Nov 22, 2024 By John Sacco 6 min read

Life on the farm requires certain daily routines — milking cows, bailing hay, completing chores and so forth.

Linda Messich was focused on that routine but she’d sometimes get a little break, and she’d sneak in some time throwing a ball with her uncle or tossing it against the family’s two-story barn.

To this day, in her nearly 30 years as Mapletown High School’s athletic director, she follows a routine. No longer does she milk cows but she squeezes as much good out of the Maples’ athletic program as possible.

Bailing hay has been replaced in the daily routine with scheduling game officials, making sure all athletic transportation is in line and Mapletown’s student-athletes have what they need to succeed academically, athletically and in everyday life.

“I really enjoy working with people,” Messich said. “Athletic directors are a great bunch of people. Everyone helps one another and if you don’t help (others), you don’t last long.”

Perhaps that’s why Messich continues to last, endure and flourish. She prides herself in helping others. It’s her nature, a professional trademark.

“There’s no way I could ever have imagined still doing this,” Messich added.

Messich has served the Southeastern Greene School District as athletic director for 28 years, sharing the role with her husband, George, the first 10 years of her tenure.

She taught her first 12 years in elementary school in each grade except second before moving to physical education.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with the kids,” Linda Messich said. “It’s gratifying. When former students come back years later to provide positive feedback, it’s nice to hear. It’s nice to know you’ve touched a lot of kids’ lives.”

She’s touched lives throughout her church community, Washington and Greene counties, Western Pennsylvania and female athletics.

Multi-tasker

Linda Messich is currently the treasurer of the Washington-Greene County Sports Hall of Fame, taking over that role after the March 2022 passing of former treasurer and the organization’s cornerstone Edward E. (Eddie) Monaco.

She retired as a teacher in 2009 after 37 years, all in the Southeastern Greene School District. She is a West Greene High School graduate.

While she moves closer to full-time retirement, her work is never done. She and George – who continues as Mapletown’s football coach and is the winningest coach in Greene County history – think about the times they can share their love of hunting and fishing.

The couple spends time watching grandchildren. They have been married 16 years. They share four sons – both have a pair from previous marriages – three grandchildren and endless common interests.

“We do look forward to a time when we have more time to hunt, fish, travel and spend more time with the grandkids,” she said. “I don’t have a date for that but I have thought about it.”

Linda Messich served nearly two decades on the WPIAL Board of Control as junior high representative and for two years on the PIAA Board of Control as Girls Athletic Representative.

A longtime advocate for Mapletown student-athletes, she has played a major role in the advancement of female athletes across Western Pennsylvania and throughout the state since the early 1970s.

She has been a leader in organizations such as the Tri-County and Greene County Athletic Directors Association and the Pennsylvania Athletic Directors Association and was named the Tri-County Athletic Directors Athletic Director of the Year in 2017. She has served as secretary and treasurer of the Tri-County South Football Conference.

She has served as a playoff game manager in football, basketball and volleyball and coached girls’ basketball and softball. She was Mapletown’s girls basketball coach two different stints, 12 years total.

Messich played softball from a young girl through travel adult leagues. She was a certified PIAA basketball official.

“I try to stay flexible and stay up with the times,” she said.

A helping hand

For many years, Linda Messich worked with Pam Cherubin, who for more than a quarter-of-a-century served as the Female Officials representative for the WPIAL. She held a seat on the WPIAL Board of Control and served three terms to the PIAA Board.

The two formed professional and personal relationships.

“Linda is always willing to roll up her sleeves to help anyone,” Cherubin said. “She hosts and helps things for all (Mapletown) teams. She went to conferences to learn more. She serves on boards and in organizations and offers opinions and solutions. Linda has always fought for level playing fields.

“If you call on her, she’ll be at your doorstep. She’s a great community person. Linda is just a wonderful, giving and caring person.”

Her peers hold her in high esteem.

“She’s a West Greene girl who we are proud of,” said Bill Simms, the Pioneers’ athletic director. “But she is a Maple through and through, giving everything to that district. Her service to the WPIAL and PIAA shows how she is thought of.

“Linda has opened doors for a lot of students, athletes and female athletics.”

Scot Moore, retired Jefferson-Morgan athletic director, said those opportunities include working toward and achieving the introduction of middle school girls softball and volleyball for area teams.

“In our area, through Tri-CADA, Linda was instrumental in introducing new female middle school sports,” Moore said. “We never had volleyball and softball. We had middle school basketball and that was it for girls.

“Linda has been a driving force and we are all reaping the benefits of her vision, hard work and efforts creating new opportunities for student-athletes. She’s professional. She’s like our voice in Greene County for many years.”

Former long-time Carmichaels athletic director and softball coach John Krajnak said Mapletown’s first lady was the first female athletic director he “worked with.”

“Linda has seen a lot of changes in her time,” Kraynak said. “And affected a lot of them, too.”

George Messich gets a first-hand look at his wife’s dedication, commitment and organization.

“She is the most committed person to the tasks at hand who I know,” he said. “It is incredible the time she puts in to do the best job she can. She has been totally dedicated to Mapletown, the athletic programs, church and our family.

“I can’t say enough about her. I’m lucky she is in my life. I’m awed by her.”