Tag Archives: Teacher Athletes

Former MN high school PE teacher, coach Carol Peterka was an Olympic athlete

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Former high school physical education teacher and coach Carol Peterka was also a celebrated Olympic athlete. Photo Credit: Trading Card Database

Many talented athletes go on to establish careers in education. One of these is Carol Peterka, a former physical education teacher and coach who once competed in the Olympics.

Carol was born on Dec. 23, 1963, in Little Falls, Minnesota. After her graduation from Apollo High School in St. Cloud, she enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, on a full basketball scholarship. While there, she competed in track and field and played basketball for the Golden Gophers. A second team All-Big Ten selection in 1984, Carol scored 1,441 points and grabbed 744 rebounds during her collegiate career. She still ranks seventh all-time in scoring and sixth all-time in rebounding in the school’s history.

After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Teaching/Coaching in 1987, Carol joined the US National Handball Team. She competed in three Olympic Games representing the United States. She was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 1990, 1991, and 1993 US Olympic Festivals. In 1990, she was named the US Team Handball Female Athlete of the Year. Later she was named the captain of the national team, a position she held from 1990 to 1992. In addition, Carol garnered gold medals at the 1987 and 1995 Pan American Games.

During the years she played for the US National Team, Carol also worked as a physical education teacher and coach at Poinciana High School in Osceola, Florida. Later she relocated to Cobb County, Georgia, where she coached basketball and taught physical education at Harrison High School in Kennesaw from 1999 to 2005.

In 2006, Carol accepted a position as the Assistant Coach for the women’s basketball team at Hofstra University located in Long Island, New York. She has held this position for the past 17 years.

Impressive, Carol!

Math teacher and Major League Baseball player James Brideweser

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James Brideweser

Math teacher James Brideweser also played Major League Baseball. 

Many successful athletes also become successful educators. One of these is James Brideweser, a Major League Baseball player who went on to teach high school mathematics in California.

James was born on February 13, 1927, in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. After his graduation from Washington High School in Los Angeles, he served his county in the military during World War II. He then earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California.

The 6-foot, 165-pound shortstop and second baseman inaugurated his MLB career on Sept. 29, 1951, with the New York Yankees, for whom he played a total of three years. In 1954 he played for the Baltimore Orioles, and then he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, for whom he played in 1955-1956. The last team he played for was the Detroit Tigers. In all, James’ career spanned the years 1951 to 1957.

Once he completed his career in baseball, James earned his teaching credentials. He secured a job as a mathematics teacher and Title IX counselor at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach in Southern California. He also served as the coach of their varsity baseball team, which logged two championship seasons under his leadership. In addition, James coached the baseball team for nearby Saddleback College from 1982 to 1985. The team made it all the way to the Mission Conference championships in 1983 and 1984.

Sadly, James passed away on August 25, 1989, in El Toro, Orange County, California. He was 62 years old.

Ellen Tronnier, Wisconsin PE teacher, once played in All-American Girls Baseball League

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Wisconsin physical education teacher Ellen Tronnier played as an outfielder in the All-American girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Photo Credit: AAGPBL

Many excellent teachers have also earned fame as talented athletes. One of these was Ellen Tronnier, a Wisconsin physical education teacher who once played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Those who are familiar with the 1992 movie A League of their Own starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna know very well about this unique group of women athletes.

Ellen, who was an outfielder, was 5’6″, 135 pounds. She batted and threw right-handed. After making it through two grueling try-outs, she earned a position in the league playing on a team called the South Bend Blue Sox. Having been born in Cudahy, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1927, she was only 15 years old at the time.

After only one season on the team, Ellen decided to pursue her education. She left the league and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. After she completed her degree there, she taught physical education in the Milwaukee Public School District. She taught at both South Division High School and Sholes Middle School. Her career as a teacher spanned a total of 33 years. During these years, which included the 1970s, Ellen opened a baseball school for girls sponsored by the Milwaukee Recreation Department.

While she was still teaching, Ellen, played club softball for 27 years, competing in numerous tournaments. She was an accomplished fast pitch softball player, and the teams she played on won several league, state, and regional championships. In 1956, her club won three National Invitational Tournaments.

When the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cooperstown, New York, an entire section of exhibits was dedicated to the All-Girls League. Ellen was recognized as one of the 560 women who had, at one time or another, played in the league. In 1990, Ellen was inducted into the Wisconsin Softball Association Hall of Fame. Even throughout her retirement, the former teacher remained active, encouraging young women to engage in competitive sports while she signed baseball cards and reminisced about the days when she payed baseball.

Sadly, Ellen Tronnier passed away on May 21, 2015, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was 87 years old. She was interred at Arlington Park Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

 

Teacher, coach, and former Olympic athlete Josanne Lucas

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Former Olympic athlete Josanne Lucas now teaches high school science and coaches track in Colorado. Photo Credit: quilt.com

Many fine athletes go on to become outstanding teachers and coaches. One of these is Josanne Lucas, a former Olympic athlete who now works as a science teacher and coach in Colorado.

Josanne was born on May 14, 1984, in the city of Carnbee on the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. She was 18 years old when she came to the United States to attend Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. In addition to earning a degree in Biomedical Sciences there, she also trained as an athlete in track and field.

Josanne showed exceptional prowess in the hurdles, particularly the 400-meter hurdles. She earned a first place finish in the event in 2006 in the NACAC (North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association) Under-23 Championships held in the Dominican Republic. She garnered another first place finish in 2008 in the Central American and Caribbean Championships held in Columbia. Later in 2008, Josanne competed in the Beijing Olympics. The following year, she won a bronze medal in the World Championships for Athletics held in Berlin, Germany. She competed as an athlete until 2016, and as a professional athlete for nine of those years.

Once she retired from the sport, the former athlete turned her attention to teaching and coaching. Today, she teaches science courses at Fort Collins High School in Fort Collins, Colorado. She also coaches track and field, specializing in hurdles, at the school. She obviously enjoys her role as an educator. “I love the opportunity to make a positive impact on young minds both academically and athletically,” Josanne says. “I love to challenge my students to be the best that they can be in both, in and out of the classroom.”

In 2019, Josanne achieved one of her most fervent goals: To become an American citizen. She was naturalized on August 24 that year. “I feel blessed and honored to become a US Citizen,” declares Josanne. “I have lived here my entire adult life and already consider the United States my home,” she says. “I like its democratic system and that it provides many opportunities,” she concludes.

 

Indiana’s Herb Banet: Teacher, counselor, coach, athlete, and veteran

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When I think of Chalkboard Champions, I never forget all of our nation’s talented coaches. These dedicated professionals work many long hours with our young people, teaching them the value of self-discipline, healthy competition, fair play, and teamwork, and helping them to choose a healthy, active lifestyle. One such Chalkboard Champion in Herb Banet, a high school teacher, basketball coach, and guidance counselor from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Herb was born in 1913 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a high school student, he was a gifted athlete.  At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he earned All-City Honors in both football and basketball. After his graduation from Fort Wayne South High School in 1933, he attended Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, where he played collegiate football. While at Manchester, Herb played All-Conference Football and All-State Football in 1934, 1935, and 1936. During the 1937 season, Herb played in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers.

As if all this were not enough, Herb was also a war hero. When World War II broke out, he served his country in the US Navy.

These experiences served him well during his eighteen-year career as a coach at Central High School in Fort Wayne. While coaching there, his team made one trip to the Final Four in 1960, where they were defeated by just one point by East Chicago Washington. Later in Herb’s career he served as a guidance counselor at Northrup High School. This talented educator retired in 1979. In recognition of his illustrious career as an athlete, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Herb Banet passed away in 2003 at the age of 89 years of age. He is buried at Falls Memorial Gardens in Wabash, Indiana. It is certain that his efforts as a gifted teacher, coach, and counselor will always be well-remembered.