SPORTS

Morgan’s Beam receives OHSAA coaching accolade

Staff report

COLUMBUS – Mike Beam has been an integral part of the Morgan girls cross country and track and field teams.

His contributions were recognized recently as he received the Ohio High School Athletic Association Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award for the 2014-15 school year.

Beam earned the honor for girls track and field and was among 22 boys and girls coaches honored by their respective coaches associations.

“From your peers, it’s humbling to get something like that,” Beam said. “Our girls cross country team was recognized at state, and our distance girls have held up their end to put Morgan back on the map.”

Beam has been coaching the girls cross country team since 2006 and was the head coach of the girls track team for several seasons before becoming an assistant in recent seasons.

“We have girls coming into the program who want to be good, but aren’t willing to put in the time,” he said. “Our older girls are showing them that by putting in the hard work and extra effort, it will pay off.”

The award recipients were recognized either during the state tournament of their respective sport or at their annual coaches clinic. The recipients are selected by the officers of the respective coaches associations. Individuals selected reflect the values of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity through their professional responsibilities and are a role model for others.

Other girls coaches recognized were Jerry Close, Basketball, Waterford; Dean Kessler, Cross Country, Carey; Janet Baird, Field Hockey, Columbus Watterson; Shea Stammen, Gymnastics, Westerville Central; Stacie Butler, Golf, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney; Abby Schumacher, Soccer, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Bridget George, Softball, Meadowbrook; Sam Seiple, Swimming and Diving, Canton McKinley; Jan Morrison, Tennis, Celina; and Susie Shields, Volleyball, Columbiana Heartland Christian.

The boys coaches honored included Bill Dreisbach, Baseball, West Chester Lakota West; Rob Beucler, Basketball, Winchester Eastern; Steve Hill, Cross Country, Ashtabula Edgewood; Matt Claxon, Golf, New Philadelphia; Mike Coney, Soccer, Garrettsville Garfield; Michele Gallagher, Swimming and Diving, Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic; Tim Morgan, Tennis, Hudson; Tyrone Mosely, Track and Field, Orrville; Tony Legando, Football, Huron; Patrick Murphy, Ice Hockey, Dublin Jerome; and John Deno, Wrestling, Athens.