Sean Winkelseth (left) is introduced at the MSD Decatur Township school board meeting by Director of Athletics Justin Dixson.
(SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Published in the Wednesday, June 14, 2023 edition
By Steve Page
Correspondent
In order to extend its award-winning athletic department to the very youngest of Hawks, the MSD of Decatur Township has named baseball coach Sean Winkelseth the Elementary Athletic Director for Decatur Township.
During its June meeting, the school board also promoted Winkelseth to serve as the Dean of Valley Mills Elementary School, where he has spent five years teaching fifth grade.
“Thanks to the vision and support of our school board and superintendent, we are working to vertically articulate our K-12 athletic programs in theory and practice,” DC Director of Athletics Justin Dixson said in the board’s press release. “By modeling K-6 grade athletics after our middle school and high school models, we believe parents and student-athletes will benefit from the consistency, communication, organization, and expectations designed in a K-12 program.”
Earlier this year, DC’s athletic department was deemed Exemplary by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
And now this.
“It’s an exciting process to be launching,” Winkelseth said. “It shows the township is invested in education-based athletics.
“It’s going to improve attendance, because you have to have attendance to play sports. Attendance matters. Behavior matters. Character matters.”
Dixson said the first task for 2023-24 would be to align boys’ and girls’ soccer in the fall, followed by boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter.
The plan is to also create opportunities for cross country and track and field for those in kindergarten through grade 6.
“We know this won’t happen overnight for our 22 programs,” Dixson continued. “There is no blueprint for what we are designing. Luckily for us, we have a great team of leaders, committed community partners, and a district that is passionate about education-based athletics.”
That obviously includes Winkelseth, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., who now resides with his wife Madison in Avon. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Wayne State University in Detroit, while also being a four-year letterman in baseball. He also recently earned his Masters degree in School Leadership and Management from the University of Indianapolis.
“We are very excited to have Sean as a part of our athletic administrative team in Decatur Township,” Dixson said. “He has done an outstanding job as an elementary school educator and head varsity baseball coach. I have no doubt that his experience in those roles and various other leadership positions will help him excel in this new opportunity.”
Winkelseth is ready to begin.
“It’s going to be a change from teaching fifth grade,” he said Friday. “But it’s an exciting change, the next step in my career as far as education goes. It’s going to be a process, but we’re taking steps in the right direction.
“We’re already getting to work preparing registration, meeting with the basketball and soccer head coaches, contacting the elementary school principals and planning for those seasons.
“All those things we’re trying to implement, so it will truly be K through 12.”
By Steve Page
Correspondent
In order to extend its award-winning athletic department to the very youngest of Hawks, the MSD of Decatur Township has named baseball coach Sean Winkelseth the Elementary Athletic Director for Decatur Township.
During its June meeting, the school board also promoted Winkelseth to serve as the Dean of Valley Mills Elementary School, where he has spent five years teaching fifth grade.
“Thanks to the vision and support of our school board and superintendent, we are working to vertically articulate our K-12 athletic programs in theory and practice,” DC Director of Athletics Justin Dixson said in the board’s press release. “By modeling K-6 grade athletics after our middle school and high school models, we believe parents and student-athletes will benefit from the consistency, communication, organization, and expectations designed in a K-12 program.”
Earlier this year, DC’s athletic department was deemed Exemplary by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
And now this.
“It’s an exciting process to be launching,” Winkelseth said. “It shows the township is invested in education-based athletics.
“It’s going to improve attendance, because you have to have attendance to play sports. Attendance matters. Behavior matters. Character matters.”
Dixson said the first task for 2023-24 would be to align boys’ and girls’ soccer in the fall, followed by boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter.
The plan is to also create opportunities for cross country and track and field for those in kindergarten through grade 6.
“We know this won’t happen overnight for our 22 programs,” Dixson continued. “There is no blueprint for what we are designing. Luckily for us, we have a great team of leaders, committed community partners, and a district that is passionate about education-based athletics.”
That obviously includes Winkelseth, a native of Ypsilanti, Mich., who now resides with his wife Madison in Avon. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education from Wayne State University in Detroit, while also being a four-year letterman in baseball. He also recently earned his Masters degree in School Leadership and Management from the University of Indianapolis.
“We are very excited to have Sean as a part of our athletic administrative team in Decatur Township,” Dixson said. “He has done an outstanding job as an elementary school educator and head varsity baseball coach. I have no doubt that his experience in those roles and various other leadership positions will help him excel in this new opportunity.”
Winkelseth is ready to begin.
“It’s going to be a change from teaching fifth grade,” he said Friday. “But it’s an exciting change, the next step in my career as far as education goes. It’s going to be a process, but we’re taking steps in the right direction.
“We’re already getting to work preparing registration, meeting with the basketball and soccer head coaches, contacting the elementary school principals and planning for those seasons.
“All those things we’re trying to implement, so it will truly be K through 12.”
Decatur Central baseball coach Sean Winkelseth greets players Garrett Smith (5) and Zach Losito as they return from a successful stint in the field during a game this season at the Phil Webster Baseball Complex.
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY STEVE PAGE)
(SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTO BY STEVE PAGE)
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