Goodrich- Kathleen Schollar claims she makes way too much money at her job.
‘I’m overpaid for sitting at that scorer’s table during basketball games,? laughed Schollar. ‘And I don’t make a dime.?
Schollar, a high school English teacher for 25 years and official basketball scorer for 24 years, has been selected to join the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Hall of Honor as a Friend of Basketball. She will be honored at the BCAM Hall of Fame Banquet at 4 p.m., Oct. 11 at the Best Western Plus, Lansing.
The BCAM Hall of Honor was established in 1994 to honor those persons who have helped to improve basketball in Michigan. These honorees have been longtime supporters of their local teams or have given outstanding service to the game of basketball. To be eligible for the Hall of Honor, a person must have been involved with basketball for at least 20 years.
Schollar, who retired from teaching in 2002, continues to score’recording points, fouls, and general participation information for both boys and girls basketball. She has served as official scorekeeper for Goodrich basketball since the late Aaron Brigham talked her into subbing about 30 years ago.
‘In the early 1980s I was asked to fill in as a scorekeeper for a basketball game,? she said. ‘I’d score a few games a season? it was kind of hit or miss. I kept score for the freshman boys and girls teams when I started’I just liked being out there with the teenagers. Then about 1992 (Goodrich Varsity Coach) Gary Barns asked me to keep score for the JV and varsity boys teams. A few years later I asked the new girls varsity basketball coach, Jason Gray, if he needed a scorekeeper. He said, ‘Sure.? My children had moved out and it would give me something to do in the evenings during the fall’because at that time the boys played basketball in the winter months and the girls played in the fall.?
In the 2007-2008 season the high school girls? season shifted to winter along with the boys? season.
‘After they combined the seasons I was gone four nights a week during the winter,? said laughed.
Schollar’s commitment to basketball reaches beyond the scorer’s table.
‘I also ride on the bus with the teams to away games, too’I refuse to drive,? she said. ‘They expect to see me on the bus when we go on the road. I’m kind of the grandmother figure that’s with them all the time. I volunteer at the high school during the day and if I see one of the players in the hallway they reach out and hug me. That’s the way we are as a team.?
In 2003 Schollar purchased the current scoreboards in the high school gymnasium out of her own pocket, foregoing a purchase for which she’d been saving. The donation was in memory of Aaron Brigham, along with two former Goodrich athletic enthusiasts, the late Johnny Joslin and Donald Barns.
‘It’s in memory of what I owe to those people for giving me a vocation that I love,? she said. ‘The teams are my kids’I’m not ready to give that up yet.?
The scoreboards were first lit in October 2003.
‘My greatest moments were going to the state championship with the girls team three times,? she said. ‘We won the state championship twice’I will never forget that thrill. The low point was losing David Barns.?
During her years with the high school athletics Schollar also received the Judy Hagman Award from the Association of Track Officials of Michigan in 2000 for service to cross country and track and field. In addition, she received the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Averill-Grant Award for Service’given to a non-coaching person for ongoing ‘behind the scenes? devotion and selfless contribution of time and effort on behalf of cross country and track and field. She also coached and scored cross country and track.
Dave Davis, Goodrich athletic director, nominated Schollar for the award..
‘In addition to her thorough organization and meticulous record keeping, Kathleen also contributes to the basketball programs in countless other ways,? said Davis. ‘Kathleen is a friend and confidant to the coaching staff, she is a mentor to our younger staff members, and most importantly, she is a kind, attentive, dedicated role model for our young men and women at Goodrich. The relationships that she forms with each team are something that is unique and truly can’t be put into words. She can always be counted on for a hug, her seat on the bus is always next to the driver so that she can make sure ‘her kids? get to places safely and on time, and she is always an advocate for anyone wearing the Martian Blue and Gold.?
Schollar plans to stay around for a while.
‘When I start making mistakes on the books I’ll walk away,? she said. ‘I’m blessed to be in a setting to provide help and support’I’m blessed to be in Goodrich, the school system allows me to be me.?