Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Blacksburg High School has a new softball coach. Former player Robyn Mann is taking over on the Bruin sideline after serving as an assistant for the program.
She was a star pitcher for Blacksburg, graduating in 2018, garnering first team all-district and second team all-region. She graduated from Virginia Tech and currently teaches math at her alma mater.
She says it is the passion she learned as a player that convinced her to apply for the position.
“I applied because I am passionate about softball and teaching,” she said. “This sport taught me a lot about myself and gave me lifelong friends and memories, so I want to give back to it in a way.”
“I’ve played softball my whole life,” she continued. “I’ve played in just about all levels – rec, travel, high school, and even some adult slow pitch. I’ve been coaching the past three years because of my love of the sport. Getting to see the same joy I have for the sport in younger generations inspires me to keep coming back.”
Mann’s goal is for everyone to have a fun, positive experience and to walk away as a better ball player in some way.
“I believe sports teach us lessons of patience, resilience, and teamwork, and I hope to build upon that within our team culture,” she said.
Mann will be the fourth coach in the past six years at Blacksburg, who finished 9-10 last season.
