Bonnie Tyler ‘BT’
Bonnie Tyler ‘BT’
Bonnie’s time at Avon High was all about providing opportunities for girls to grow through athletics. She began her teaching career in 1965 at Winthrop (Maine) High School, where she began a field hockey program for girls and coached basketball and softball. When Bonnie came to Avon in 1969, she started a field hockey program and took over the girls’ basketball program. “In the years before 1969, the girls (basketball team) hadn’t scored in double figures,” Bonnie said. “I am proud to say we went on to become a very competitive and respected team in the valley.” The CIAC field hockey tournament began in 1973 and under Bonnie, the Falcons qualified to play in the tournament each year. Bonnie was a member of the CIAC Field Hockey Committee and the Northwest Conference Field Hockey Committee, serving as the chairperson in 1977. Bonnie coached the Falcons for 17 years, leading Avon to two state championships in 1983 and 1984 and three league championships in 1976, 1982 and 1984. The 1983 Falcon squad beat Old Saybrook, 3-2 in overtime in the title game, and was the first Avon High girl’s program to win a state championship. They became just the second Avon field hockey team to finish the season without a loss. Also, in 1983 they were the only team in the state (in all divisions) to go unbeaten and finished the season with a (15-0 -4) record. In 1984, the Falcons won a share of the North Central Connecticut Conference title in their first year in the league and beat Weston, 3-2 to win the state championship. Avon (17-1-1) set a program record for most wins in a season that still stands today. In addition to field hockey, Bonnie coached middle school basketball as well as track and field. Bonnie also coached an intramural volleyball program at the high school with over seventy students participating annually. She was named Connecticut’s physical education teacher of the year in 1990 by the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. In 1991, she was the Eastern District (Maine to Florida) physical education teacher of the year. In 2001, Bonnie was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments and contributions in the advancement of girls and women’s sports. In 2005, she was inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2009 at the 10th anniversary of the Connecticut Hall of Fame, Bonnie was one of the people selected as part of their “Commemorative Program” for having led the way in Connecticut field hockey history. “Bonnie would be the first to tell you that she always coached to win, but not at all costs as along with winning, she tried to coach her players to have good camaraderie, teamwork and as athletes representing their school to be positive role models on and off the field,” said Avon High field hockey coach Terri Ziemnicki, who played under Bonnie as a high school student at Avon.