MIDDLETOWN — Middletown High School”s Louise Owens is the Lake County Coach of the Year for girls” sports for the second time in three seasons, and it”s a well-deserved honor.
Owens, the Must-angs” soccer coach extraordinaire, guided Middletown to its third North Central League I North title in four years and a school-best 17-2 record, including a winning streak of 13 games. The same team — St. Vincent — handed Middletown its two losses — the first a 2-0 setback in NCL I interlock action and the other a 2-0 defeat in the semifinal round of the North Coast Section Division III playoffs.
Owens” award-winning season came while she and husband Thad Owens were expecting their first child. Jadyn Lyn Owens was born on April 12 and weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Thad, formerly the varsity football coach at Kelseyville High School, has since left that position to take a new job at Middletown High School where he will be the dean of students
Louise, a native of Australia, has transformed Middletown into a perennial playoff contender since taking over the job in 2006. While 2009 was supposed to be a transitional season for the Mustangs, who lost several key players to graduation following the 2008 campaign, that wasn”t the case.
Led by forward Brittany Cash, who was voted the North”s most valuable player, and other standouts such as All-Leaguers Katy August, Amber Preusser, Kelly Wilkinson, Maddie Kucer, Michelle Hill and Emily Reed, the Mustangs put together their finest season ever.
“It blew out my expectations in every way possible,” Owens said of the Mustangs” successful season. “The girls on the team had what it takes. They worked hard, had the right attitude … it was just an amazing group to work with. It was very exciting.”
All but Preusser return in 2010, leaving the Mustangs well positioned for the upcoming 2010 campaign, which Owens will miss.
“I”m taking a year off to spend more time with my daughter,” Owens said of the one-year leave of absence. “I”ll reassess things after that.”
James and Jamie Welton of Hidden Valley Lake, the parents of former Middletown Athlete of the Year Kelsey Welton, will coach the Mustangs in the upcoming season.
Owens will return to coach the Middletown track team next spring.
