1972 Sharon Schoelkopf

1972 Sharon Schoelkopf

Sharon Schoelkopf, (born, raised, and still living in Sumneytown),is a 1972 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School. Sharon was part of the first freshman class to attend the new high school. While at UPHS, she played on the varsity field hockey team for four years. She was named the outstanding field hockey player her senior year. Sharon also swam freestyle and butterfly for four years and dove her senior year. She played on the basketball team for four years and was team co-captain her junior year. Rounding out her sporting endeavors at UP, Sharon was also a cheerleader for three years, missing her junior year. She was co-captain her freshman year.

Sharon attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1972-1976 where she earned a BS in Health and Physical Education. While there she swam and dove on the university women’s swim team for three years. During her senior year, she played on a field hockey club team. 

After a year off from studying, Sharon joined her mentor, athletic trainer Tim Kerin, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She earned her MS in Health and Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. During her time at UT, Sharon worked with all of the women’s teams. At the time, Pat Head Summit was the women’s basketball coach at UT. A renowned and well-respected coach, Sharon felt privileged to work with her. Sharon was also able to work with the football team her final fall semester. She was the first female athletic trainer to work for Coach John Majors. The experiences and education she received at UT were invaluable as she moved to the next step in her career. 

Sharon’s next move took her to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She was hired as the Head Women’s Athletic Trainer, where she worked for four and a half years. She and her assistant covered all the practices and events for ten women’s teams. If it hadn’t been for a trip to Italy, Sharon would probably have stayed there

.
Sharon moved home in fall of 1984. She attended Kutztown University, earning 20 credits and credentials to teach biology. After failing to land a job overseas with the DOD, she became the first athletic trainer at UPHS working with Coach Mike Duka. The following year, she was hired to teach science classes and continue her work as the school’s athletic trainer. She continued to fill that role for 32 years. During that time, she was awarded the Joe Ricapito Memorial Award for her dedication to Upper Perk athletes.