Publisher's Desk

by Lisa M. Sheldon, Guest Writer

Calhoun Middle School All Sports Banquet was held last Saturday. It was, for the most part, your usual sports banquet: good food, friendly visits, and recognition of seasons well-played throughout the school year.

After the meal, athletes, parents, coaches and boosters filed into the auditorium for the awards segment. Varsity football coach Doyle Hupp, Jr., gave an inspiring talk to the young athletes about priorities and what it takes to achieve their goals, both on and off the playing field.

Then the awards began. The audience clapped as each player was recognized, but only twice during the entire event did the crowd get loud and rowdy. Those were the two times that coach Angie Hersman’s name was called to come up on stage.

Hersman returned to coaching for Calhoun this year as the assistant coach for middle school volleyball and the head coach for girls basketball. When she was called to the stage to be recognized as one of the outstanding members of the coaching staff, and then again to give the awards to her athletes, her girls clapped, cheered, yelled, and let everyone know just how they felt about their coach.

I have no girls, but due to my involvement at the school and in many areas of sports because of my own two athletes, and my association with the athletic boosters, I have had the opportunity to witness the impact coach Hersman has had on these young women.

She is both fair and firm, and that has bred respect from each team member she has coached--respect for her and themselves. She is fun and focused, which has helped the athletes enjoy their sports and excel at them. She is kind and generous, and so are her Lady Red Devils. All of these traits are ones that these young ladies will need and, hopefully, continue to cultivate as they grow.

In the scope of life, middle school coaching is not about one season or wins or loses or trophies or championships, it is about what the athletes take away when that coach watches them move on. These young women know that they love coach Hersman for the two sports seasons they shared. She has touched their lives forever.