyman Awards from the Mercer County Hall of Fame. She served in several capacities for the District 10 Committee and was former executive secretary of the Mercer County Athletic Conference.She also ran various track meets and was District 10 Track and Field Meet director from 2001-14, a post she will again assume this year.