Hall of Fame
Betsy Taylor’s name is not only synonymous with early Missouri Southern women’s athletics but also with girls high school sports in the Joplin area.
Taylor started playing tennis the summer before her freshman year at Carthage High School and went on to play the No. 2 spot as a sophomore and the No. 1 spot her junior and senior years.
Betsy started playing in non-school related tennis tournaments at the age of 16. She won her first title that year at the Joplin Open where she beat fellow Joplin Area Sports Hall of Fame member Susie Sharp in three sets in the championship. Taylor went on to win nine consecutive individual titles while teaming up with Sharp to win the doubles championships over those years, also winning the Carthage Open tennis tournament. Taylor also played mixed doubles during this time, teaming up with Ron Edwards while being just as successful.
After graduating from high school, Betsy went on to Missouri Southern where she was a member of the first women’s basketball team (1974-75) and the first women’s team (1975) in school history. Betsy played for Hall of Fame member Sallie (Roper) Beard while at MSSU.
Following graduation from Missouri Southern, Betsy returned to her alma mater where she coached the first girls’ volleyball team in 1975 and continued to coach the volleyball Tigers until 1990. During those 15 years the Lady Tigers won 10 Southwest Conference titles and two district titles. Taylor then moved over to coach the Lady Tigers tennis team from 1990-2000 where she had a double team make it to the Missouri State High Schools Activities Association (MSHSAA) state semifinals. Taylor also coached the boys tennis team for three years during that span.
While at CHS, Taylor also founded the wellness program for teachers and staff members of the Carthage School District.
Betsy is now retired and residing in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
