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| MEET THE NEW COACH'S We have new varsity coach's at 8 of the 12 SAC schools for the winter sports season. Taking over for the Lady Wildcats in Marcellus is a familiar face. Denny Small takes over the girls basketball program after just a couple years on the sideline. Denny has 17 years of coaching experience and led the boys program for 7 years, but stepped down to watch his daughter play. Now Denny will have the best seat in the house as he will be coaching his daughter. In Lawton the new boys basketball coach is Joe Rodriguez. Coach Rodriguez is a Fennville (2002) graduate that has been Fennville's golf coach as well as an assistant Varsity Basketball coach for the past two seasons. The Decatur Raider's boys Varsity Basketball program has a new leader in Decatur Physical Education Teacher, Jon Pobuda. Jon is no stranger to SAC athletics as well. Coach Pobuda, a graduate of Lawrence, is in his second year as a teacher in Decatur. Pobuda has taught and coached at Lawrence and Fennville. The Hartford Indians Wresting program is under new leadership but it's a familiar face. Mike Burtchett is from Hartford and has been involved for years in the My Way wrestling program along with his wife, Sandy. He has a son who wrestles for Olivet College (MI), Chas Burtchett. He also has a grade school son who wrestles. In Lawrence, long time Varsity Basketball coach Mike Salvano retired after a run that coaches dream about. His replacement is James Hafley. Dave Smith who coached the Lawrence girls varsity program for years also retired from the coaching ranks. Replacing Coach Smith is Bob Wenglinski. Coach Weglinski has been coaching at all levels over the course of the last 15 years from Bantam, AAU. 3 years at Portage Central High School assisting at all 3 girls levels, Freshman, JV and Varsity, as well as the girls Head Freshman coach at Paw Paw High School. In the North, Gobles wrestling is being led by Vincent Lindel. Coach Lindel is a product of Brian Southworth in Decatur. The Lady Cardinals will be led by Kristin Koetsier-Miller. Coach Koetsier-Miller is a former Miss Basketball (98 Grandville) and a standout at WMU. While at WMU Coach Koetsier-Miller went through some adversity and was honored to be given the Honda Inspirational Award and the Jimmy V "Don't Give Up... Don't Ever Give Up" award. "I'm very excited to have my first coaching position at Bloomingdale High School", said Coach Koetsier-Miller. She adds, "This is what I have always wanted to do, so I am very eager to finally get started"!! When the girls switched to the winter season, Fennville coach Ryan Klingler ran both the boys and girls programs. This season Coach Klingler will concentrate his energy on running just the boys program. Taking over the Lady Hawks is Middle School teacher Matt Bierschbach. Coach Bierschbach has coached multiple sports over the years at Beal City, Holland and Hamilton. SACathletics.org extends a welcome and good luck all new coach's for the winter season! |
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