For this Beyond the Game installment, we want to take a moment to appreciate the amazing Special Olympics Pennsylvania coaches that make our seasons possible. We wouldn’t be the organization we are without the assistance and guidance of our coaches.
For more than 50 years, Sharon Wenrich from Schuylkill Haven, PA has impacted Special Olympics Pennsylvania through her dedication and love for athletes and sports. Here’s to Sharon and 50 years of amazing memories, true hardships, accomplishments, and never giving up.
The first question we asked Sharon in our conversation was, “Does it feel like 50 years has gone by?” Here’s what she had to say:
“No, it doesn’t feel. Sometimes when I’m walking around all the time, it feels like 50 years. But not really with the athletes, it doesn’t.
After 50 years, the best part of coaching is the growth I see in the athletes because some of the athletes that I have, I’ve taught in the classroom. They’ve been with me for a number of years. So, I actually get to see the improvements they’ve made. Especially, I see the way athletes evolve. Maybe I’ve seen them be shy, but I get to watch them come into their own.
I see a lot of overlap between being a teacher and a coach. Obviously, when you’re coaching someone on how to do something, you’re teaching them how to do a particular skill. I always find myself using similar techniques to get my point across. They go hand in hand. I think that’s why you find so many coaches that have been teachers or are teachers.
I chose to coach swimming because I have been a swimmer all my life. My parents were both swimmers, my parents both taught swimming, my brother and I were lifeguards, I’ve always been a swimmer. I enjoy swimming.”
After hearing Sharon’s reflection, we were eager to ask, “How do you feel when your team has a success?”
“I’m elated when my swimmers achieve their goals or have success. And sometimes the success might not mean they won the race, but when I see them improve so much and I see the satisfaction and the glee it gives them, that’s big for me. To see that they can do something they initially thought they couldn’t do.”
Because of Sharon’s history with coaching and being a part of the Special Olympics Pennsylvania community, we found sharing her perspective with new coaches to be vital.
“I used to coach a high school varsity swim team, so I come into this in more than one area. My advice to a first-year coach is you need to realize that athletes need guidelines and boundaries. Athletes should learn they need to respect the coaches as much as the coaches need to respect the athletes. I’ve always enjoyed my time with every athlete I’ve coached.
As always, we couldn’t wrap up the interview without hearing Sharon’s favorite moments as a coach.
“One girl just came up to me and said, ‘I think I had you in school!’ If she remembered me after all of these years, then that means we did something right. Coaching has positively impacted my life outside of sports because you can maybe feel like what you’re doing in life is actually helping them…
[My favorite coaching story] is seeing athletes come out of the tight little area they live in and make new friends and opening themselves up to the knowledge that they can do something they don’t think they can do.
I’ve stayed a coach for 50 years because I like it. I love Special Olympics. I love swimming. I love being able to pass my knowledge on. I love being able to pass my passion on to other people.”
For our last and final question, we simply asked, “What are you up to currently in your life?”
“The newest thing that I love to do is I do Zumba. I still love to swim. I garden a lot, but I probably do Zumba three to four times a week. I love fun, so anything that’s gonna be fun, I’m doing it.
Thank you to all the athletes and all the other people, coaches, and volunteers that I’ve worked with over the years. I want to thank them for all the fun they’ve helped me have. Especially the athletes.” at you’re doing, you’ll find success… Also, you don’t need to be afraid of it.”
