February 5, 2014
St. Sabina Coach Wins Steve Szcesniak Award
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Coach Paul Haarmann is surrounded by former softball players at the Coaches Appreciation Dinner held at St. Sabina Church in Florissant.
Haarmann is surprised by an award presentation and the presence of former players On Jan. 11, Coach Paul Haarmann was awarded the Steve Szcesniak Award (formerly the Bob Crain Award) at the annual St. Sabina Coaches Appreciation Dinner. The Appreciation Dinner honors the coaches and managers that volunteer their time throughout the year. The award is presented annually to an individual that has continually given of their time and talents to the St. Sabina Sports Association. Haarmann was chosen for this award by members of the current St. Sabina Sports Board for his involvement and commitment to the sports association for the past 23 years and his role as CYC (Catholic Youth Council) softball coordinator for the past 11 years. Haarmann has won several awards in the past including 7 CYC Softball City/ County Championships and the 2011 St. Louis Archdiocesan CYC Softball Service Award. He also received the Florissant “Key to the City” from former Florissant Mayor Robert Lowery for his involvement with the North County CYC. The players he works with and has worked with mean more to him than any award or trophy. Haarmann loves to tell this story: “When my son was in the eighth grade he asked me to take him to watch a girls softball game where some of his classmates were playing. One of my former players was the manager of the team. After the game she introduced
me to her niece who was on the team. She had her niece bring her bat bag with her. She removed a white softball and asked me if I knew what it was. I replied, ‘If it’s what I think it is, you’re going to make me cry.’ “She told me this was the game ball I gave to her some 20 years earlier after we won the final game of the season. She carried that ball with her for all those years in her softball bat bag. She gave it to her niece and told her how much that ball—and I—meant to her. Since then, the awards, trophies, and plaques do not seem nearly as important as that moment in my coaching career.” Haarmann began volunteering and coaching at St. Sabina 23 years ago when his oldest daughter began playing softball there. When the head coach of the softball team moved out of the area, they were in need of a new coach and he took over. He has coached both softball and basketball at St. Sabina over the years. Last year, 2013, was the first year he did not coach at least one team for St. Sabina. Nearly 20 of Haarmann’s former players returned the night he received the Steve Szcesniak Award to congratulate him. The sports programs at St. Sabina— and other CYC sports programs—take a large group of individuals to donate their time and effort to give children a safe and fun place to play competitive sports.
By Amanda Meyer
The CYC athletic program was established in 1941. Over 70 years later, the CYC has reached 2 million young people. For more information on the programs offered by the CYC, visit their website at www.cycstl.net or call 314.353.8911. The St. Sabina Sports Association promotes organized athletics with the aim of teaching a Christian attitude, good sportsmanship, respect for the rules and authority and self-discipline among contestants as well as leaders. For more information on the sports programs offered at St. Sabina, visit www.stsabinasports.com or call 314.837.1365.
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