Linda Wiginton from Altus High School in Oklahoma (boys) and Marty Keating from Pittsford Central Schools in New York (girls) have been named the NFHS swimming & diving National coaches of the year for the 2014-2015 season.
The NFHS (National Federation of High School State Associations) is the umbrella organization representing the majority of high school sports in the United States.
Every year since 1982, the NFHS has recognized a coach in the top 10 girls sports and 10 boys sports, by participation numbers, and one “other” sport award.
Wiginton’s Altus boys team ran away with the 2015 Oklahoma 5A (small school) state title with 349 points – clearing the runners-up from Fort Gibson by 126 points.
The dominant performance included event wins in the 200 free and 200 medley relays; and the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly individual events for Altus swimmers. The girls team finished 8th overall at the same meet.
Keating’s Pittsford girls similarly won the New York Public High School State Championship in the 2014-2015 season, led by underclassmen Lindsay Stone (200 and 500 free champion) and Katie Smith (50 free champion and 100 free runner-up).
The team also grabbed victories in the 200 and 400 free relays to cement their title.
While early state title meets in the 2015-2016 season aren’t considered toward this award, the Pittsford girls in November did repeat as state champions.
Recipients of this year’s national awards for boys sports are: Cooper Henderson, football, Artesia (New Mexico) High School; Tom Millbrooke, track and field, Canby (Oregon) High School; Britt Cooper, basketball, Roswell (New Mexico) High School; Dom Cecere, baseball, Eastchester (New York) High School; Thomas Walston, soccer, Wendell (North Carolina) Corinth Holders High School; Tim Berrier, wrestling, Tucson (Arizona) Ironwood Ridge High School; Arnie Miehe, cross country, Darlington (Wisconsin) High School; Larry Faulkner, tennis, Glenview (Illinois) Glenbrook South High School; Brennan Torgerson, golf, Buhler (Kansas) High School; and Linda Wiginton, swimming and diving, Altus (Oklahoma) High School.
The recipients of the 2015 NFHS national awards for girls sports are: Linda Richter, track and field, Cameron (Texas) C.H. Yoe High School; Anthony Pappas, basketball, Waterloo (Iowa) West High School; Paula Toney, volleyball, Burns (Oregon) High School; Lucas Kollross, soccer, Weston (Wisconsin) D. C. Everest High School; Cheri Ritz, softball, Wayland (Michigan) Union School; Kristin McWilliams, cross country, Winter Park (Florida) High School; Judith Hehs, tennis, Bloomfield Hills (Michigan) Academy of the Sacred Heart; Marty Keating, swimming and diving, Pittsford (New York) Central Schools; Stacie Butler, golf, Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney High School; and Jessica Battle, lacrosse, Coronado (California) High School.
I recall Marty having buckets by the side of the pool so his swimmers could vomit in them. He personally went up to me and insulted me as an opposing swimmer. His teams would never shake hands before and after meets and tried to intimidate and stare down the opponents. Overall a lack of class. This was the boys teams in the 80s so maybe he has improved?