Spring is most definitely the busiest season for Wooster, especially in sports. Wooster offers a whopping six spring sports, and a record number of 200+ students are participating this season. While students are excited for the upcoming season, so are our coaches! We have many coaches who are also involved in the community in other ways, like teaching, working in admissions, and helping our community. One of the best aspects of Wooster Sports is our faculty and staff, who dedicate their time to students, not only during the school day, but also during after-school activities. The spring sports program has been successful in recent years and is always looked forward to throughout the year because faculty and staff are dedicated to Wooster’s success.
So where might this success come from? Student athletes, of course, are admired by all members of the Wooster community. But those athletes are nothing without a great coaching staff, which Wooster is fortunate to have at its disposal.
Mr. Fischer is an Advanced Chemistry, Physics, and Biology teacher, but he is also the Varsity Ultimate Frisbee coach. Ultimate is a cornerstone of Wooster Athletics. In recent years, we have won two back-to-back state championships and came in 5th place in the 2025 season.
Being a teacher and coach most certainly has its advantages for Mr. Fischer. The best part is learning how to teach students on and off the field, catered to their learning styles.
“It definitely strengthens my relationships with students, but it is also a lot of work,” said Mr. Fischer. Being a teacher requires standard expectations for homework and lessons, but being a coach requires much more adjustment to meet people where they are.
“Normalize making mistakes, but move on and keep using that as a motivator,” Mr. Fischer said on his team strategy. This is especially important for Ultimate Frisbee players, as the most unique part of the sport is self-officiation. All players call their own fouls, line violations, and all other referee responsibilities. USA Ultimate Frisbee says all calls are guided by the “spirit of the game.” Which is the concept of honesty over a win-at-all-costs mentality. If a player disagrees with a call, they discuss it with each other and compromise. Ultimate fits perfectly with the Wooster ethos, much like how Mr. Fischer fits perfectly into our community.
A newer addition to the Wooster teaching and coaching staff is Ms. Newman, who coaches JV Girls Basketball and Varsity Girls Lacrosse, alongside teaching three Journalism classes, teaching the archives elective, coordinating alumni relations and organizing the yearbook. When looking at leadership, Ms. Newman is a perfect example.
“I have been there, I’ve been in their shoes,” she said. Especially for Ms. Newman, since she was a member of the lacrosse team during her time as a student at Wooster. Formerly being a student athlete herself helps her understand the challenges that come inside the classroom and on the field.
“Neither role is always easy, and there are challenges that come with it,” she said. Much like Mr. Fischer, Ms. Newman finds that being both a teacher and coach helps her build stronger relationships with student-athletes.
No matter where Ms. Newman is, she always emphasises leadership, just like Wooster does with the jobs program. Ms. Newman and Mr. Fischer’s skills as coaches and teachers reflect the larger goals of Wooster Athletics. Coaches are not only mentors during practice and games, but also mentors during the school day, who guide students through challenges and successes. Their dedication and willingness to participate outside the classroom show the impact Wooster has on the community.
As the spring season gets underway, the energy around campus will only grow. Fields fill with practices, teammates encourage one another, and coaches continue working to help their athletes improve every day. With committed coaches like Mr. Fischer and Ms. Newman leading the way, Wooster’s spring sports program continues to thrive, making it one of the most exciting times of the year for students and faculty alike.
Charlotte '27
Advanced Journalism Student
