S.D. High School Coaches Association announces 2026 Winter Coaches of the Year

Estelline-Hendricks gymnastics coach Sherri Johnson is one of five coaches who have been named 2026 Winter Coaches of the Year by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association.

The coaches will be honored at the SDHSCA's awards banquet set for Sunday, July 9, 2026, at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center.

Johnson guided Estelline-Hendricks' gymnasts to their fourth-consecutive state Class A championship in February. The Redhawks won with a score of 140.5334, followed by runner-up Parkston-Ethan-Hanson-Mount Vernon at 137.8168.

The Redhawks also shined during the Class A individual and all-around competition on the second day of the state competition. Maggie Hausman won the floor exercise, uneven bars and all-around titles, and teammate Riah Hartung won the balance beam and finished third in the all-around competition. Jaylee Berwald also added a top-10 finish in the all-around.

Johnson was also named to the SDHSCA's Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 2023.

Estelline-Hendricks coach Sherri Johnson (left), pictured with gymnast Portia Trias during the 2025 South Dakota State Gymnastics Championships in the Watertown Civic Arena, has been named the 2026 Gymnastics Coach of the Year by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association.

Other COTY honorees include the following:

Tim Buddenhagen of Huron (Boys Basketball)

Buddenhagen guided the Tigers to a 20-4 season that ended with a state Class AA championship.

Huron downed previously-unbeaten and No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln 59-37 in the state championship game in March.

Matthew Rama, Mahpiya Luta (Girls Basketball)

Under Rama's guidance, Mahpiya Luta went 23-1 and finished second in the state Class A tournament for a second consecutive year.

Lennox defeated Mahpiya Luta 65-51 in the championship game of the state tourney in March.