By Dan Truttschel ~ Sports correspondent
Last week’s sectional semifinal loss to state-bound Westosha Central also marked the final time Wilmot softball coach Bob Movrich would lead the Panthers, as he said this week he plans to retire after 20 years with the program.
Movrich started the Wilmot program in 1979. After five years, he stepped away before he returned in 1996. All totaled, he was the head coach for 11 years and as an assistant or lower-level coach for nine.
“It was kind of neat to start it, see it all the way through and now to pass it along to someone else,” he said.
The time has come to let someone else lead the way, Movrich said, who added he will take away many positive memories.
“I enjoyed getting to know the kids and players,” he said. “You still have friendships with them. I saw (former players) from the 1981, 1982, 1983 teams the other night and they were still talking about softball.
“It was just fun. You hope that, over the course of working and coaching the kids that it was a good experience for them and they’ll look back on it and think softball was pretty cool in high school.”
Movrich and his coaching staff have one more duty before the end is official, as they are headed to Stevens Point next week to coach in the Wisconsin Softball Coaches Association All-Star Games at Zenoff Park.
Joining the coaching staff from Wilmot will be Wood and fellow recent graduates Kelsey Saucerman and Kelli Hutchinson. The Wilmot contingent will compete on the Division 1 Red team in games at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. next Tuesday, June 19.