Ninaleigh Stratton Wozniak

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As a child, Ninaleigh participated in the Jr. Olympic track competition at Kirby Park. After winning her track event’s, she qualified for a meet in Philadelphia. Inadvertently, information on swimming were mailed to her family and they joined the “Y” swimming program. By age 12, Nina became the “Y’s” first state champion in two events.

In high school, Nina lettered in both swimming and softball. She swam for the WVW District and League Champions earning District and State recognition. As the co-captain of the WVW Swim team, she learned that leading by example is crucial to the team’s success and it often meant to put the needs of the team before her own. A multi-event swimmer, Nina often swam different events to help her team score points in meets. As a softball player, she achieved All Scholastic Honorable Mention, named to the Suburban News All Star team, and played for the “Y” s State Championship Softball team at the National ASA Class A Fastpitch tournament in Colorado. Nina graduated and earned a degree in Mentally and/or Physically Handicapped, K-12 from Bloomsburg State. She swam three years qualifying for the championships each year. Nina student taught locally and volunteered for the Special Olympics eventually becoming the Competition Director for Luzerne County. Nina was a substitute teacher after graduation in May and subbed for the L.I.U.18 and local school districts.

Wyoming Area’s head coach from 1982-84, Nina’s girls’ team were undefeated in league and district championships for two years with a 25-1-0. She earned Coach of the Year from 1982-84 establishing six district records, All State and All-American Consideration, eleven swimmers named to All-Star team and two MVP’s. All 11 events on the record board were broken each year. Nina loved coaching and the challenges it presented, especially helping her athlete’s reach and surpass their goals. Coaching was extremely important and personal to her but employment was a high priority after graduation for Nina. A wrong turn after an interview in Maryland, led to an interview and employment by the L.I.U.12 in New Oxford, Pa. Nina taught and coached volleyball at New Oxford Jr/Sr High School and diving for South Western High School, in a neighboring district.

Nina returned to her Alma Mater to teach and coach at WVW in 1987. As girl’s head coach, Nina integrated coaching techniques with new and innovative styles and wanted to see every athlete achieve success. Hard work and dedication were expected of every athlete, good sportsmanship was more important than winning, and learning how to win or lose gracefully was instilled in the team. Academics were a number one priority for her athletes and many earned scholarships and opportunities that would not have been available without her.  WVW won 81 consecutive League meets, 7 district and 6 consecutive league championships, achieved All-American status, National ranking, US Open Qualification, National cuts, High School National Championship qualifiers, and became District Champion record holders and Coach of Year awards.

Nina has coached the Keystone Games, U.S.A FAST, PIAA swimming and diving, cross country, and volleyball. She has officiated District II Championships and PIAA State Swimming and Track Championships, Divisions I, II and III Collegiate Level Championships, USA, Masters, Seniors, Age group and Unified meets in track and swimming for 41+ years.  Nina has used each experience throughout her life as an opportunity to learn and improve, to help others achieve more than they believed they could and to form lifelong friendships.

She has been supported her entire life by her loving family and currently resides with her husband, Thomas and son, Tyler, in Forty Fort.