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John L. Braese
LA GRANDE – Looking back at her collegiate career, Maggie Ledbetter has done it all. All American. School records. Success and accolades. And as she leaves the campus of Eastern Oregon University with a master’s degree, Ledbetter is following a family dynasty in the education field, accepting a teaching and coaching position with the Elgin School District.
“I actually attended Elgin until I was a sophomore in high school before transferring to Cove,” said Ledbetter. “I will be the fifth generation of my family to teach in Elgin.”
Looking back at an outstanding career both in high school and at the college level, one coach’s action made the difference.
“I was throwing discus and attended a throwing camp the summer before my senior year at Cove,” Ledbetter recalled. “A coach at the camp made me sign up for shot put. That one push changed my entire life.”
Ledbetter went onto a state title her senior year as a Leopard and as a freshman for the Mountaineers, broke the discus record. Her sophomore year at Eastern Oregon University saw an indoor shot-put record go her way as well as an outdoor record in the event. Ledbetter also holds a top three ranking in both the outdoor and indoor hammer events.
While obtaining her master’s degree in education, Ledbetter continued piling up awards including All-American, the West Region’s Women’s Field Athlete of the Year according to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association and a national title in the shot put at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“At this point, I think my athletic career is over,” Ledbetter said. “I will be teaching seventh and eighth grade English and a history class in Elgin. I do want to coach.”
“We are incredibly excited to have Maggie join our team in Elgin,” said Dawn Guentert, principal of Elgin High School.
The new Elgin teacher said she wishes to give back some of the joy and success she experienced to a new generation of track and field athletes.
“Down the road, I would like to start an eastern Oregon throwing club,” she said. “I loved my sport so much I lived my sport. I want to show athletes that is up to them to make it. I threw on the weekends and before and after practice. To succeed takes a lot of time and hard work. I am looking forward to passing that on to the next generation.”