The Coahoma ISD Athletic Department is proud to announce that Katherine Shawver has been named the 2020-2021 1A-2A-3A-4A Sub-Varsity Softball Coach of the Year by the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA).
“I was shocked when I heard,” Shawver said. “It hit me that other coaches in the state have taken notice of all the hard work our students, parents, and coaches have put in to continue a long tradition of Coahoma High School softball excellence and competitiveness. It’s a huge honor for me.”
TGCA is the one of the largest associations of coaches and the largest association for coaches of girls’ athletics in the United States, according to the TGCA website. Shawver was nominated for the honor by Bulldogette head softball coach Alex Orosco, and was selected by a committee of Texas coaches.
“Coach Shawver is present for this team 100 percent of the time. She is a true assistant,” Orosco said. “She always picks up the load for me without being asked. She has been a steady presence for the Coahoma softball program. She was here before I came on board, she never misses a game, an event, or a practice, and she always has a positive attitude. She’s awesome, and the girls respond to her coaching well.”
Shawver has served as a sub-varsity coach at Coahoma ISD for the past seven years. This past season, her JV Bulldogettes were undefeated in district action and finished the 2020-2021 season with an 11-1 record. In the previous full UIL softball season, Shawver’s JV team lost only one district game for the 2018-2019 season.
Shawver also serves as the assistant coach to the varsity Bulldogette softball team, which finished the 2020-2021 season with a 26-7 record, an undefeated district record, and an appearance in UIL Texas state playoffs regional quarterfinals.
The Missouri native credits the success of the Coahoma softball program to the work ethic of the players and support of their parents.
“We are lucky to have excellent athletes to coach, and it started at home,” she said. “Many of these girls have been dedicated to the sport since they were little and had strong parental support to encourage them. It takes a community to develop a competitive program.”
As a Coahoma Bulldogette coach, Shawver feels her job is to help direct the player’s competitive nature to strive for excellence not only on the field but in all other areas of their life.
“Wins are great, but we are also here to teach them life lessons,” she said. “In order for a team to be great on the field, the players have to work as a team and not play just for individual glory.
“When we fall behind and find ourselves in a tense situation, they have to be able to handle the stress,” she continued. “Umpires are not always perfect, and players make mistakes. You have to let that go and persevere. We had a few games this year where we were behind, but we pushed through and came out on top.”
Before joining Coahoma ISD, Shawver played softball as a utility player for the Ottawa University Braves in Ottawa, Kansas, under head coach Jay Kahnt.
“I would like to give a huge shout out to my college. They just went to the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Softball World Series, and a shout out to my former head coach Jay Kahnt,” she said. “He just had his 500th win of his career. High school and travel ball taught me a lot about the sport, but Coach Kahnt also taught me a lot.”
Shawver will receive her Sub-Varsity Coach of the Year award in July at the TGCA state convention.