The 2024 Michigan Excessive College Subject Hockey Affiliation Division II title match was not solely the assembly of two high-quality groups, however these had been two varsity applications which had been begotten from the concept of one of many two coaches, Chelsea (Mich.) head coach Leslie Fry.
Thoughts you it wasn’t Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Dexter (Mich.) that earned Leslie Fry the co-award for United States Coach of the Yr, but it surely was greater than 20 years of legwork by her and one in all her closest associates.
Shortly after the flip of the century, Leslie Fry and Roxy Block, colleagues inside the teaching equipment at Ann Arbor Greenhills College (Mich.) relationship again to 1979, had the aim of including area hockey taking part in alternatives in Washtenau County, situated west of Detroit.
The crew, the Washtenau Whippets, began as a co-op membership program, taking part in aggressive area hockey towards varsity groups in Michigan. They had been a novel program, carving their very own path and writing a novel story in American scholastic area hockey,
That effort bore fruit in Washtenau County — in addition to at the least 4 fully-fledged varsity groups. Starting in 2016, quite a lot of school-based groups started play because of the gamers and coaches who had been within the Whippets program. This included the Dexter (Mich.) Dreadnaughts, which might develop a 2024 Olympian, Abby Tamer.
The trouble was not with out battle. In 2010, the crew was at a crossroads, going winless and incomes however one attract a attempting marketing campaign. It was additionally about that point when Roxy Block was recognized with most cancers.
The crew had a mission — not solely to enhance the play on the sphere, however to boost cash to struggle most cancers. Two years later, the Whippets would win the 2012 Michigan Excessive College Subject Hockey League title.
Fry would then embark on a second act, to deliver a championship to Chelsea Excessive College. By dint of laborious work and willpower, the varsity would win the 2015 MHSFHA Division I regular-season title on the first time of asking. Chelsea, nevertheless would fell simply in need of profitable a state championship that season, shedding to Ann Arbor Pioneer (Mich.) 1-0 within the state match.
Heartbreakingly, the Bulldogs wouldn’t have the ability to deliver a title to Chelsea whereas Washtenau co-founder Roxy Block was alive; she misplaced her seven-year battle with most cancers in December 2017. And whereas Chelsea would have one other couple of state remaining appearances, they may not break by way of.
That’s, till 2024. Within the remaining, the Bulldogs would meet one in all its spinoff groups, Dexter.
The Bulldogs would win the sport on a third-quarter aim from Jikke Kerstens. Her shot deflected off a Dreadnaught defender and over the aim line. The sport didn’t finish with out a last-minute scare when Dexter put a ball into the cage from simply exterior the putting circle. However the remaining whistle confirmed Chelsea as winners.
On the sidelines, Fry was joined by her assistant coaches — her daughter Casey and Corey Block, the daughter of Roxy Block. The three got the sphere hockey Coaches Award from the Michigan Southeastern Convention.
The 2024 Chelsea championship was the primary state match championship for Chelsea however the final one below the aegis of the MHSFHA, because the match will probably be run by the Michigan Excessive College Athletic Affiliation beginning subsequent fall.
Fry, and her co-winner Jodi Hollamon, be a part of a bunch of luminaries who’ve received this award up to now:
2024: Leslie Fry, Chelsea (Mich.) and Jodi Hollamon, Delmar (Del.)
2023: Jeannette Eire, Ellicott Metropolis Mount Hebron (Md.)
2022: Ann Simons, Longmeadow (Mass.)
2021: Ruth Beaton, West Newbury Pentucket (Mass.)
2020-21: Carrie Holman, Vienna James Madison (Va.)
2019: Ali Good, Summit Oak Knoll (N.J.)
2018: Bri Value, Hershey (Pa.)
2017: Mary Werkheiser, Norfolk (Va.) Academy
2016: Jessica Rose Shellenberger, Mount Pleasure Donegal (Pa.)
2015: Danyle Heilig, Voorhees Jap (N.J.)
2014: Eileen Donahue, Watertown (Mass.)
2013: Jim Larkin, Fredericksburg Chancellor (Va.)
2012: Ashly Fishell-Shaffer, Edgemere Sparrows Level (Md.)
2011: Lil Shelton, Severna Park (Md.)
2010: Sarah Catlin, Cincinnati St. Ursula (Ohio)
2009: Danyle Heilig, Voorhees Jap (N.J.)
2008: Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, Pewaukee Trinity Academy (Wisc.)
2007: Wendy Reichenbach, Palmyra (Pa.)
2006: Barb Dwyer, Ladue Horton Watkins (Mo.)
2005: Robin Woodie, Fredericksburg Stafford (Va.)
2004: Monica Dennis, Grosse Pointe South (Mich.)
2003: Kearney Francis, Silver Spring Springbrook (Md.)
2002: Slade Gormus, Midlothian James River (Va.)
2001: Amanda Janney, Ft. Price Trinity Valley (Tex.)
2000: Eileen Allan, Pompton Lakes (N.J.)
1999: Amy Wooden, Bethesda-Chevy Chase (Md.)
1998: Diane Chapman, Backyard Metropolis (N.J.) and Brenda Beckwith, Winslow (Maine)
1997: Maryellen Clemencich, Allentown (N.J.)
1996: Tracey Paul, Escondido San Pasqual (Calif.)
1995: Nancy Fowlkes, Virginia Seaside Frank W. Cox (Va.)
1994: Mike Shern, Lacey (N.J.) Township
1993: Pat Toner, Newtown Council Rock (Pa.)
