Inspirational Coaches

Coach Adams & Quarterback Jaden Datz

Tony Hunter
Coach Adams & Quarterback Jaden Datz

Friday, Oct. 10. Senior night. With a win, the game that will give a playoff spot to the Scotties. It’s practice, two days before the game that will live to tell the tale of an underdog. Coach Mark Adams has his team huddled up to end practice with a former Scottie quarterback, Dakota Datz, at his side.
“They will call you losers,” Coach Adams says sternly. “Everyone in that fan section will laugh at you, and they are going to call you losers like they have for the past three years.”
Coach Adams turns to Datz and asks, “For four years, your classmates called you losers, didn’t they?”
“Yes sir,” Datz replies.
Coach Adams softens his tone, leans in and says, “This is your last chance to show them who you are. Are you going to let all of them call you losers?”
***
Jordan Pawlikowsky, Jake Beistel and Brennan Bunner are making their way up to the locker room with their team after a long day of football camp. Every player is carrying on and talking about how inspiring the speech was that Coach Mark Adams has just given them.
“I would go to war right now for that man,” says Bunner to his fellow teammates.
Beistel considers the comment for a moment, then responds: “I would charge a machine gun with my bare hands for him.”
Pawlikowsky grins in agreement and smiles. “Yeah.”
Coach Adams is one of the most inspirational people these players have ever known.
“He has a passion for the game and his players,” says Pawlikowsky. “He always wants the best out of us and the best for us.”
***
It’s a cool, fall night, perfect for a good soccer match. It has been a dog fight in the pitch for the entire game. The score is 3-3, and the girls are about to start their first period of overtime. The entire team huddles up, expecting their coach to pump them up and motivate them to get the golden goal. All Coach Bob King says to his players is: “You girls know what you have to do,” he said. “You’ve been playing strong and solid this entire game. Now show them whose game this is.”
And that is all they need to hear. The lady Scotties kick off to start overtime, and Farino immediately sends the ball up field. Keeping possession for three solid minutes, the lady Scotties are up for a corner kick. Sophomore Olivia Porter takes the kick and places the ball on the back side of the net where Kait Walch, a sophomore, redirects the ball into the goal. Walch scores the winning goal, thus ending the game with another victory for the Lady Scotties.
***
According to Psychology Today, motivation is “the foundation of athletic effort,” as well as success. Some people need words of encouragement to be able to achieve success, while others are motivated by harsh, yet constructive, criticism. There are also the individuals that are motivated by just a calm conversation. You tell them what they need to do to succeed. They get it done.
Coach Adams is not the only coach in the Southmoreland School District that has been an inspiration to his players.
Assistant Coach Bill Farino has been inspiring his daughter, Vayda Farino, a junior, throughout her whole soccer career.
“He has inspired me to do my best at everything I do,” said Farino. “He has taught me that as long as you try your best, you cannot fail.”
Throughout Farino’s entire career, she has been on the lookout for a position on the PA West ODP cup soccer team. Despite being looked over many times, she has not given up on pursuing this dream, because of the inspiring words her father continues to give her.
“He taught me that you get out of something what you put into it,” said Farino. “I have had a lot of success from his coaching and advice throughout the years, and I would not have had the success that I have without his help.”
Senior basketball forward, Katrina Lauffer, is inspired by Coach Brian Pritts. Pritts has been coaching Lauffer for over four years, and is constantly pushing her, and her teammates, to be the best that they can possibly be.
“He inspires me to be a better athlete,” said Lauffer. “He never gives up on you, even if you give up on yourself.”
These students of Southmoreland are inspired by their coaches because of the motivation they feel when they are in their presence. The Southmoreland mission statement is: “A Dynamic Educational Environment Motivating Students To Achieve Their Maximum Potential.” Whether it is the motivation to succeed, to improve a personal record, to break a record, to make playoffs, ace an exam, or even to graduate, these coaches are inspiring their players.
And as members of the Southmoreland community, they are doing their job.

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