When I first met Mrs. Nettesheim I didn’t think much of her. I figured this 5” 4’ gorgeous slender women in those stylish ankle boots who could have been a high school student herself would just be an ordinary cheerleading coach. But oh boy was I wrong!

Mrs. Nettesheim (or as I called her Coach Nettesheim) wasn’t just my coach, but a second mother. She never stopped looking out for me. Coach Nettesheim had a smile on her face and a positive attitude. Everytime I would get frustrated (if I couldn’t get a stunt), she was there to pick me up and tell me to keep trying. I have had many coaches given up on me; but not Mrs. Nettesheim.

The best thing about Mrs. Nettesheim was that she cared about what was going on in my personal life. One of the memories I treasure is when she knew I was upset. That day, I thought my grandmother was going to die. She had been sick for over a week with an pneumonia and refused to go to the hospital.

That day I told myself to save my tears for the pillow, go to practice and do my best. But even though I was doing my best, Coach Nettesheim knew something was wrong.

She pulled me aside and asked me what was wrong.

I told her “nothing.”

She said, “Em, I am a mother and I know when something is wrong, you can tell me.”

Then I broke down and told her what was going on. She didn’t say anything, but pulled me into a hug and held me tight. She didn’t rush me, or tell me I needed to get back into practice. She let me cry until I was ready to go back into practice. I felt safe and secure in her arms.

Coach Nettesheim has taught me many things, but the most important one is that it is okay to cry, and I shouldn’t bottle up my emotions. She always said that no matter how far away she is, she is always a phone call away if I need to talk.

This compassionate, gorgeous, electric women is so inspiring and deserves to be recognized for it. Anyone who gets to meet her, is the luckiest person in the world. I am lucky to be able to know her, and I am proud to be able to call her coach.