It was a bittersweet moment for Jennifer Sweet.
On the one hand, the Goodrich track and cross country coach was recently recognized by the Michigan Interscholastic School Track Coaches Association as the state’s Coach of the Year for helping the Martians win the state Division 3 girls track championship last season, as well as the Division 3 girls cross country championship this past fall.
On the other hand, she realizes that one of the student-athletes who helped the Martians win those championships, junior Kayla O’Mara, died as a result of injuries sustained in a Jan. 31 car accident. Two other Martians, Kayla’s twin sister Kaitlin, and Danielle Bila, were seriously injured.
‘I’m very much aware that my coaching success was due to the O’Maras, Danielle Bila, and the other athletes here,? Sweet said. ‘I’m honored to be a part of them.?
Each year, the MISTCA chooses a coach from each of the four divisions in the state, and from there, they select the state Coach of the Year. Sweet said she was notified by the MISTCA of the honor prior to their conference Feb. 9-11 in East Lansing.
Sweet attended school in Goodrich and has coached in the district for 17 years at the middle school and high school levels. ‘Most of the kids I’m coaching now, I had in junior high,? she said.