Spirit Lake Iowa — Spirit Lake’s Bob O’Hare is the 2017 tennis recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award. Bob was honored Thursday before the start of the Class 1A State Singles and Doubles Tournament in Iowa City.
The Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community and the coaching profession.
O’Hare has been coaching Spirit Lake-Okoboji girls’ tennis since 2000, amassing a career record of 222-29. In his tenure, Spirit Lake-Okoboji has captured 17 Lakes Conference Tournament championships and had 63 girls earn first team all-conference while 44 girls have qualified for the Iowa Girls State Tennis Tournament. He has coached two state champions.
Rachel Gerking was the 2006 1A singles champion while the duo of Natalie Kolegraff and Ellen Goerrs were 1A state doubles champions in 2004. Eleven other girls have placed in the top four in state singles and doubles while 10 of his teams have placed in the top eight in the state tournament.
Bob has been honored by the NFHS as its state coach of the year in 2014 while the National High School Athletic Coaches Association named him as the 2013 State Coach of the Year.
