Greta Thompson

When Title 9 became a reality in the mid-1970’s (a government law that granted girls the same rights as boys in high school sports), Greta Thompson was one of the first Astorians to hop on board and earn herself local prominence in athletics. Her time on the golf course and hardwoods would garner her a spot in Astoria High School athletic annals, and culminate with an induction into her alma mater’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Thompson would gain notoriety on the local high school basketball court, but she will be best remembered for her abilities on the golf course. As a junior in 1977, Thompson led the Fishermen to its first state title of any kind, since the 1942 hoopsters brought home hardware. Coach John Deeder’s hackers scored a 24 stroke lead over runner-up Beaverton High School for the crown. Thompson lead the locals with a four round total of 173, which was good enough to annex the fourth place individual spot. A year earlier, the Astoria lass earned a third-place finish at the state’s top high school event.

Her senior year saw Thompson lead the Fishermen to the District title and grab individual honors, with an 80, six strokes better than the second place finisher. At the state meet Astoria placed fourth and Thompson closed with a seventh place spot.

After not playing basketball in either her freshman or sophomore years, Thompson surprised Astoria basketball coach Bill Parrish by asking for a uniform as a junior and broke into the starting lineup immediately. In 1977, the Fishermen gals were 9-6 and upped that 12-10 in her senior campaign. Parrish would remember Thompson as a ferocious defender and a real find for his program.

In golfing terms, Thompson was way under par as a student. She was the Astoria High School Valedictorian at graduation time. National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll were two of the academic organization in which she held membership. She was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Most Inspirational by her classmates.

Other activities in Thompson’s busy schedule were duties as Junior class Homecoming princess and a member of the Senior Prom court. She also penned a column for the school paper, the Astor Post, called “I Won’t Putt You On.”

Thompson went on to the University of Washington in Seattle, where she found time to play golf for the Huskies while carrying a full load of classes.