Sam Scherwinski, Bay Port 2017, helped contribute to the best University of Minnesota Women’s Gymnastics team season in program history as an assistant coach. The program’s record-breaking year included advancing to the Final Four and finishing fourth in the country! In addition, Sam and his team were named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Assistant Coaches of the Year.

“Working in women’s sports has been especially meaningful because of the momentum and growth surrounding it right now,” said Sam. “It’s exciting to be part of an environment where female athletes are continuing to gain visibility, inspire the next generation, and prove what is possible through confidence, leadership, resilience, and hard work. Being able to contribute to that impact and help young women realize how capable they truly are is something I take a lot of pride in.”

Sam has always loved gymnastics, competition, and being part of a team, but he didn’t always know coaching would become his career path. After graduating from Bay Port, he attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. While completing his undergraduate degree, he began coaching at UWL and realized how much he enjoyed working with athletes in a leadership role. Sam continued his education through West Virginia University online, and earned his Master of Science degree in Sport Coaching.

Sam believes that Bay Port and the Howard-Suamico community played a major role in shaping who he is today. “I was fortunate to grow up in an environment that valued hard work, competition, teamwork, and involvement,” said Sam. “I also had coaches, teachers, and mentors throughout my time at Bay Port who genuinely cared about helping students grow, both academically and personally. Looking back now as a coach myself, I realize how influential those role models were in shaping the way I approach leadership and mentorship today.”

From Pirate to Gopher, we are rooting for you, Sam! #PiratePride