Polson coaches earn statewide awards

After securing Class A state titles in two spring sports, the accolades for Polson High School’s coaches continue to roll in.

The Lady Pirates’ state champion softball coach Jami Hanson, who was named Northwest A Conference Coach of the Year last week, also will be honored as Montana’s Class A Coach of the Year.

Hanson guided Polson to a 23-1-1 record and an undefeated run through the state tournament in Butte en route to the program’s first state title since 2012 and record eighth overall.

Polson tennis coach Bob Hislop also was named the state’s Class A Coach of the Year for tennis. Hislop’s girls team cruised to a state title with a championship duo of Berkley Ellis and Qia Harlan, runners up Ara Mercer and Megan Rost, and fourth-place duo Taylor Collinge and Clara Todd. Polson’s top boys doubles team, Michael Smith and Torrin Ellis, also finished second at state.

Hislop was enshrined in the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.

On Monday the MCA announced Terry Souhrada of Polson is the Class A Assistant Coach of the Year.

Souhrada has coached basketball, cross country and track for more than 20 years.

All three coaches will be honored at the 2021 MCA awards ceremony July 29 at CMR High School in Great Falls.