Maybe there is a lesson about coaching in the
success story of Dale Meddock. Although he was never a gymnast
himself, he compiled the best coaching record in Beaver County
athletic history as coach of the famous Ambridge High School
gymnastic squads from 1971 to 1984. During that time his amazing
Bridgers won 187 dual meets while losing only one to Butler. No
other Beaver County coach has come close to that record in any
sport. Ambridge High School gym teams coached by Dale won 12
straight WPIAL titles from 1973 to 1984 and eight consecutive PIAA
state championships after the sport was recognized on that level in
1977. Although Ambridge High had no formal gym team in 1985, Coach
Meddock took five athletes to the state meet and they placed second.
Believe it or not, Dale said that he got his start as a gymnastics
coach by accident. It all started when Dave Repp, an eighth grader in
one of his physical education classes at Baden-Economy Junior High
School, liked gymnastics so much that he asked to go to a meet at
Washington & Jefferson College. Dale obliged and from then
on he and his athletes learned the sport together. “I’m a better man
today because of them,” he said modestly. Dale is proudest of the fact
that most of his gymnasts went on to successful college careers.
Dale also coached gymnastics at the Rochester Turners and the
Ambridge Turners. He graduated from Warren High School in 1956 and
from Slippery Rock State College in 1960.
Maybe there is a lesson about coaching in the
success story of Dale Meddock. Although he was never a gymnast
himself, he compiled the best coaching record in Beaver County
athletic history as coach of the famous Ambridge High School
gymnastic squads from 1971 to 1984. During that time his amazing
Bridgers won 187 dual meets while losing only one to Butler. No
other Beaver County coach has come close to that record in any
sport. Ambridge High School gym teams coached by Dale won 12
straight WPIAL titles from 1973 to 1984 and eight consecutive PIAA
state championships after the sport was recognized on that level in
1977. Although Ambridge High had no formal gym team in 1985, Coach
Meddock took five athletes to the state meet and they placed second.
Believe it or not, Dale said that he got his start as a gymnastics
coach by accident. It all started when Dave Repp, an eighth grader in
one of his physical education classes at Baden-Economy Junior High
School, liked gymnastics so much that he asked to go to a meet at
Washington & Jefferson College. Dale obliged and from then
on he and his athletes learned the sport together. “I’m a better man
today because of them,” he said modestly. Dale is proudest of the fact
that most of his gymnasts went on to successful college careers.
Dale also coached gymnastics at the Rochester Turners and the
Ambridge Turners. He graduated from Warren High School in 1956 and
from Slippery Rock State College in 1960.