The wait is over.

Lebanon Beaver Valley won back-to-back Class D volleyball state titles in 1972 and 1973.

But the NSAA never handed out medals until years later. So, head coach Ray Godtel and his wife Gloria decided to honor their team 50-years later.

“I may just be standing up there crying, I may not be able to talk,” said head coach Ray Godtel.

On Saturday at Southwest high school the girls from that champion teams of Lebanon Beaver Valley were awarded their medals in a beautiful ceremony.

“Fifty-years ago it doesn’t seem like its been that long,” said Char Schnell a member of the 1972 undefeated championship team. “I think we could’ve beat any team in the state then and when we were at the state tournament, we were the best team their we really were.”

Coach Godtel thrived allowing his girls to be themselves but pushing them to go the extra mile.

“He was ahead of his time with circuit training weight lifting, we worked very hard we were so stiff and sore, and he motivated us and took a group of then girls that had a lot of athletic and raw talent and gave us the skills technique and drive to win two state volleyball champions,” said Brenda Orvis a member of both championship teams.

“When I coached it was basically men coaching, they brought along the evolution of coaching and going back to title IX giving players the opportunity,” said Gotdel.

Coach was a pioneer and it showed as his teams showed out on the biggest stage.