Leading by Example
Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic head coach Gary Geller demonstrates a lesson in sportsmanship

By Katie Botsis, OHSAA Intern
February 8, 2010

Good sportsmanship is an important lesson taught to all student-athletes in the state of Ohio. From a young age kids learn that treating coaches, officials, teammates and opponents with respect is what being a good sport is all about. Many times the best way to teach this lesson is to lead by example. Recently, at a girl’s high school basketball game played at Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic, coach Gary Geller, who also serves as the athletic director, gave his players a first-hand example of what sportsmanship is all about. On a December night in Northwest Ohio, Bettsville’s girls basketball team traveled to Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic’s gymnasium with just five players dressed for the game. During the first half, a Bettsville player was shook up after taking a charge in the paint. Since trainers were called onto the court and with no one on the bench to replace the player, Bettsville coach Paul Dymond had to take a timeout for her to remain in the game. Near the end of the timeout Geller called over Greg McDowell, one of the officials working the game, and asked to take another timeout to ensure that the Bettsville player had enough time to recover. “Catching on to what Gary was trying to do, I thanked him for his sportsmanship,” said McDowell. “This was by far the classiest, most generous act of sportsmanship I’ve ever witnessed and we need more of this.” The Bettsville player was able to return to the court after the timeout taken by St. Joseph Central Catholic. “My assistant coach, Roger Tarolli, and I were prepared to take a second timeout if needed,” said Geller, who is in his 29th year of coaching. “We wanted to make sure she could continue.” Bettsville, with a girl’s enrollment of just 27 compared to the 96 enrolled at St. Joseph Central Catholic, lost by a score of 53-26 that night, but the score wasn’t what most people remembered about the game. “I appreciate how they played,” said Dymond. “They’re going to play their game. They aren’t going to give you anything, but respect you enough that they aren’t going to run up the score either. I was extremely proud of the five girls I did have and it was one of the more enjoyable games I’ve coached this season.” Geller’s simple but important act of sportsmanship was not lost on anyone in attendance that night. “Two high school girls teams had a competitive and positive experience,” said Spencer Roberts, another official working the game that evening. “Players, coaches, parents and fans were treated to a game where all the participants were able to hold their heads high and grow as student athletes.”

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