Every so often, we have the opportunity to surround ourselves with certain people who have done something to make a difference in our society. Either good or bad, most of these people have left their mark on something they’ve either changed or participated in, building a legacy of their own.
Here at WHS, there is a woman who has left her name in many people’s hearts as her life has gone on. Growing up with her life revolving around sports, Susanne Tweeton (staff) has always had a distinctive love for not only the games but the community that comes with it. Keeping a love for sports in her heart, she continues to have a remarkable influence on sports here at the high school as the athletics administrative assistant.
Assistant principal Eric Johnson (staff) is one of the many people who have the opportunity to personally know and work with Tweeton. Not only does he believe she’s a great person, but he also believes that her impact here is far greater than perceived.
“She is a passionate sports junky as I would refer to her as. She loves sports and knows a ton about sports. She’s always cranking out trivia questions, and she really, really enjoys watching kids have fun participating in athletics,” Johnson stated.
Not only did Tweeton grow up involved in sports, but she also placed her interests in things that had been the complete opposite. After being recruited by her high school’s baseball coach, she wanted to get involved in her school’s journalism program.
“Our head baseball coach was also our English and journalism teacher. I was the baseball manager, so he kind of recruited me to come out into journalism. I was the sports editor back when we hand-typed the newspaper before computers were around,” Tweeton explained.
While still keeping her love for sports, she embraced sports writing. Mostly writing about sporting events, her love was able to grow into something much bigger than before.
“I covered most of our games and then when our newspaper came out twice a week, I would have little articles on how the basketball team did, how the football team did and kind of the color person giving the synopsis of the game and how it ended,” Tweeton stated.
Back in the 1970s, Tweeton decided she wanted to not only prove to herself but prove to others that she and other women could compete in sporting events just like guys did. Being a big advocate of football led her to a nationwide contest called the “Punt, Pass and Kick” contest.
“Girls couldn’t participate, but I decided that I wanted to participate because I was a big football kid. So my dad and I came to the regional competition in the state of Virginia and they said, ‘Girls can’t do this.’ So we said, ‘Show us that in the rulebook,’ and it wasn’t there. So I was able to compete and I placed third,” Tweeton explained.
Not only did sports have a big impact on her but on her family members as well. While all of her children played sports collegiately, they continued to have their mom present, supporting them from day one. Audrey Tweeton, her daughter, grew up, striving to fill the shoes her mother had made for her.
“My mom has always supported both my sports career as well as my older brothers’. From the early days in youth rec leagues to the more competitive stages of my athletic journey, she had been my biggest cheerleader. Whether it was driving me to and from practice and games or simply showing rain or shine, I know she sacrificed a lot,” A. Tweeton stated.
S. Tweeton was always a big advocate for her children, hoping that sports would take them far. A. Tweeton embraced this same love for sports.
“Audrey went to college at the University of Michigan her first two years before transferring to CSU. I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm in May of 2021. Although predicted to not make it through brain surgery, I did and recovered well. But she felt the need to be closer to home just in case,” S. Tweeton explained.
While training her children to be the best versions of themselves, she has also trained them to be powerful and hard-working athletes.
“Her children were all very competitive athletes and participated at the highest levels of collegiate athletics and are still involved as coaches,” Johnson said.
Some would say that she’s left a remarkable legacy that continues to grow while still staying humble and compassionate. As her un-denying love for sports still grows, she still finds any possible ways to keep herself involved.
“Sports are a huge part of her life. She was an athlete growing up and participated in a bunch of sports. She’s still a competitive athlete — loves participating in hockey, golf, tennis and all kinds of really fun things that she likes to stay active and involved in,” Johnson stated.
But as time continues to pass, thinking about the impact she’s made on many girls’ lives has stuck out to her. How could her love of the game affect so much more than just her?
“Anyone who knows my mom well can attest that her love for sports runs very deep. She doesn’t just follow a singular sport, team, level, etc., but simply loves all areas. Whether it’s the Little League World Series or the Olympics, she is always watching and supporting. That’s why I know she loves this job so much because she’s always been invested in high school sports, even after my brothers and I was no longer playing,” A. Tweeton explained.
