In the state of Connecticut, the Doc McNerney award is awarded to a coach who performs well throughout the season and who has stood behind their team for a long time. This year Woodland’s own girls softball coach, Loren Luddy, was chosen for the award. She has been coaching for 21 years and has won two back-to-back state championships, some of the many reasons she won this award. 

At the award ceremony on Sunday October 22nd, Luddy spoke about how the community has really helped her over the years. 

“Region 16 and Woodland have been such a great support since I came here in 2001,” Luddy said.

Luddy also spoke about how the girls on her team really had a team first attitude. The team only had two returners that were playing the same positions and she said everybody stepped up and did their part. 

“I only had 18 players but all of them worked like crazy in practice,” said Luddy. “Even just running the bases or sliding things that we needed to work on.”

Luddy was also very inspired by the other coaches that also got the same award that she got. She said that some of the coaches had been coaching for over 40 years, so the fact that she only had half of the experience, but got the same award was truly amazing for her. 

The last thing that really made Luddy get this award was her perseverance. Last year Luddy underwent cancer treatment while still coaching the team. She was still there through the very end for her team even while going through this. 

“Last spring I wasn’t sure if I had another two months in me, let alone another year,” said Luddy. 

While coaching for Woodland Luddy led the team to three NVL championships (the first being in 2010, only nine years after starting her coaching) and two state championships with an overall record of 335-141. Luddy was glad to be recognized for her hard work that she has put in over the years.