LETTERS: COACH IS EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG PLAYERS

To the editor:

It seems more and more these days that most of the sports figures who get the headlines are being charged with possession of cocaine, attemptedmurder or taking illegal money from sports agents. Other sports figures, especially successful athletes and coaches, are touted as being those who win at all costs. The problem with these coaches who win at all costs is that many times they break any rule, ethical or moral, just to win the championship trophy.

I'm proud to say my daughter, Kelli, who attends Trinity Lutheran School has had the pleasure of playing for a basketball coach who is concerned with much more than teaching her players how to win a championship. This coach teaches her students how to win a bigger and more important championship trophy: the trophy of eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ. Her name is Sherri Shirrell, a proud alumna of Trinity.

Coach Shirrell is not a flashy coach. She doesn't storm up and down the sidelines confronting officials and her players like many coaches, I'm sad to say, do. She simply encourages her players to do their best and reminds them of the fundamentals they must implement in their game to improve their basketball skills. Sherri, like all other coaches, wants to win every game. I'm proud to say she is a very gracious winner and also a very gracious loser. She is excellent in pointing out the positives of a losing effort to her team.

This year has been a particularly trying year for Sherri and our team. Two knee surgeries and one broken arm have kept various key players out of our lineup. Through it all, Sherri has stayed positive, never using the missing key players as an excuse for a loss.

What separates Sherri from many other coaches is the focus on Christ that she teaches to our players. Every practice session is completed with a prayer led by one of the members of the team. Every huddle is broke with the familiar chant, "Let's do it for the Lord." Win or lose, our players know they are out on the court to perform to their best ability, giving all the credit for success to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you, Sherri, for being a wonderful Christian coach. I know my Kelli hates to lose you as a coach as she graduates this year from Trinity. You have been an integral part of her Christian education at Trinity that will not show up on her report card. I know all the members of our Trinity family feel the same way about you as I do. Our Savior Jesus Christ has truly sent the parents of Trinity a basketball coach whom we can be very proud and thankful for. Keep up the great work. You will always be our Coach of the Year.

MIKE HOLLAND

Cape Girardeau