Tecumseh’s gymnastics coach, Jen Posten, named MHSGCJA Coach of the Year

Three Tecumseh High School (THS) freshmen competed as individuals at the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division II state meet at Rockford on Saturday, March 7, and their coach, Jen Posten, was named Michigan High School Gymnastics Coaches and Judges Association’s (MHSGCJA) Coach of the Year.Competing for Tecumseh were Alaina Carr (vault), Madison Harkness (vault, floor) and Carlee Swan (floor). It was the largest number of athletes competing at the state meet in the Tecumseh program’s history. None of Tecumseh’s freshmen placed at the state meet but were very close to breaking into the top 10.“They walked in a little wide-eyed but it was a really good day,” said Posten. “We didn’t end up with any all-state, but on vault 10th place was at 8.85 and Madison Harkness had an 8.75, so she was only a tenth away from being all-state.”The last time Tecumseh had representatives at the state meet was in 2010 when they had two athletes attend. The Indians are hopeful to get the team qualified for state for the first time ever possibly next season, as the youth on the team are expected to continue getting better.Posten just finished her 14th year as the Indians head coach. The former club gymnast and high school captain at Adrian also leads all of the programs for the Tecumseh Gymnastics Academy. She has been coaching various levels of gymnastics for the past 15 years, starting as an assistant coach at Tecumseh High School.Typically, the Coach of the Year award goes to those who have done very well at the state meet. The president of MHSGCJA, John Cunningham, said that while Posten didn’t win a state title this season, she stood out as the top coach of the year by her coaching peers and judges, who also nominated her for the honor.“We vote on the best coach, kind of like when a team votes on a team captain,” Cunningham said. “They may not necessarily be the highest point scorer but they are the one leading the team.”Nomination ballots included the following comments about Posten: “She is so incredibly organized! She genuinely cares about her gymnasts. Jen is always willing to lend a hand and help other coaches continue their education and expand their horizons. She has volunteered to help with coaches and judges education. Jen has also been instrumental in expanding the middle school program. Her gymnasts respect her and her positive example of how a coach should lead her team.” Another nomination said: “Although I have been involved with gymnastics and high school gymnastics for many years this is my first year coaching a high school team. I have had the opportunity to compete against and observe Jen with her team. Jen has a calming approach with her team and it shows with the respect her team shows her. She has taught her team to win with dignity and lose with dignity and support gymnasts even if they’re not on her own team. The Tecumseh gymnasts are always cheering us on and making it a friendly competition that is fun. That is a reflection of Jen’s coaching style. Jen has also taken the time to answer my many questions and help me however I needed. I have used Jen Posten as a mentor in how I want to act, support and be represented in this sport.”Gymnastics judge Linda School said, “Jen truly does an excellent job with the Tecumseh gymnastics program in general, both middle school and high school. This year she had at least two girls qualify for individual state finals. It has been many years since that had happened. She is very deserving of MHSGCJA Coach of the Year.”Posten received a Coach of the Year plaque and her name will also be added to the one hung at the Michigan High School Athletic Association facilities. Posten and all other Coaches of the Year will be honored at a presentation in Lansing on November 8.“I was completely shocked,” said Posten. “They sent out the nominations about two months ago and when I opened it I couldn’t believe I was even on the list, because I was up there with people like John Cunningham, who’s at team state every year. He won the state title last year. So, it’s pretty crazy even to be nominated among those people. Being given the award was definitely an honor.”Posten has been Tecumseh Public Schools’ Athletic Department secretary since 2009.“As an employee, what she does here for the athletic department is great. She’s really a Deputy Athletic Director and probably could be an Athletic Director if she wanted to be,” said THS Athletic Director Greg Lewis. “As far as her job coaching gymnastics, there’s no coach here that devotes more time to building their program from the bottom up. She always has the kids’ best interest at heart. She doesn’t make a lot of money at it but invests a lot of hours at it.”Posten has three children, Bailie, a junior, Marcus, a freshman, and Maxwell, a fourth grader. Her husband, Jeramy, is a Tipton mail carrier.