Elizabeth C. Katona

• Post by: mcalibrary
• December 19, 2023
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INDUCTEE

Betty Katona has spent a good part of her life in the water. She comes from a family which loved swimming and water sports, and as a result became very good at it at a very early age. Her brother, John Marcinek, built a solid reputation as a diver on a national basis…and together they gave swimming and diving exhibitions at the Shamokin Valley Counrty Club and Philadelphia Country Club.

In the early 60’s, Pete Knoebel asked Betty to take over their “Learn to Swim Porgram” at the Elysburg pool. When she begins her 30th year this summer, she will have taught more than 3500 kids to swim and trained more than 500 lifeguards.

In the late 60’s she was hired by Mt. Carmel Area School District to be a Physical Ed Aide and to start a water safety program. She developed enough interest in swimming among the student body to start a Varsity Swim Team, and she was head coach for 10 years. During her tenure as coach, three of her divers qualified for state championships and two other swimmers got partial scholarships to swim in college.

She retired from the school district two years ago; but has stayed active in swimming. She is a swim official and still gives private lessons at Knoebels. Her son, Tim Katona, was a state champion burdler and is also a member of the Hall of Fame.