After nearly 23 years of coaching at SM North, head boys swim coach Cody Fothergill wins The Nation of Federation Coaches Association Kansas Swim Coach of the year. Fothergill was given the award during a small ceremony held at North.

“That ceremony was a total shock to me, I had no idea that it was coming,” Fothergill said. “So they had sent a letter to Mrs. Gonzales, and so she had set up the surprise ceremony, and it was really cool and very humbling.”

With ten other teams and coaches just in the Sunflower League, winning the award is no small task.

“I think that the national federation probably takes a recondemidation from the Kansas State high school activities association because NFCA and KSHSAA I think do work closely on a lot of things just like they do with every state,” Fothergill said.

Winning coach of the year is a reflection of not just the coach, but also a reflection of the team and their success.

“Obviously our boys, our swim team and dive team, are the ones who really won the award because they perform well every year,” Fothergill said. “We are always right in the middle of the pack for sunflower league, we always compete well against most of the schools, and that has been recognized by coaches around the state.”

All coaches have different approaches to coaching that set them apart, but Fothergill focuses on just being passionate about the sport and about the team.

“I really really try to get the most out of our guys, and I think we usually accomplish that,” Fothergill said. “We take so many guys that don’t swim year round and we turn them into really good swimmers and so that maybe sets us aside from other teams.”

Senior Caleb Sostarich, a four year swimmer and three year state swimmer, thinks Fothergill is deserving of the award.

“I believe he deserves it because he’s been a coach for so long,” Sostarich said. “I know that he’s not the most successful coach, but he always makes sure to make a solid connection and friendship with the kids that he coaches.”