TORRINGTON – After 18 years at the helm of the Torrington Trailblazer tennis program, Mary Perkins has decided to hang up her whistle and clip board and step down from the head coaching position.
Perkins said that it simply felt like the right time to resign.
“Coaching is very time consuming. I have missed some key events in my children’s lives,” she said. “In middle school and high school, they knew I would miss some of their games. I was fortunate enough to have my youngest son as a varsity player for four years, so that was a bonus.
On top of being able to devote more time to her family, Perkins said she will be able to devote more time into her own time playing on the court competitively. Throughout her time in Torrington, Perkins has gone down several competitive avenues and now she can explore more options to get back on the court.
“There are multiple league teams I want to play on before I’m too old,” Perkins said. “Most of the league tournaments are in August and September, so I have turned down the opportunity to play. I will now have the time to play competitively.”
Since 2002, Perkins has coached several regional champions and some Blazers that have reached the podium at the state tournament. The 2003 girls team placed second at the regional tournament. She noted that the Mullock sisters helped propel the Lady Blazers during the 2000’s.

“In 2002, Andrea (Mullock) Matlock won the regional title at No. 1 singles and finished third at state. Two more of the Mullock girls made their mark in Blazer history,” Perkins said. “Michelle helped in doubles and Mandy finished her senior year (2007) with a third-place finish at state.”
Nicole Scott, the No. 2 singles player from the regional runner-up team in 2003 took fourth at the state tournament. She took a special interest in the Perkins family, marrying Mary’s son Seth. Matt, Mary’s other son, was under the tutelage of Mary for four years while at Torrington High School and their tennis bond spanned past his Blazer uniform.
“We played mixed doubles several times on a league team that advanced to the Las Vegas district tournament,” Perkins said. “I was glad to be his partner.”
Perkins said that 2010 was the start of a strong boys team at Torrington, starting with Ryan Kelly and Nick Bower taking the regional title in No. 1 doubles.
In recent action, Perkins coached two all-state tennis players in Tyler Ring and Jade Palmer-Miller. Ethan Creager, Abigail Mitchell and Sydney Hill all picked up all-conference honors during the 2016 season.
“2016 – my last year will always be a strong memory,” Perkins said. “Watching Tyler Ring play No. 1 singles all four years, earning all-conference and all-state honors is a great memory. Watching Ethan Creagar, Chase Bergeson, Abbi Mitchell, Sydney Hill and Jade Palmer-Miller earn conference recognition in the same year was huge.”
Despite coaching several tennis players over the past 18 years, Perkins said one athlete stood out.
“Travis Sims came out for the team his junior year – he had been fighting cancer since the end of his freshman year,” Perkins said. “He worked with me in the gym all winter and was ready for the season when he got more bad news. He continued to come to practice when he was able. I learned so much from him. He has left a true mark on my heart and I will always remember – ‘attitude is everything.’”
Perkins’ tennis mind was felt beyond Goshen County. She was the tennis representative for the Wyoming Coaches Association for seven years and worked on changing the tennis landscape across the state.
Although Perkins has given up command of the tennis program, she will still be a fixture at Torrington tennis matches.
“I will be at all the home matches,” she said. “The seniors will be the heart of the team so I can’t wait to watch them, especially Ethan Creagar and Jade Palmer-Miller at No. 1 singles. Clay and Kelly Peterson are going to be amazing. The younger players showed so much improvement last season, so they will be fun to watch.
“I love tennis, I love the players and it will be hard not holding the reigns.”