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October 30, 2008

Herzig is Fetterman Award recipient

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

Connie Herzig is generally a whirl of motion, full of energy, talking fast and always on the go.

But when she found out she was going to be the recipient of this year’s Fetterman Award, for one of the few times in her life she was at a loss for words.

Members of the gym came to the CCS elementary school during ``Finale Friday’’ at the school earlier this month. Brenda Wedderspoon- Gray got up to speak about the award, and surprised Herzig with the announcement she was this year’s winner.

``I was completely speechless,’’ said Herzig, a Cooperstown Elementary School phys. ed teacher and girls track and field coach for the past 17 seasons. ``I was very overwhelmed and honored. I thought it was great they did it to include the students, staff and administrators who have supported me throughout the years.’’

Herzig will be presented the award at a private luncheon at the Otesaga Hotel on Monday. The Fetterman Award has been in existence since 1994, and is given to a member of the community who is dedicated to serving local youth, especially in the area of athletics.

The recipient embodies the meaning of outstanding sportsmanship, inspired leadership and caring service and is named for longtime associate director Patrick C. Fetterman.

Longtime boys track coach Don Howard, who recently retired and received the Fetterman Award in 2000, said Herzig is an ideal choice.

``Connie is warm, giving of her time, high energy and goes above and beyond for the girls’ benefit,’’ Howard said. ``The girls love her. She’s a great motivator and also a lot of fun to be around.’’

Herzig said she views sports as a vehicle to further personal and academic development.

``I coach because I love being with the kids and I love the process of a sport in helping them mature, be a part of a team, and explore skills and abilities,’’ she said. `` They get to push their limits and try things they never have before. It’s a wonderful process, and I approach coaching with a teaching model.’’

Cooperstown athletic director and middle school proncipal Mike Cring said he enjoys watching Herzig’s interaction with her students and athletes.

``She treats each one as an individual and then challenges them all to do their best,’’ Cring said. ``She’s a great coach and a better role model.’’

Wedderspoon-Gray, who heads the Fettwerman Award search committee at the gym, said Herzig was a unanimous choice after nominations were received earlier this fall.

``A lot of people coach, but very few make the connection to their players that Connie seems to make,’’ she said.

Howard said he and other coaches often jokingly refer to Herzig as a ``Mother Hen’’ because she is very protective and involved with her athletes.

``She’s very warm,’’ Howard said. ``She’s a giver, and that makes her a great role model because it’s good for kids to see someone who gives back. It also helps that she really knows her stuff and is a great teacher.’’

Besides teaching and coaching, Herzig also started the Red Hot (formerly knows as the Redskin) Ropers jump rope program in 1992.

``We have between 90-105 kids (3rd, 4th, and 5th) in the club every year,’’ said Herzig, who brought the idea with her from Kansas, where she used to teach. ``I wanted an activity that encouraged fitness, challenged the kids, uses creativity, and is able to grow with the students. During the winter months, this program meets two or three days a week after school, and the kids jump for an hour and 25 minutes. That is a lot exercise! Kids gain agility, coordination, confidence, and have fun! What could be better?’’ Herzig was born in Brockport, N.Y., and attended Cortland State after high school. She left college for a year and a half and went to California to play on a semi-professional soccer team before returning and getting her Bachelor’s degree.

She went to Kansas after college, and received her Master’s Degree in Physical Education. In addition to track, she has taught volleyball and basketball.

``I’m not sure I’d call it maternal, but each athlete knows I have a sincere interest in how they do, whether it scores points for the team or not,’’ Herzig said. ``I have coached many sports (not in Cooperstown, but before) and I really like coaching track because it allows that process to work better than in most sports. Improvement is easy to see and the kids really respond to the process.’’

Past winners include: Lavern “Beanie” Ainslie; 1994: Jack Vineyard; 1995: Ted Kantorowski; 1996: Malcolm Brooks; 1997-98: Jerry Townsend; 1998-99: Don Howard; 2000: Dick White; 2001: Pat and Ed Hazzard; 2002: Stephen ``Sharky’’ Nagelschmidt; 2003: Frank Miosek; 2004: Ted Spencer; 2005: Terry Bliss; 2006: Dave Adsit; and 2007: Bob Snyder.

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