By Sapna Pathak
Staff Writer

On a night when Jack Amero was going to be honored, he chose to put his players before himself.

The head coach for Manchester West's girls soccer team was slated to receive an award at this year's fall athletic awards banquet on Nov. 10, but couldn't attend.

He was at the all-state selections meeting to nominate some of his players.

Amero recently capped a stellar 30-year coaching career. In his time at West, he guided the girls. program to 15 championship seasons, including this year's final title run.

As Amero leaves his post at the helm of West's soccer powerhouse, his players will never forget what they learned from him both on and off the field.

"He taught me to recognize my own mistakes instead of always pointing them out to me," said senior Allyson Bellemore, who scored all three of West's goals in the '05 championship game. "He showed me how to learn from my mistakes. I'll take that with me in soccer and in my education."

Bellemore wasn't the only member of the Blue Knights who wanted to show support for Amero. The girls soccer team gathered to be honored as state champions at the banquet. However, the players were more interested in recognizing their coach.

The Manchester West Booster Club awarded Amero with a school jacket embroidered with his career coaching record of 416-53-15 and his 15 state titles.

Although Amero couldn't personally accept his award, he was very emotional after the Blue Knights won the championship on Nov 5. In his final game, Amero said he was overwhelmed.

Of course, Amero wasn't the only individual to receive an award; a couple of his players did as well.

Junior goalie Melissa Vitagliano, who recorded a record nine shutouts this season, was named "Junior Female Athlete of the Year."

"It's not surprising that he wouldn't be here because he's out getting our names out there," Vitagliano said. "It's been easy to be so successful under him because of the tone he sets. He gave me a lot of confidence, on and off the field."

Alyssa Thayer was named "Senior Female Athlete of the Year."

Thayer described her coach as someone who always cared about the players as individuals. He always treated them as equals and respected them as people, she said.

"This year was so special; we knew he'd graduate with us," Thayer said. "We wanted to win this championship for him. What more could we ask for (as seniors)? Our last game is his last game."

Thayer added that Amero's secret to success was honesty. The coach told the girls what to do in practice and they carried it out in games.

He didn't get loud like other coaches. He didn't yell and scream at referees when he disagreed. He doesn't let his opponents know what he was feeling during the game, Thayer said.

Amero's style was quiet and reserved. He'd pull a player aside and calmly explain what she was doing wrong. He instilled confidence in every athlete, telling her no task was unattainable.

"He found a way to take us as individual players and make us come together as a team," Taylor Finley said. "If you work hard, work as a team, you will always win. We're going to miss him next year, but he taught us well."