EVANSVILLE, Ind. — There are various framed photographs on the walls of Ken Wempe’s property place of work.
Truthfully, the modest area can not healthy them all. Numerous find house in the visitor bedroom following doorway. Just about every photograph signifies a unique golfing group Wempe coached for the duration of his time at North Large School.
He’ll sometimes sit in his business office and search at them to reminisce. The recollections prompt him to never get rid of sight of the journey. Relocating ahead, they’ll remind him that what this software attained did in truth materialize.
The coach counted himself blessed to be a aspect of it.
Wempe, 77, introduced his retirement as the North Significant College girls’ golfing mentor efficient at the stop of the university year. He explained to the present-day players in a assembly on Wednesday.
The assumed of stepping aside had been on his brain given that winning the program’s sixth condition championship in Oct. Wempe mentioned numerous commitments ended up starting to conflict with his golf schedule.
“We have definitely savored this,” Wempe stated though reminiscing about every single photo. “It can be been a wonderful 9 many years and so numerous great youngsters. I consider so significantly of all of them. It is really been a specific time.”
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Under his view, the Huskies grew to become the gold standard throughout Indiana. North received six point out championships in eight years – it never ever finished decreased than sixth at point out less than Wempe – and featured an particular person point out champ, Religion Johnson (2019). There also were being also two Mental Perspective Award winners, Katelyn Le and Katelyn Skinner.
The system flourished in his nine many years: Nine Southern Indiana Athletic Convention titles, 9 sectional championships and eight regional crowns. The Huskies personal the mark for the state’s least expensive sectional staff score and most affordable 1-working day round at the condition finals. All those eight straight regional titles also are a point out history.
Only the famous Martinsville groups of the 1990s — point out champions nine out of 10 many years — can declare this sort of a run.
“It is unreal to me,” claimed Wempe. “It can be hard plenty of to be one of the 15 teams to qualify for state. To actually have the inspiration, dedication and let’s encounter it, some breaks to be in position on the second working day to be the ideal workforce in the condition. These girls have all stepped up to do that.”
Wempe coached a dozen collegiate athletes around the earlier 9 many years like the four in his current senior class. A lot of place in unseen hrs outside of observe to hold pushing their sport. Golfing is traditionally an personal sport, but Wempe required a genuine team atmosphere. It turned just one of his beloved components of the task.
He put his players in a place to succeed but trusted them to use their skills. Wempe provides them all of the credit score for this famous run.
“These little ones bought in and needed to earn,” mentioned Wempe. “Not only had been they dedicated on the golf study course but in the classroom. They weren’t glad. It just caught hearth. The young ones genuinely preferred to get greater and I think the kids labored very well with each other in aiding them increase.”
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A Memorial Higher School and Evansville College or university graduate, Wempe experienced been concerned with schooling for most of his adult life. He began his career at Glenwood Elementary in advance of afterwards serving as principal at Harper Elementary (1983-85), Oak Hill Middle School (1985-2011), and North Junior High (2011-12).
Wempe also coached other athletics, together with numerous a long time as an assistant baseball mentor under Paul Gries at Central. But subsequent his retirement, Wempe was approached by North principal John Skinner to operate the girls’ golfing application in 2013.
It was initially intended to be a four-year determination. He learned speedily what it would consider to be productive as the Huskies performed towards the very best competition each and every weekend. Wempe thanked the directors and mother and father for serving to force the application to new heights.
B
ut previously mentioned all, Wempe credits his wife, Janet, for becoming supportive at each action.
“She was suitable there,” said Wempe. “When you happen to be married, your spouse has to be a component of this. If you do it the correct way, you have to set the time in. Every task I have at any time had, I have place 110 per cent into it. We’re going to miss all of that.”
Girls Golf: This North senior course concluded its career among the greatest at any time in Indiana
The hottest point out championship transpired this past drop. North shot a two-day 606 at Prairie Look at Golf Club to comfortably beat Homestead by 18 photographs. The fourth-most effective 36-gap rating in state heritage and the 3rd championship for seniors Chloe Johnson, Faith Johnson, Destynie Sheridan and Reagan Sohn.
All those four – Wempe has nicknamed them the “Fab Four” – symbolize a person of the extra thriving courses in state heritage. North has a number of others returning but competing for a further condition championship will be a tall task.
Wempe reported he will assistance the new coach in whichever way is desired and remain associated with the junior golf program.
“They do have some excellent kids coming back who have some expertise,” explained Wempe. “Not that I won’t watch them enjoy, for the reason that I will.”
Observe Courier & Push sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.