McNamara coach Laura Harms Sports Citizen of the Year
Jan 22, 2014 12:51:05 GMT -6
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Post by CEZAR on Jan 22, 2014 12:51:05 GMT -6
McNamara coach Laura Harms named 2013 Sports Citizen of the Year
Laura Harms places a first place medal around the neck of one of her Bishop MvNamara Catholic High School softball players after winning the state championship in East Peoria last spring. She has been named The Daily Journal's Sports Citizen for 2013.
Kyle Nabors
knabors@daily-journal.com
815-937-3373
Coach Laura Harms choked back tears while talking about her Bishop McNamara softball team.
The typically stoic third-year coach had so many thoughts running through her mind last June after the Fightin' Irish finished off an undefeated season with a state championship.
"It was pretty unbelievable that we were in that situation," she said. "To be undefeated and for the girls to be playing together so well. You know you're never going to experience something like that again."
Success didn't come overnight, but Harms' hard work is why The Daily Journal named her its 2013 Sports Citizen of the Year.
Harms, a Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School graduate and Kankakee Community College alum, took over at Bishop McNamara in 2011 after playing professional softball for six seasons with the Chicago Bandits.
Even with talent in place upon her arrival, Harms didn't immediately find postseason success.
The Irish failed to make it out of regionals after being upset by Momence in 2011. In 2012, a botched throw down to second base cost Harms' squad two runs in a one-run sectional loss to St. Joseph-Ogden.
To her credit, Harms said she would put the play on again. Though she and former pitcher Jaelen Hull said Harms wouldn't take the loss quite as hard now.
"Each year she grew more comfortable," said Hull, who is now a freshman at Bradley University and pitched all three years under Harms. "It made her relax a little bit more. Each year we learned something from the loss. It strengthened us as a team and her as a coach."
And finally the Irish and Harms broke through.
First it was a perfect run through the vaunted East Suburban Catholic Conference, where McNamara was the only Class 2A school amidst some of the most reputable 3A and 4A programs in the state.
A five-game run to the state semifinals followed in which McNamara outscored its opponents 67-2.
Once in East Peoria, the Irish narrowly held off a terrific Nashville squad before defeating Tremont for the title.
Bishop McNamara finished the season with a 35-0 record. Harms, who also had her number retired by the Nation Pro Fastpitch Chicago bandits last summer, struggled to put words to her emotions.
She focused on the tremendous talent within her ball club, but six months later, her players will still say she's the reason it all finally came together.
"You see so many great teams out there that are supposed to win and they don't," Hull said. "They don't 'show up' for one game. She had us prepared and game-ready every single game.
"It takes more than talent to make a great team. It takes a great coach who puts in the time. The amount of work she put into this program ... that's what led to us having such a great season."
Laura Harms places a first place medal around the neck of one of her Bishop MvNamara Catholic High School softball players after winning the state championship in East Peoria last spring. She has been named The Daily Journal's Sports Citizen for 2013.
Kyle Nabors
knabors@daily-journal.com
815-937-3373
Coach Laura Harms choked back tears while talking about her Bishop McNamara softball team.
The typically stoic third-year coach had so many thoughts running through her mind last June after the Fightin' Irish finished off an undefeated season with a state championship.
"It was pretty unbelievable that we were in that situation," she said. "To be undefeated and for the girls to be playing together so well. You know you're never going to experience something like that again."
Success didn't come overnight, but Harms' hard work is why The Daily Journal named her its 2013 Sports Citizen of the Year.
Harms, a Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School graduate and Kankakee Community College alum, took over at Bishop McNamara in 2011 after playing professional softball for six seasons with the Chicago Bandits.
Even with talent in place upon her arrival, Harms didn't immediately find postseason success.
The Irish failed to make it out of regionals after being upset by Momence in 2011. In 2012, a botched throw down to second base cost Harms' squad two runs in a one-run sectional loss to St. Joseph-Ogden.
To her credit, Harms said she would put the play on again. Though she and former pitcher Jaelen Hull said Harms wouldn't take the loss quite as hard now.
"Each year she grew more comfortable," said Hull, who is now a freshman at Bradley University and pitched all three years under Harms. "It made her relax a little bit more. Each year we learned something from the loss. It strengthened us as a team and her as a coach."
And finally the Irish and Harms broke through.
First it was a perfect run through the vaunted East Suburban Catholic Conference, where McNamara was the only Class 2A school amidst some of the most reputable 3A and 4A programs in the state.
A five-game run to the state semifinals followed in which McNamara outscored its opponents 67-2.
Once in East Peoria, the Irish narrowly held off a terrific Nashville squad before defeating Tremont for the title.
Bishop McNamara finished the season with a 35-0 record. Harms, who also had her number retired by the Nation Pro Fastpitch Chicago bandits last summer, struggled to put words to her emotions.
She focused on the tremendous talent within her ball club, but six months later, her players will still say she's the reason it all finally came together.
"You see so many great teams out there that are supposed to win and they don't," Hull said. "They don't 'show up' for one game. She had us prepared and game-ready every single game.
"It takes more than talent to make a great team. It takes a great coach who puts in the time. The amount of work she put into this program ... that's what led to us having such a great season."
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