Gateway Regional girls soccer coach Steve Estelle has been named the sports coach of the year by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Estelle was the lone coach from Hampshire County among the 29 honorees, announced Monday by the MIAA. A subcommittee of the MIAAs Coaches Education Instructors made the selections.

Estelle coached the Gators to a 12-2-2 regular season and a trip to the Western Massachusetts Division 4 semifinals, where they lost 1-0 to eventually sectional champion Lenox. The 2019 season was Estelles 30th on the sideline in Huntington.

I believe that athletics are an integral part of the education experience, Estelle said about his coaching philosophy in a release by the MIAA. I feel that athletics help shape the lives of the participants. My coaches strive to be good role models to all of our student-athletes.

According to the MIAA, the award seeks to recognize and honor teacher coaches who have had an impact on the lives of student-athletes, by encouraging them to succeed and by helping them develop self-confidence, ambition, a sound work ethic, and other skills or values necessary or helpful for success in their later lives. Award candidates should have a record of encouraging student-athletes to be wellrounded (i.e. displaying excellence in areas of scholarship, citizenship, fine arts, etc.), as well as a reputation, among their peers and the athletic community, for fair play, good sportsmanship, and the development of these attributes in their student-athletes.

Three other coaches from western Massachusetts were honored.

Pope Francis coach John Goda earned the award in girls outdoor track and field.

One of the reasons I have always loved coaching track and cross country is that every athlete has the opportunity to grow and improve during the season regardless of how many meets are won or lost, Goda said. Success for us has always been about how much better we can get as a team and as individuals, and about making the most of our potential.

Agawams Kathy Georgina and Karen Gomez won the awards in softball and field hockey, respectively.

Georgina said, Athletics are an essential part of the students learning experience. Many of the lessons learned through participation in athletics are life lessons that can be carried over into all aspects of life such as developing a strong work ethic, teamwork skills, cooperation, determination and most importantly how to succeed and how to build the character to lose gracefully. Athletics are an integral part of building self-confidence and selflessness and build pride that teaches students to be part of something bigger than just themselves.

Added Gomez, Athletics is an extension of the classroom. Athletes are students first. I take a mastery approach to sport rather than a scoreboard approach. It is my goal to teach athletes to put forward hard work and maximum effort, continuously learn and improve, and not let themselves be stopped by mistakes or fear of mistakes. I encourage my student-athletes to love yourself, love the game, have fun, and give back to others.

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Gateway Regional's Steve Estelle named Girls Soccer Coach of the Year by the MIAA - GazetteNET