Inductees

Athlete Bio

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Tanya Koning Pierce

Class of 1991

A three-sport standout who was an All-Scholastic in both soccer and lacrosse, Tanya Koning Pierce was part of a high school state soccer championship and later went on to win a National Championship with the Ithaca College women's soccer team.

The younger sibling of CCHS grads Rick, Rob and Deb, Tanya started skiing at age five and playing soccer at age seven while growing up in Carlisle.

Known for her great quickness and tenacity, Koning was a standout in soccer for former Patriot great Karyn Hesse.  As a junior in 1989, Koning was named as the team’s Unsung Hero as the Patriots won the DCL title before bowing out in the semifinals of the state tournament. She saved her best for senior year, amassing 17 points and captaining the team to the fourth state title in school history, a 2-1 win over heavily favored Sutton at WPI.  A DCL All-Star and Defender of the Year, Koning was also named team MVP and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic.  She capped her career by earning All-New England honors.

Winter saw Koning zooming down the slopes as part of Coach Bob Furey’s great ski teams, as she racked up top-five finishes in each of her last three years with the program. 

After playing freshman softball, Koning picked up a lacrosse stick as a sophomore, and was a huge part of some of the most successful teams in school history as a speedy defender under coach Donna Gilbert.  The 1991 team made a deep run in to the state tournament, and Koning was named as a Boston Globe All-Scholastic in addition to earning Eastern Massachusetts Girls Lacrosse All-Star kudos.

“I really enjoyed playing soccer for Karyn Hesse, she was so determined to get us to the state finals,” said Koning. “She was so confident in our team, and she gave us her soccer psych tape from when she was in college.  I'll never forget playing with Alyse Clayman.  We played a 4-4- 2 with Alyse and I playing the two center half positions, playing off and supporting each other.   I was fortunate to play with great teammates who wanted to win every game no matter who it was against.  I have two distinct memories - I remember playing a night game at CCHS against Acton-Boxboro.  We were tied late in the game, and I received a long crossing pass from Wendy Crabtree and I one touched it into the left upper 90.  Wendy ran over and said ‘I love you.’  We won.  The second memory is the state championship game on the WPI turf.  Dana Crowley scored and she ran over to me to celebrate.  We attempted a celebratory high five/hug and fell over.  I still chuckle about that today.” 

Following graduation, Koning headed to Ithaca College, where she had a prolific four-year career in soccer.  As a freshman, she was a starter at left marking back as the Bombers wonthe NCAA Division III National Championship. Koning was named MVP of the New York State Tournament and as the Bombers’ Most Improved Player. As a senior, Koning was team captain for the New York state champions and was named as a Division III All-American.  Tanya also was also team MVP, won the Linda Buettner Soccer-Fice Award as well as the NY State Women’s Team Player of the Year and was the Empire Athletic Association Athlete of the Year.  

Koning holds a Soccer coach license “C,” and coached U12 boys and High School JV Soccer while living in Billings MT in the late 1990’s.  She has also been an Adaptive Ski instructor. A Physical Therapist currently on maternity leave, Tanya lives in New Boston NH with her husband, Chris and their two children, Kaya (5) and Willem (1).