Former Alpena High School gymnastics standout, John Cunningham recently received a National Coach of the Year award in Louisville, Kentucky.

Cunningham was selected by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) as National Coach of the Year.

Eight finalists in 20 different sports from around the nation traveled to Louisville last week to find out who would be selected.

The “Special Sports” category that the award falls under is composed of smaller sports such as skiing, cheer, field hockey, bowling, lacrosse, badminton, water polo, gymnastics and seven other sports made the comparison and choice for the award difficult.

Cunningham has spent the last 37 years coaching gymnastics at Canton High School. Over the past six years, Canton has placed first on one occasion and second four times in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) states finals. Cunningham has also helped the school win Regionals and the KLAA Conference in each of those years.

Canton has graduated 12 state champions during Cunningham’s time as coach.

“To be so successful for such a long period of time has really made Canton look pretty phenomenal. The tremendous success of our athletes and hard working and performing gymnasts really make their coach look good and they collectively share this award and I thank each and every one of them,” Cunningham said.

A love of gymnastics began at Alpena for Cunningham in 1959 when he made the team as a freshman. During his four years, the team had great success in each of those years, finishing in the top four every year.

The team was led by Cunningham, Tim Mousseau and Clarence Eagle as the trio would all eventually end up moving on and making the University of Michigan gymnastics team.

“The coaching experience at Alpena High and U of M led me to establish a competitive team at my new high school,” Cunningham said.

Since his days as a Wildcat, Cunningham has spent 48 years coaching the sport he loves. He has been inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame and Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Cunningham now adds a National Coaching Award to add to long list of accomplishments for the former Alpena native has on his lifelong resume.

Jonny Zawacki can be reached via email at jzawacki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.