The women's fastpitch softball team at Laurier University – helmed by openly gay coach Matt Allen – has been named the school's sports club of the year. Laurier University is in Waterloo, Ontario, a bit over an hour west of Toronto.
From the school's athletic department:
The women's fastpitch team finished their season with an impressive 17-5 record and captured a silver medal in the 2014 university championships. It is because of this finish that they qualify and will be representing Laurier at the 2015 CCSA National Championships this October at Durham College.
Allen sent Outsports these thoughts about the acknowledgement:
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"Being named team of the year at Laurier University has been nothing less than humbling. My first year as the head coach with the program has proven to be a great learning experience bringing the team back to its success we experienced when I first joined the University back in 2007. It's a real honour to be awarded the team of the year and I give full credit to the hard work of our athletes.
"At the same time it is equally as rewarding to be acknowledged for the work we did on creating an inclusive environment on our team, regardless of sexual orientation, and it's also refreshing for the University to never question having a gay head coach at the helm of its softball team and being nothing but supportive to both myself and our athletes."
Yes people, inclusion wins!
