BY LORI FARMER

Special to the Tribune

CLAFLIN — Legendary Claflin/Central Plains tennis coach Gary Bittner was recently honored for 40 years of service in the Central Plains school district. Bittner led the Wildcats/Oilers to three state championships and three runner-up finishes.

Claflin’s boys won the 2003 and 2007 state tennis titles and Central Plains captured the 2016 team title. 

In 2003, Spencer Musgrove placed runner-up and Jared Liebl/Caleb Klein placed third. In 2007, Taylor Bieberle was runner-up and Kyler Connell/Nolan Kempke placed third. In 2016, Michael Ryan was runner-up and Brady Rugan/Devin Ryan placed as runner-up. The Oilers were boys state runners-up in 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

Many past and present tennis players attended a reception to honor Bittner during the Claflin All-School Reunion for retiring tennis coach Gary Bittner. Claflin native Micheal Ryan will be the next head tennis coach for the Oilers.

The Claflin tennis courts are renamed Gary Bittner Courts. 

Coach Bittner liked to sing and he would arrive to the courts each day with a song. It could be over 100 degrees and Coach would be singing, “It’s a great day for T-E-N-N-I-S.” 

Bittner taught his players that you lose with dignity and you win with grace. Bittner shared plenty of good memories of his teams performed over the years. 

“You can’t put your racket away at the end of the season and expect great things to happen,” Bittner said. “It’s what you do in the off-season that makes all the difference in the world.”

Bittner said he was thankful for the opportunity coaching young men and women.

Bittner’s last act was handing the reins to Micheal Ryan, who admitted Bittner’s legacy will be a tough act to follow.

Good luck to Coach Micheal Ryan as he continues the tennis program that Coach Bittner has built.