by Mark Cheffey
Palmyra High School is losing the only cross country coach the school has ever had.
Nicholas Koetters, who led the program from its inception in 2012, has resigned from his teaching and coaching positions in the district and will be going to Bowling Green, where he will teach history and serve as an assistant coach for volleyball and track.
“I am very proud of the cross country program and where it has come,” Koetters said. “We started with two girls and a handful of guys and this year we had a total of 24 kids.
“I am proud of the kids we have had come through the program and the love of running we have created in this community. I will continue to cheer on the program as they develop more.”
Koetters said he is also proud of how the girls track program has seen growth under his leadership.
“We have had over 30 girls go out for at least half of my 10 years,” he said. “Shifting from Class 2 to Class 3 was a big adjustment, but we still managed to have a lot of success.
“I want to thank all the people who helped volunteer and helped coach the kids as well over the years, including Laura Hulse, Nick Mudd, Darrin Redd, Mark Lickfeld, Megan Hooper, Jenny McClain and Frank Caldwell.
“These people gave me their time and commitment as volunteers for two sports that don’t get as much attention and glory as other sports, and they did it because they wanted to see the athletes of Palmyra be successful.”
Highlights of his coaching career at Palmyra include the district boys cross country title in 2017 and having the girls go to state as a team this past year.
“I have had a lot of great memories with track, but the cross country memories stand out, because that was my program and to watch it develop and grow was great to be a part of.”
