Arnold named Middle School Coach of the Year

Unbeknownst to Creston Middle School cross country coach Maggie Arnold, Panther high school coach Pat Schlapia had nominated her for Iowa High School Track and Field and Cross Country Coach of the Year.

As it was announced on Nov. 7, Arnold had won the award along with Linda Rowe of Davis County.

Arnold, unaware beforehand of the award, was notified by Schlapia that she had been selected.

“It means quite a bit to me. It was just Pat Schlapia nominated me and he is very thoughtful about things like that. He makes sure to let me know how appreciative he is,” said Arnold. “I’m very humbled that he thought of nominating me for the award in the first place.”

As a middle school coach Arnold has realized that the amount of growth and dedication that can develop during the seventh to eighth grade years can be the driving factor for continuing a sports into the high school ranks and potentially beyond.

“I love the middle school level. That’s really where their passion for athletics starts. I take it very seriously and treat it like a varsity sport,” said Arnold. “I think it’s important and I think it’s important that these kids get the same mount of attention that varsity athletes do. I think that really gets them excited to compete up to their potential as well.”

Arnold noted she hadn’t won any other coaching awards to this point, but received congratulations from some of the parents of kids she had been coaching.

While thanking the support of the parents Arnold also mentioned how far some of her eighth grade runners have grown over their time in the middle school program.

“I have had great parents with the group of kids that I coached this year the eighth-graders have made huge strides in the past two years and their parents have been very supportive of the process,” said Arnold.

The IATC Middle School Coach of the Year said her main coaching philosophy is to be honest and up front with her athletes.

“I just try to be very honest with the kids as far as their ability levels. We focus every day on getting better to help our team out. We have specific plans for every individual,” Arnold said. “We’ll ... adjust their training from where the start at and coach them and train them to make each one the best they can possibly be.”

Nodaway Valley’s Darrell Burmeister was selected as a girls Class 1A at-large Coach of the Year.