After a huge state championship for the Caledonia/Spring Grove track and field team, coming home with first place as a team, it was awarded with another huge honor, as Coach Reese Wait won Coach of the Year from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for Minnesota.
The USTFCCCA hands out awards for both boys and girls track coaches in all 50 states. This year, Coach Wait took home this award for Minnesota boys track. In an interview with Coach Wait, he explained that it was wholly unexpected.
“It absolutely came out of left field, as I had gotten a letter in my mailbox," he said. "It was unexpected but definitely appreciated. I did not think it would happen.”
Coach Wait gave credit to his coaching staff and the athletes for putting in the work and continually developing toward their own success. He also credited coach Carl Fruechte, who initiated the speed program for Caledonia High School sports, noting how far that’s propelled not only the football squad but other sports.
When asked about the prospects for next year, coach Wait was optimistic about success next year, despite losing some top runners, including Josh Beardmore and Gabe Curley, as well as Jordan Tornstrom in discus.
Returning athletes for track and field next year looking to keep the success going include Ethan Stendel, Fischer Wait, Eli and Owen Staggemeyer, and others.
The summer was not entirely over for track and field, as they held a summer camp for youth athletes to give kids a taste of track and field. The kids competed in 50m hurdles, 100m dash, 200m dash, and the long jump.
Coach Wait closed out the interview, saying, “This award just goes to show what we have in our kids and what we accomplished. They’ve earned it.”
Awards announcement
NEW ORLEANS – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recently announced the state-by-state winners of its High School Track & Field Coaches of the Year Presented by the United States Marine Corps.
One boys coach and one girls coach from 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, were honored for their successes during the spring of 2024, as selected by a committee of experts from around the nation (two coaches are honored, if they share coaching responsibilities).
Coach Wait, of Caledonia, and Meghan Orgeman, of Alexandria Area High School, were the winners for Minnesota this year.
State-by-state winners were selected based on their teams’ performances throughout the 2024 outdoor track & field season. Among the factors taken into consideration were team score and placement at the state championships, margin of victory, performance against rankings if available, individual championships, and how their teams’ performances stacked up to previous years (e.g. first title in school history, consecutive titles, etc.).
Each honoree will receive a trophy from the USTFCCCA recognizing their achievements.
The winners from each state are in consideration for the association’s National High School Track & Field Coach of the Year award. One boys coach and one girls coach from among all the states will be selected by a panel of experts and be announced next month as the national winners.
The full lists can be seen at ustfccca.org .
Most Popular
Comments / 0