Going home

After 30 years working in the Ritzville School District as a PE and Health teacher, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Greg Whitmore will be the next Superintendent at the Entiat School District. In other words Greg Whitmore is going home.

Greg was also an Executive Board member for the WIAA and served as board president in 2019-2020. I’m sure most years were much easier to contend with but starting March 16, 2020, school and sports were put on hiatus. Meetings were no longer face to face but sitting at the office or home computer. Greg’s leadership during this unprecedented time was valuable. As directives came down from the state the WIAA had to adjust on the run if there would be sports seasons and when they would occur.

It was interesting listening to the many ideas floated about on fall, winter and spring sports. What might work for one side of the state wouldn’t work for the other side because of weather patterns. As athletic director and coach Whitmore organized mini camps for skills and agility drills in hopes that a sports season would open up in the fall or winter. Finally the State approved spring seasons that were compressed with masking rules. Whitmore made it clear that we needed to stay safe and protect athletes and fans.

One of the things that had to be most frustrating was the shortage of referees because of vaccine mandates. Coach Whitmore on more than a couple of occasions travelled to Lind to referee a middle school boys or girls’ game because there were no referees available for the contests.

Last fall sports continued on as usual for the most part. Whitmore would be coaching a team with one senior and a bunch of young talent eager to mature. The team went undefeated and won the league championship. They would eventually lose in the quarterfinal round of state. The team won some tough games early which helped with their confidence. They overcame injuries and saw a few freshmen and sophomores step up and succeed. Whitmore was really proud of the way the team matured and overcame adversity.

As an assistant football coach to Mike Lynch, the Broncos went to Tacoma three times winning the state championship in 2004, Lynch’s last year as a head coach. Whitmore became head coach in 2005. The Broncos won the state crown in 2012 and 2013 with Whitmore as head coach and Lynch as an assistant. From 2012-2015 the Broncos went 49-2 losing only to Okanogan in the 2014 semi-final and 2015 in the quarterfinal.

Whitmore saw the remodel of Gilson gymnasium with games and practices having to be done in Lind. He witnessed the Haboob that hit Ritzville a few years ago that ripped off the roofing on the bleachers at Jimmie Snider Field. The red roofing that replaced it does look really nice.

Greg went to a lot of Project 56 meetings and had a lot of input into the tennis courts remodel and all-weather track installation and also with the new sprinkler system. Whitmore spent many hours moving sprinklers on the football field during the summer.

When the high school was gutted and rebuilt the high school students had to go to Lind for a year for schooling. Now classrooms were at a premium and Greg ended up using the Lind bus garage meeting room to conduct health classes. I think a lot of teachers would have been bothered by it but Whit took it in stride making the most of the situation. This year’s senior class were freshmen that year and they adapted rather nicely.

As Athletic Director Greg had to work with ADs and principals of the other schools that have co-opted for sports with LR. Greg’s personality and welcoming of young athletes has made for a pretty good sports combine. Greg is one of those guys that understands the importance of a great high school experience and sports is certainly a big part of it. Being from a small school has been influential.

As the Meet Director of the Undeberg Invitational, Greg has put together a group of dedicated volunteers that want every track athlete that competes at the late April event to have an enjoyable experience. It is fun and it is important for the local community and Bronco faithful to put on a top notch meet. Greg is the leader of this and is the driving force. He also plans to return and bring Entiat track athletes to the meet next year.

I could write for hours on what Greg Whitmore has meant to the Ritzville and Lind communities. His willingness to go above and beyond for kids is pretty cool to say the least. Greg and Karen raised three kids who were also Bronco athletes in this town. It has been a joy getting to know them and I wish them well. I know for a fact the importance of going home and Greg is lucky enough to be able to do just that.