Melissa Byler

Melissa Byler has been LVC’s Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach since 2008. Byler works specifically with the sprints, hurdles, and relays while overseeing all aspects of the program.

Prior to her time at LVC, Byler had been involved in track & field at Palmyra since 1994, beginning as a Hurdles and Sprints Coach before taking over as the Head Cross Country Coach in 1998. She took over the head job in 2000 and guided the Cougars to a district championship and state runner-up status while winning six division titles. Individually, Palmyra produced an individual state champion and 21 district champions during her tenure. She resides in Hershey with her husband, Randy, son Griffin, and stepsons, Roman and Brendan.

Coaching Highlights

• NCAA Qualifiers: During her tenure, Byler has overseen 34 athletic qualifications to compete at the DIII national championships (Cynthia “Adams” Harnish x7, Olivia Jendrzejewski x4 over 6 events,  Michael Harnish x4, Mariah Smolka x3 over 4 events, Johanna Walker x2, Jerome Duncan x2, Jennifer “Cronin” Bauer x1, Alisha Farrell x1, Andrew Goelz x1, Lauren Decker x1,  Nicholas Scullin x1, Owen Buhr x2, Michael De Falcis x1, Ian Paul x1) earning 12 All-America accolades in the process.
• Top of the NCAA: Cynthia “Adams” Harnish won the 800-meter run at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in 2:08.81, which was the fifth-fastest in NCAA Division III history at the time. Michael Harnish finished as the NCAA silver medalist in the men’s 800-meter run at the same meet. Olivia Jendrzejewski captured the high jump NCAA silver medal in 2016 and the bronze medal in 2017. In 2022, Owen Buhr finished third in the men’s 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships.
• USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year: Olivia Jendrzejewski captured this award two times (indoor 2016 & indoor 2017). Owen Buhr earned the award for the 2022 outdoor season.
• Conference Championship Success:  At Middle Atlantic Conference Championship meets, LVC has enjoyed a bevy of top-three finishes for both genders, highlighted by a three-year stretch of victories for the women’s team from 2012-2014.
  • Indoor – Men:  1 team (2023-24), 23 individual, 9 relay conference championships.
  • Indoor – Women: 3 team (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14), 23 individual, 10 relay conference championships.
  • Outdoor – Men:  1 team (2024), 31 individual, 8 relay conference championships.
  • Outdoor – Women:  23 individual, 6 relay conference championships.
• Middle Atlantic Conference Athletes of the Year:  LVC has had 15 Conference Athletes of the Year (Zach Bleiler- Outdoor Field 2009, Johanna Walker – Outdoor Track 2010, Jenn Cronin Indoor Track 2011, Johanna Walker – Indoor Track 2012, Cynthia “Adams” Harnish – Outdoor Track 2014, Michael Harnish – Indoor & Outdoor Track 2015, Mariah Smolka – Outdoor Field 2015, Olivia Jendrzejewski – Indoor & Outdoor Field 2016 and Indoor & Outdoor Field 2017, Owen Buhr – Indoor Track 2022, Noah Griffin – Outdoor Track 2023, Zach Reed – Outdoor Track 2024). The Dutchmen have also earned eight MAC Rookie of the Year titles as well (Johanna Walker – Indoor & Outdoor Track 2009, Cynthia “Adams” Harnish – Outdoor Track 2011, Ines Antensteiner – Indoor & Outdoor Track 2012, Cheyanne Brown – Indoor Track 2015, Blake Lutz – Outdoor Track 2016, Logan Grauer – Indoor Track 2019).
• Top Academic Honors: Cynthia “Adams” Harnish and Kelsey Patrick both earned COSIDA Academic All-America honors during their career three times each, while Olivia Jendrzejewski earned the designation twice. Allix Sanders, Andrew Scott, Cynthia “Adams” Harnish, and Olivia Jendrzejewski were awarded the Middle Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year distinction, given to one senior in each conference sport, recognizing an outstanding combination of athletic and academic achievement. It is considered the MAC’s highest individual honor.
• Coaching Honors: Coach Byler has been named the Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year seven times during her career (2011-12 Women’s Indoor Track & Field, 2012 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field, 2012-2013 Women’s Indoor Track & Field, 2013 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field, 2013-14 Women’s Indoor Track & Field, 2023-24 Men’s Indoor Track & Field, 2024 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field). Coach Byler has also been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year twice (2023-24 Men’s Indoor Track & Field, 2024 Men’s Outdoor Track & Field).