The Norse Star has featured student athletes, tri-athletes, college athletes, and even sports managers thoughout this year. But what about the people who help train and guide these athletes to success? This month, the Norse Star wanted to give appreciation to coaches who not only coach but also work in the Stoughton Area School District.

Patrick Schneider (High School Social Studies Teacher)
Sport: Cross Country
Q: What are some major accomplishments you achieved while you were a student-athlete?
A: Verona High School: Member of State Championship DII XC Team in 1991, State Runner Up Varsity Team Member in 1990, 4 Year Letter Winner at UW-Platteville, Finished seven Marathons (including Chicago, Boston, and New York), Syttende Mai (20-mile race) Champion in 2004.

Cassie Bonde (Middle School Lang- uage Arts Teacher)
Sport: Softball
Q: What are some major accomplishments you achieved while you were a student-athlete?
A: In high school softball, my team was the WIAA Division 2 state runners-up my sophomore year. As a senior, I was first team all-conference, All-District, and was selected to play in the Senior All-Star game.

Jason Model (High School Learning Academy Teacher)
Sport: Girls Tennis
Q: What do you love about tennis?
A: Tennis is a sport anybody can play and we get to play outside and enjoy the weather (most of the time).

Nathan Nelson (High School Social Studies Teacher)
Sport: Track & Field
Q: Any advice for student-athletes?
A: Do a sport you love, and don’t feel obligated to play that same sport year-round. You’ll get burnt out and be more injury-prone. Mix it up. Try new sports with each season.

Bob Empey (High School Physical Education Teacher)
Sport: Wrestling
Q: What are some major accomplishments you achieved while you were a student-athlete?
A: We won the State Wrestling Championship and we qualified our cross-country team to sectionals for the first time in 23 years.

Jason Model
Sport: Tennis
1. What do you love about the specific sport?
Tennis is a sport anybody can play and we get to play outside and enjoy the weather (most of the time)
2. Any advice for student-athletes?
Be open to trying something new, work hard, and have fun!

Dan Neely (Aquatics Supervisor)
Sport: Swimming
Q: What do you love about swimming?
A: #1-I love the feeling of being in the water, it’s like flying in slow motion. #2-It’s a lifelong sport and [a] great skill while enjoying the outdoors. #3-“Individual sports” bring out a different team dynamic than “team sports,” and that really worked for me when I started swimming in high school.

Susan Zaemisch (Middle School Science Teacher)
Sport: Cross Country
Q: What are some major accomplishments you achieved while you were a student-athlete?
A: I was a 12 sport athlete and earned 11 varsity letters. I made it to sectionals in high jump in track and was one miss away from the state meet. I was the second runner of our cross country team and a starter sophomore to senior year in basketball.