That same year, she had second-place finishes in the Eastern States Championships at Saratoga and in the Eastern Seaboard Championships. She was also third at the Lake George Silver Skates Competition. She was the Jamestown Elementary Girls Division champion in 1968 and claimed the Special Midget Division crown in 1969.Also in 1969, Hanson moved up to the Midget Division and was first in the Niagara Frontier Championships and came in third at the Saratoga Eastern States Championships.
The year of 1970 saw strong efforts in five championships. She was first in three Bantam Division events of the Ontario Open at Kitchener, Ontario picking up seconds in the Midget Division at the North America in Binghamton, the Eastern States in Saratoga and the Berkshire Hills in Massachusetts. Also, she was third at the Hall of Fame in Lake Placid.
In 1971, Hanson was second in the Eastern States at Binghamton and the Middle Atlantic at Newburgh while ranking fourth at Berkshire Hills. She defended her Ontario Open title in 1972 with a record-setting performance. Then, in the National Tournament at St. Paul, Minnesota Hanson recorded two thirds and three fourths.
Another first was recorded in the Berkshire Hills Championships. There were also a second and three thirds at the Lake Placid Diamond Trophy championships, a second, third and fourth at the Detroit Motor City Championships and an additional fourth at the Saratoga Eastern States.
Hanson had an opportunity to train with the United States Olympic Team, but the illness and death of her mother forced her to turn down the invitation.
In 1974, while competing in the Juvenile Division, she had four wins in the Kitchener Sertoma Club Championships plus two more victories and two thirds in the Eastern States at Saratoga.
Overall, Hanson competed in 26 championship speed skating competitions out of Chautauqua County with 15 victories, nine seconds, 14 thirds and six fourths.
Maple Grove Central School is where Hanson was in the spotlight by being selected Female Athlete of the Year in her senior season (1978). That year, she was the Most Valuable Player on the volleyball team and was chosen to the Division 2 All-Star Girls Basketball team. In addition, she was an outstanding softball performer.
After graduating from Maple Grove, she went to Jamestown Community College and became the Most Valuable Player on the basketball squad and the Defensive Player of the Year.
Hanson earned a softball scholarship to Bowling Green State University in Ohio and then returned to coach the softball and volleyball squads at JCC in addition to teaching physical education.
While around the area, Hanson led the War Vets to the City Modified Softball League championships two times. Then she was the volleyball and softball coach at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Pennsylvania, and the assistant women's basketball coach.
From 1986-1988, Hanson was the assistant volleyball coach at the University of South Carolina. While down in that area, she was the head volleyball coach for the Palmetto volleyball junior team and was in charge of volleyball camps in South Carolina.
From 1989 to 1998, she was the volleyball coach at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, with the best season being 24-16. Hanson was also involved in speaking at volleyball clinics.
