Julie Frisvold of Reservoir Softball Named Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month

Julie Frisvold, who coaches the Reservoir High School softball team in Howard County, is the County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month!

Coach Frisvold, whose players call her "Friz," was nominated for the award by a pair of seniors on her team: first baseman Breann Smith and right fielder Abby Wang.

"Some other coaches my teammates and I have had in the past tend to put players down after errors, but not Friz," Smith wrote in her nomination. "She builds us up to do better next time and makes the game fun rather than a job. She celebrates our mini successes rather than focusing on our mistakes. I have never had a better experience with a coach."

As a player, Coach Frisvold was a standout for the Godwin High School softball team in Richmond, Va. She played collegiately for four years at University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Coach Frisvold has taught social studies at Reservoir for 12 years, and currently teaches AP Psychology. She's coached softball at the school every year she's taught there, becoming the Gators' head coach after one season as an assistant.

"I like working with people," Coach Frisvold said. "It starts from teaching being the best possible career choice for me, and coaching is just an extension of that. Coaching gives me the opportunity to work with players from different backgrounds and help them not just with what to do on the field, but also give them skills and strategies that can help them in life."

Reservoir is in the midst of one of its best seasons. The Gators, who have seven seniors on their roster, are 15-3, including a 13-3 mark in Howard County regular season play that earned them second place in the league.

To her players, the atmosphere around the team that Coach Frisvold creates is a big reason for the group's success.

"She's down to earth and easy to approach. Friz is very relatable and we can talk to her about anything," senior pitcher Emma Bailey said. "Personally, she pushes me to try as hard as I can and to do the best I can."

Reservoir opened the Maryland Public Secondary School Athletic Association 3A state playoffs with a 10-0 victory over Long Reach. The Gators are in search of their first regional title since 2012, the lone postseason championship during Coach Frisvold's tenure.

Regardless of Reservoir's postseason success, the positive impact Coach Frisvold has had on her players will last far beyond this season.

"Friz is like a second mom to everyone on the team," Wang wrote. "She welcomes and encourages us to come to her with any issues or problems we're having. I know that no matter what, I can come to her with anything from team drama, to problems at home or school, to any personal struggles I could be having. Friz is genuinely one of the best people I know, and without her, I would not be the player or woman I am today."

For being named County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month, Coach Frisvold received a gift certificate, bottle of sauce, and hat from Buffalo Wild Wings, as well as a County Sports Zone t-shirt.

If you'd like to make a nomination for next month's County Sports Zone/Buffalo Wild Wings Coach of the Month, email Wick Eisenberg at weisenberg@countysportszone.com.

Congratulations to Coach Frisvold!