This is the third of five stories profiling the 2011 Mars Athletic Hall of Fame inducteesPETROLIA — What better person to vouch for a person's athletic abilities than a former coach?A couple of years ago, former Mars High volleyball and girls basketball coach Marcia Semple contacted one of her former players, Michele Boyle-Merchant.“She urged me to fill out an application for the Mars Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Merchant. “So, I did.”A three-sport star at Mars High before graduating in 1975, Merchant will be one of five people included in the district's 2011 Hall of Fame class.“Michele was like so many of the kids I coached,” said Semple. “She not only had great ability, but was so dedicated and very respectful.“I'm very proud to have coached kids like that.”Merchant was a varsity player for two years in both volleyball and basketball. She starred for all four years in track and field.“I always enjoyed sports,” said Merchant, who grew up in Adams Township. “But there were no youth sports for girls when I was growing up, so I didn't play anything organized until high school.”During her freshman and sophomore years, Merchant competed in sprint and hurdle events on the track team. A leg injury in her junior campaign forced a move to throwing events, which proved to be a good fit.“My junior year, I was in the shot put and softball throw,” she said. “That was the last year for the softball throw, the next year girls started throwing the javelin.“I hold the school record in the softball throw of 186 feet,” she added. “Obviously, that's never going to be broken.”During her four years, Merchant and the Planets' track and field team never lost a meet.Her efforts in three sports earned Merchant the Maude Neithercoat Award at the end of her senior year. The honor is still presented annually to the Mars senior female athlete who excels in both athletics and in the classroom.“I shared the award with Kim Courson (2007 inductee),” said Merchant. “It was a big deal for me.”Merchant's respect for Semple has not waned over the years.“She was a mainstay at Mars,” she said. “She brought girls sports to the forefront for kids like myself.“Sports were my outlet,” added Merchant. “When I think back to those days, I always have a smile on my face.”Dan and Michele Merchant live in Petrolia and have been married nearly 32 years. The couple has two grown sons, Brian (30) and Stephen (27).

Note: The 2011 inductees will be honored at a dinner at Mars Middle School prior to the Sept. 16 home varsity football game against Hampton. A $20 ticket buys admission to the dinner and game. For details, call 724-625-9380.