By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

St. Charles Catholic’s Frank Monica was recently selected as the Louisiana High School Athletic Directors Association’s Athletic Director of the Year for 2010.

“I’m elated and humbled,” said Monica, who was presented a plaque to commemorate the award at a banquet last week. “When you have an award like this, it’s not just one person. Part of this should go to our staff, our coaches, our secretary, and everyone else that’s had a hand in this. It starts up top with strong administration and Mr. Drew Cupit allows me to run the athletic program and supports it with his full heart and soul.

“I was really just the one person that happened to be present to receive the award, but so many have a hand in it.”

Monica oversaw an athletic program that can be recognized as much for its consistency as its lone performance in 2010, which was a banner year for the school. St. Charles’ football team – which Monica guides as head coach – finished its season at 12-2 and Class 2A state semifinalist, ending finally at Evangel. It was a similar result to 2009, when the Comets fell on the road to John Curtis in the semifinals to finish 12-2.

SCC has lost just four times in two years, three times to Curtis and once to Evangel. Those two teams finished as champion (Evangel, twice) and state runner-up respectively each year.

The Comets baseball team won the District 9-2A title and entered the postseason as Class 2A’s top seed. The softball team earned state-runner up honors after reaching the state championship game in Sulphur before bowing out to Evangel.

And the Comets boys swimming team brought some championship hardware home after capturing the Division IV swim crown. The Comet girls finished in second place.

“It’s exciting when you realize that your peers think highly of you,” said Monica.

“It’s a credit to our program and an award for the school. We try to make sure we do the right things here, do things correctly, with sportsmanship and respect.”