Page 65 September 2013 ARCADIA SPORTS By Nicholas Smith It was a snowy winter in the Midwest that put Troy Gerlach on the path to Arcadia High School. While coaching baseball at a Catholic school in Ohio, he lived through a winter when the state received 110 inches of snow. “It wasn’t for me,” he said. “We were having games in April and having to battle through snow flurries. I thought, ‘This isn’t baseball.’” Gerlach, who is from Clearwater, Kan., was a huge fan of the game from an early age. “My mom and dad will tell you that I was always playing baseball, all the way back to when I was 4 or 5.” Carlton Fisk was one of his favorites growing up and, like Fisk, Gerlach was a catcher through school. “I loved catching,” he said. “You’re in every pitch, the game revolves around you and you can help dictate everything. There’s a reason so many managers are catchers.” Gerlach attended Pratt Community College before transferring to Northwest Missouri State, all the while catching, as well as sometimes playing third base. He coaching career began at Northwest. “I had never thought about coaching,” he said. “My dream and goal had always been to play in the big leagues. So I figured I’d make it to the majors, play until I was 40, and call it a day. That was really my only plan.” Invited to be a student assistant coach, Gerlach said he saw an opportunity to continue to be involved with the game he loved. When Gerlach arrived in Arizona, he took a job teaching at Tavan Elementary School so he could continue coaching baseball as an assistant coach at Arcadia High School and later at Paradise Valley Community College. “I just wanted to stay in baseball.” Gerlach said. After the 2011 season, the AHS head coaching position opened and Gerlach was encouraged to apply. Since being hired, Gerlach said he has fallen in love with the school and the Arcadia area. “I am completely at ease with my decision. The administration and families have been awesome; the neighborhood is Coach now a teacher at AHS great. The school and boosters have done an outstanding job at upgrading the field. The principal (John Biera) wants excellence in the classroom and success on the field. What more could you want? Last year nobody expected anything. I had people telling me that we would be lucky if we won six games.” The team had 18 wins. They also made it to the second round of the playoffs, a huge surprise for many around the community, but not for Coach Gerlach. “In my eyes, we didn’t overachieve,” he said. Gerlach, who teaches P.E. and weight training when not coaching, said his goals for the team are to send players to college “and to build Arcadia into a program that will contend with the Brophys, the Hamiltons, and the Chaparrals.” Coach may be a tad distracted, though, in the near future. He and his wife of 10 years, Terra, are expecting their first baby in September, a boy. “When I get the crib up, I think we’ll be ready,” he said. LOOK BETTER - FEEL BETTER The Pilates Body Let us help you achieve a better you! One-on-one private Pilates instruction individually tailored to focus on your goals. Make a healthy body your priority and call today. Also offering mat and TRX classes ARCADIA STUDIO 4422 E. Indian School ● 602-538-5686 CENTRAL PHOENIX STUDIO 742 E. Glendale Ave. ● 602-296-4649 www.thepilatesbodyaz.com our swim programs are internationally-recognized stop in and find out why! FREE BABY SPLASH 8 wks - 5 mos LITTLE SNAPPERS 6 mos - 35 mos GROUP LESSONS 3 yrs - 12 yrs SPLASH, PLAY & LEARN the Hubbard way! HUBBARDSWIM.COM 602.971.4044 Coach Gerlach gives his team a pep talk at a game last season. Nomination Form Online: arcadiadaily.com/teachers.pdf