Fowler's no control freak at Waterville
By MATT DiFILIPPO
Staff Writer
In turning Waterville Senior High School from one of the better field hockey programs in Class B to one of the best, Purple Panthers coach Michelle Fowler did what comes so unnaturally for most people -- relinquishing control.
"This year, she let us coach a lot," senior Samantha Stone said. "We came up with a lot of new drills. I thought it was great."
That change was part of the reason Waterville improved from seven wins last fall to a 15-2 record this season and a berth in the Eastern B final.
That improvement makes Fowler the choice for Morning Sentinel Coach of the Year. Also considered were
Winslow High School's Lori Loftus and Skowhegan Area High School's Paula Doughty.
Fowler had a trio of strong senior leaders in Stone, Ellen Schoenthaler and Pease, and she believed the team would be stronger if the players could take a different kind of role in Waterville's success.
"Kids respond better when they have input, so often times, I'll ask them what they think," Fowler said. "When they have input, they feel more of an investment in what they're doing."
It was clear early that the Panthers were stronger this season, but few realized how good this team could be. Waterville squeaked out some close victories in September, and just kept winning.
Fowler, who describes herself as a "strict and encouraging" coach, took it upon herself to keep the Panthers from dragging through the season.
"I emphasized them having fun a lot this year," Fowler said. "When we seemed to be going through the motions, rather than try to motivate them by getting angry at them, I'd try to pep them up."
Fowler also stressed that her players were stronger if they were good field hockey players, period, rather than simply good at a certain position. Recognizing the versatility of this particular group, she revamped the lineup right before the playoffs, moving Stone from center midfielder to the backfield and changing the number of forwards.
It all added up to a coach in her 17th season doing things she had never done before, and getting the most out of her players because of it.
"A coach can only do so much," Fowler said, "and then it becomes an extension of what you taught them on the field. So it's helping them to become better leaders, helping them to be able to coach themselves."
Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.