District News

Girls’ basketball coach celebrates 200th victory

 

January, 2011

 

It’s never been about personal accolades for Marie Stahler.

Even when she won her 200th career game this month by dismantling Schoharie 56-32, Mrs. Stahler still preached one message: It’s all about the team.

“The most important thing about the win is that my team is winning,” she said. “This is a special group of girls. They work hard and look past their own selves to do what’s best for the team.”

Mrs. Stahler, an eighth grade math teacher at East Hill Middle School, has coached the Canajoharie girls’ basketball team for eight years. She spent the first eight years of her career coaching the girls’ team at Broadalbin-Perth where she left with her first 100 victories.

There are only 60 coaches in Section II history with 100 wins, Mrs. Stahler said, and of those, only 20 have made it to 200. And out of those 20, she said only nine are women.

“I really like coaching the girls. I always wanted the girls to have the same sports opportunities as the boys. We should work to our own potential and that’s why I’m here. I’ve always wanted the girls to be treated fairly.”

Senior Kelsey Aldi calls Mrs. Stahler a “great coach” who always keeps the team focused and motivated. She said although the team’s members change, her coach’s philosophy doesn’t.

“She has goals for us and is completely confident in what we can do,” she said.

Mrs. Stahler began her career playing college basketball at St. Lawrence University. She eventually won three league championships at B-P before coming to Canajoharie. During that time, her coaching philosophy evolved from focusing on defense to concentrating more on shooting and offense.

And it’s already paying dividends.

This year, she’s had five different high-scorers in seven games.

“The 200th win is not the most important thing in my season,” she said. “That game was about them and they needed to win it.” l.