Congratulations to Lisa Pawlik!
The storybook of Lisa Pawlik’s career had came to a conclusion when Pawlik was honored at the Sports Hall of Fame for her position as Penn High School’s assistant volleyball coach. Honored on Friday, November 7, Pawlik had a lot to say of her career.
Starting off, I asked Lisa if she could provide a timeline of events of her career.
“I played volleyball in high school at Warren Central then I went to Ball State and also played there. My first coaching job was student teaching at Lauren Central, then on to Mount Vernon, Indianapolis, and then, finally, to Penn High School,” said Pawlik. She has definitely had much experience with different schools, athletes, and different ways of figuring out just how to make a team successful. Her career as a head coach lasted about twenty-eight years. Having such a long career of coaching, Pawlik reveals some of the highlights over the years.
“Well, there is so many! I loved to practice. I loved to see the determination in the girls eyes and to be able to see them learn something and practice, and then finally put that in a match.The culmination in the twenty-eighth year of the state championship with my daughter and my sister with my assistant coach was pretty storybook. It felt like a divine intervention. We went ‘39-1’ with that state championship,” said Pawlik. The interest was high when she mentioned how she worked with her sister and daughter.
“It was incredible! The match was actually at the arena at Ball State university, so it was great because my sister and I played there, and it was my daughter’s senior year. It was ultimately more about the team and comradery of the kids, and even all of the girls who have came before them and laid down the path for them to be a part of the state championship. I felt like we won it for everyone. All of the girls that have ever played here, they really just owned it all. Without the start, you can’t have the finish,” said Pawlik. Mrs. Pawlik gives her reflections on Ms. Hendricks being the new head volleyball coach at Penn High School.
“Well, it’s funny because I actually coached against Ms. Hendricks when she was a player, and then I also coached against her when she was a coach. She was able to step into what I am created, and she had that passion to be able to carry on the program, and continue a legacy for them to be able to win the state championship the following year. It truly touched my heart to be able to know that I left the team in good shape and was able to continue,” said Pawlik. Despite the past rivalries, Pawlik respects Hendrick’s passion and love for the sport. It also meant a lot to Pawlik that Hendrick’s wanted to be a part of Penn High School’s program.
“It’s just important to have fun and love the game. Win or lose, love the game, love supporting Penn,” said Pawlik.
Pawlik also dove into the most anticipated question of why she loved the sport of volleyball so much.
“As a child, I wasn’t the most athletic kid, so it was a sport that I was able to do and enjoy, and I think the love of that growing up helped. Kids love to play. They were able to step in and be able to find something. People play it anywhere – church picnics, reunions, and anywhere else. You can play it for the rest of your life! I think it was mostly for the love of the kids, really. They came in, and they wanted to be a part of the sport. They wanted to believe we could win, and with that, we were pretty successful,” said Pawlik.
Having such a lovely and fulfilling career, there wasn’t really anything that Pawlik could possibly want to change.
Over the fourteen years coaching at Penn High School, Lisa Pawlik has had a wonderful time with the athletes, and the overall experience with the sport. Lisa tells the current team to love the game, get into it, and overall, just have fun! If you happen to see Pawlik around, make sure to give her a warm congratulations for her outstanding achievement of being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame!
Mikan Gensic 
Nathan Zizzo