Nancy L. Noble
When you think of multi-sport talent at Ashland High School in the late 1970’s, the name Nancy L. Noble comes to mind. Nancy was born in Ashland and was very competitive from an early age. She began her athletic career by participating in the summer programs offered by the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department. There, her strong desire for athletics was developed. By the time she graduated from Ashland High School in 1977, she earned 11 varsity letters in three years: three in tennis, three in basketball, three in track, one in golf, and one in volleyball. She was named Ashland High School Athlete of the Year in 1977.
She played on the first-every girls tennis team her sophomore year and her senior year was captain of the team that was 17-3, and won the first-ever Cardinal Conference Championship. This team also won the 1976 North Central Coaches Association Championship and the Northeastern State Team Championship finishing as one of the top four teams in the state. Also that year she won the 1976 first doubles AAA sectional championship with partner Penny Perez and placed third in the district.
Basketball highlights include her senior year she was captain, most valuable player, leading scorer and rebounder. The team record was 11-5 and they were the AAA district finalists.
In track she was most valuable player her junior and senior season scoring the most individual points both seasons. Nancy held the school records in the shot putt, discus, 440-yard dash, and 880-yard medley relay teams. She was named team captain her senior season and qualified for district in 80 yard hurdles and shot putt in 1976 and shot putt in 1977.
Nancy began her college education at Ohio State University and continued her athletic career by playing junior varsity basketball for the Lady Buckeyes her freshman year. From there she transferred to William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for her sophomore year. In the next three years there she earned seven varsity letters and two junior varsity letters: three varsity tennis, three varsity softball, one track, and two junior varsity basketball.
College tennis highlights included winning three first doubles Iowa State Championships (Division III AIAW), 1978-1980, with partner Cathy Kraft of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and a second place at first singles in 1978. She was named most valuable player in 1979 and was team captain in 1980.
Her 1980 Division II softball team finished with a record of 31-7 and won the AIAW Iowa State Championship, was second at the regional and received an at-large bid to the National Tournament. She played all outfield positions and was designated hitter.
After graduation in 1981 with a degree in Elementary Education, she was hired by Ashland City Schools to teach and coach assistant varsity volleyball/track, and basketball, grades 8 through junior varsity. She is present the head Ashland High School Girls Varsity Golf Coach and has taught at Lincoln Elementary School for 18 years.
Nancy began playing much more golf after graduation and has had great success in the area, winning the Brookside Golf Course Championship 10 times and the Country Club of Ashland Championship four times. She has participated in the Ohio State Amateur Championship every year since 1990, qualifying for the Championship Flight in 1992 at Mohawk Country Club. She is a member of the Greater Cleveland Golf Association and has won various events since 1990. She has had a hole-in-one twice in her golf career.
She furthered her education at Ashland University graduating with her masters degree in elementary administration. She is member and past president of the Ashland Teachers Association, a member of OEA and NEA, and is a member of the Ohio High School Golf Coaches Association.
Nancy is the daughter of Barbara L. Noble-Malone and the late James W. Noble and she has one sister, Jill Noble-Ashton. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys playing golf and traveling.
Nominator: Joy Roberts Bachman
