BaldwinCity.com

Baldwin High School wrestling coach Kit Harris has once again received an award from his peers.

Harris was recently named the 2007 Midwest Sectional coach of the year for wrestling by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

"I was pretty surprised and honored," Harris said. "I wasn't sure what to think. It's a pretty big compliment."

The Midwest section includes the states of Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. As the Midwest Sectional winner, Harris is automatically a finalist for the national coach of the year for wrestling. The national coach of the year recipients will be notified by Saturday.

"This put me in a pool for the next award," Harris said. "I had some forms sent to me by the KCA that I had to fill out about all of the things that I do as a teacher and a coach."

Last March, Harris was named the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association's coach of the year. That put him into the Midwest Sectional of coaches. He even admits that he had forgot about the award until a letter recently came in the mail.

"I completely forgot about it," Harris said. "I remember filling the forms out when I came back to school this fall. I didn't think much of it since then. This is a neat honor and we'll see what happens next."

Although it's a personal award, Harris said the award speaks volumes about positive things happening at BHS.

"I think there are a lot of positive things going on at BHS," Harris said. "There are good programs and good coaches that work together and help each other. We share kids, so we tend to get kids that are great to work with. We also have great parent and community support. It kind of all ties together. I think this award is a by-product of that really."