Hall of Fame
Mrs. Michaela L. Kasner was the first female State Association President in the country when she served the New York State Public High School Athletic Association from 1984-86. Prior to her Presidency with the NYSPHSAA, Kasner was elected President of Section III in 1980, another position occupied by a female for the first time in history.
From 1955-93, Kasner was instrumental in helping escalate girls interscholastic sports “to the next level” as a coach, physical education teacher, and Coordinator of Girls Sports at Little Falls Junior and Senior High Schools. She was also influential as a member of the New York State Association of Women in Physical Education where she was elected President of the Central Zone as well as Recording Secretary.
Among her involvement within athletics, Kasner coached varsity basketball, softball, gymnastics, volleyball, archery, track & field, tennis and badminton in five different decades. From 1968-78, she also became a certified official for basketball, gymnastics and volleyball.
Her commitment to NYSPHSAA included service on its Championship Advisory Committee for 17 years and on two sport season committees. Kasner was also a member of the NYSPHSAA Executive Board and pioneered numerous NYSPHSAA initiatives including assisting in negotiating the first contract with the Carrier Dome where the football championships are currently conducted, as well as bringing the first NYSPHSAA girls basketball regional to Sections III and IV which was conducted in four classes. Furthermore, she became the first assignor of officials in the Utica chapter and as NYSPHSAA President, she initiated the search for the Association’s current office.
Born in New York City, Kasner has been inducted into the Ithaca College Sports Hall of Fame (1984), the SUNY Utica-Rome Booster Hall of Fame (1993) and the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame (1996). She was also honored by the New York State Coaches Association in 1973 and the NAGWS Pathfinders in 1997.
Kasner graduated from Ithaca College in 1950 with a Bachelors degree, and earned a Masters degree at Cortland State in 1961.