Tyler Mahaffey, male recipient of the 2024 C.S. “Pop” Kelchner Award and 2024 Palmyra graduate, was honored toward the end of the year at the Central Chapter PA Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Schools in the region nominate one male and one female student who shows high levels of athletic talent, academic achievement and personal character. The Central Chapter PA Sports Hall of Fame chooses the overall winners from the list of students based on supporting materials they put together, Mahaffey said.
Mahaffey had a high school tennis career full of success alongside his twin brother.
They had four consecutive District 3 Class 3A doubles championships and three straight 3A state championships.
Read More: Mahaffey brothers set to conclude high school tennis career with potential 3-peat
“I was just really excited because my brother was, at the time there, a finalist for the [John] Travers Award, and I think it was a very exciting time seeing the success and that both of us had the recognition for what we had done in high school,” Mahaffey said.
He said recognition as achievements happen is important, but it was great to earn an award acknowledging all of his efforts — athletic, academic and personal character — combined.
“It’s important to always be recognizing that you’re achieving your goals as they’re being accomplished,” Mahaffey said. “That’ll be like having a good match during the year, doing well on a test, or anything like that, but to have that really summative recognition of the effort you put in — it felt great and it’s very gratifying.”
His drive for success was more well-rounded than just on the tennis courts, though.
Mahaffey graduated in the top five in his class of around 300 students, was president of Palmyra’s National Honor Society chapter, vice president of his class and had real-life work experience serving as an intern with multiple local political campaigns.
“I was pretty involved,” he said. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes into that, and a lot has to do with having great family support, friends and coaches that really drive you to succeed. I think that really came a lot from my parents, my brother and my extended family that are extremely supportive.”
The twins both moved on to their college tennis careers, playing at Lafayette College in Easton.
Mahaffey is majoring in government law and is already studying for the LSAT. With the many college credits he worked for while at Palmyra, he said he will graduate in three years.
And that will likely be the end of his competitive tennis career.
“I’m trying to enjoy my last couple years playing competitively,” Mahaffey said. “I’m sure I’ll play recreationally, and then I’m trying to get the most out of school in that time as well to prepare for whatever’s next.”
He said even once he moves on from the sport, he will take many lessons along with him. Mainly, consistency.
“Tennis is not a sport where you can play three days a week and do well. It really requires you hitting a tennis ball six, seven days a week,” he said. “When you’re working a difficult job or something entry-level or really just anything in life, I think having the ability to really be able to buckle in and go at it and work hard every day is something that invaluable in many different arenas of life.”
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