Petruska

ADAMS TWP — Dana Petruska is leaving one home for another.

The Deer Lakes High School graduate spent the last eight seasons as the head girls basketball coach at her alma mater, but was recently approved for the same position at Mars, where she was head coach from 1986 to 2005 and has long been a physical education teacher.

Petruska's return to the Planets was spurred by Tony Howard's decision to take the varsity coaching position at Hampton. He served as head coach at Mars for the last eight seasons.

While at Deer Lakes, Petruska led the Lancers to an overall record of 111-71 and six WPIAL playoff appearances. The success came after the team had gone a combined 14-81 in the four years prior to her arrival.

“We had some good teams there and it was tough to leave,” she said, “but I live in Mars, about a mile and a half from the high school. I take care of my mother, who lives right across the street from me. This move was mostly based on my family situation. If I didn't get the job at Mars, I probably would have resigned from coaching.”

Petruska was selected by the school board at Mars out of approximately 15 applicants.

“She has done a great job, both at Mars and Deer Lakes,” said Mars athletic director Scott Heinauer. “It's awesome to have her back.”

Petruska's first run at Mars featured a 268-186 record in 19 seasons. The program's current streak of 19 straight trips to the WPIAL playoffs began on her watch. Following the 2004-05 season, however, the school board opened her position.

“Things work out,” she said. “I'm a stronger person because of it. When the position opened up again at Mars, I felt like I had nothing to lose by applying for it.”

Through all of her years of coaching, Petruska has never lost her passion for the game.

“That's why I'm still coaching,” she said. “I love watching young ladies mature into productive citizens. I try to teach them commitment, respect and dedication .... things that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. On the court, the number one thing I preach is hustle. You can't just walk through everything and I try to instill that in all of my players.”

Petruska, who will also serve as Mars' junior high girls coach in the fall, takes over a varsity program that just graduated a pair of 1,000-point scorers in Ali Goetz and Sara Getsy.

“That makes it tough,” she said, “but we're going to take it one day at a time. We'll get the girls working together and hopefully, find some chemistry.

“I believe the kids can be winners no matter what the scoreboard says, based on how they handle different situations.”