Janet Bachna, Kent State (Gymnastics)
Janet Bachna helped start the Kent gymnastics program in 1959 and was involved as the coach of the women’s team until her retirement in 1991. During this time the Lady Flashes participated in the AIAW National Championships 11 consecutive years. She became the first female judge from the United States to serve as a judge in international finals competition when she judged the World Gymnastics Championships held in Prague, Czechoslovakia in 1962.
Bachna helped organize the Gymnastics in Motion program that was a highlight of Kent Gymnastics from 1964-1989. She guided the Lady Flashes to four consecutive Ohio State Championships (1975-78) and four MAC championships (1981-84-88-89). Bachna was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984 and she coached both the United States Pan-American and Olympic Gymnastics Teams.
A native of Canton, Ohio, Bachna served as Kent’s cheerleading advisor for five years. She was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for Women’s Gymnastics for 12 years (1960-72) and Chair of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics for six years (1964-69). She received an Honorary Varsity “K” from secretary and vice president and received the Kent Distinguished Service Award in 1969.
Bachna attended Ohio Western University and also taught in the Canton Public Schools for eight years. She was inducted into the U.S. Gymnastics Federation Judges’ Hall of Fame in 1979, the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in 1992.
