Mayor Jennifer Antel has been named new head coach of the Wayland High School boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams this fall.
Ms. Antel is the wife of longtime coach Raymond Antel III, who was forced to resign because of the new state rules prohibiting teachers and coaches who retire wait for nine months before serving again. Antel retired from teaching at East Kentwood High School in June.
The mayor is no stranger to coaching the sport. She was middle school coach for a long time before giving it up to Robin Sidebotham last fall. Sidebotham will continue at her post.
Ms. Antel won awards as a middle school track coach at Wayland.
Ray Antel will not be the head nor assistant coach in order to follow the state rules properly. The same restrictions applied earlier this year to Wildcat softball coach Cheri Ritz, who was still able to put in a dull season last spring on the diamond after she retired from teaching physical education.
Practice for cross-country began this morning, and Ms. Antel reported there are about a dozen boys, but a shortage of girls working out with the team. One of the female returnees is the Antels’ youngest daughters, Elliot.
The Wildcat runners will open their season on their home course Monday, Aug. 21, in the Wayland Quad.
Nobody is more qualified than Mayor Antel and I am extremely glad that she is taking the reins as head coach for the cross country for the boys and girls. She is great at running the city, she is great at being a mom being a coach and being a friend to many people, including me, her constituents all these years. I just love her, she’s a peach she’s a daughter of Christ God bless you, Mayor, glad to see you at the helm.