Coaching

There comes a time

Al Wojtaszek retires from Eldred Central School after 35 years of service

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY — After 35 years of being on Eldred Central School time, Al Wojtaszek can reset his watch on July 1 and move to the next phase of his life.

As the retiring director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics notes, Eldred clocks have always been about three minutes slow. But, it was to Eldred Central time that Wojtaszek set his for more than a third of a century.

That unique time zone was also calibrated by Eldred’s three sports seasons each year. It defined a massive portion of Wojtaszek’s energy and purpose since he was hired by the school district in 1973.

Wojtaszek’s impact during his tenure as a teacher, coach and administrator has been extraordinary. At a school board meeting on June 12, a resolution was read commending Wojtaszek for his years as a respected colleague, friend, coach, teacher, administrator and, most significantly, as a dedicated and caring man. A plaque bearing the words of that resolution was given to Wojtaszek.

While many words could describe Coach ‘W,’ as he is fondly called, the words humble and gracious come to mind when one ponders his career and persona.

“I cannot believe the luck of being in the profession I’m in,” said Wojtaszek, who praised the people who helped him, the coaches whom he extols and the remarkable environment of the tiny school with the big heart that has sent forth legions of fine young men and women, many of whom received priceless opportunities for growth on the athletic fields and courts.

“I couldn’t have worked with a better staff. They are people I respect immensely,” he said, referring to some of the iconic coaches past and present, and newcomers who are carrying on that fine tradition.

When Wojtaszek was hired by former Eldred superintendent Dan Hickey as a full-time physical education teacher, one could not have envisioned that the former S.S. Seward/OCCC and Southern Connecticut graduate and soccer player would leave behind such a legacy of success and fondness. Coach ‘W’ worked a year at BOCES before coming to Eldred.

Wojtaszek, who has also served at times as an assistant building administrator and even an interim superintendent, will be strongly remembered for his coaching career with the Yellowjackets.

Coach ‘W’ recalled his days as girls soccer coach. With an undefeated 1981-82 team, led by standout Betsy Johnson (now Betsy Conaty) who became an All-American midfielder at North Carolina in 1985, Eldred went as far as was possible to win what could be called a half-a-state championship.

Conaty, who graduated in 1982, had never played soccer before starting as a freshman at Eldred. Once she reached varsity and began to show great promise, she could call Wojtaszek at any time and join him in his back fields in Pond Eddy to do drills and shoot. “He was always available,” says the current director of Parks and Recreation in Monticello, who built on the strong foundation she got at Eldred.

Following her departure, another Eldred girls team lost in a state championship game to Cherry Valley in 1985-86. During his tenure as girls soccer coach, Wojtaszek compiled an unbelievable record of 156-8-3.

As a member of the Section Nine Central Committee, Wojtaszek would be instrumental in establishing a state championship in girls soccer.

Wojtaszek also coached boys basketball, taking over for the legendary Paul Tylawski, and assisted with football under head coach Ken Bjorn.

During his tenure as athletic director, Wojtaszek lobbied for the expansion of sports. Wrestling is an example of an added sport that has enjoyed great success.

“Sports is an important part of the educational process,” said the coach, who emphasizes that athletics is secondary to the school’s main emphasis on academics and building character.

Being a strong advocate of the positives derived by sports led Wojtaszek to join the Section Nine Central Committee to the New York State Athletic Administrators Association. He served as the Section Nine girls soccer chairman for nine years and on the eligibility committee with Roscoe’s Fred Ahart. He still has two more years to serve on the Section Nine Central Committee, which recently cited The River Reporter for its outstanding coverage of Section Nine athletics and its positive emphasis on youth.

With only so many hours in the day, Wojtaszek eventually let go of his coaching duties but he has continued to referee soccer games, something he hopes to continue for a few more years following retirement. “I’ve had the privilege of being an official in four girls state championship games,” he said.

Wojtaszek is retiring because, as he puts it, “You leave because it’s time.”

It’s not about being disenchanted with his job. “Heck no, I love doing what I do,” he says. But now those duties will fall to Kelly Doherty, who Wojtaszek describes as “very organized and efficient.”

Now it’s time for Wojtaszek and his wife, Alice, to enjoy their house on the river in Pond Eddy, go kayaking, play golf and fulfill a longstanding dream of traveling to Ireland to visit Alice’s relatives.

It’s a new time, indeed, for Al Wojtaszek but the memories of wonderful years at Eldred will travel with him across the years to come. “My love for Eldred Central School will continue,” says the outgoing icon.

Wojtaszek, like coach Bob Warneke for whom the school gym is named, will be a part of Eldred’s storied history forever.

Time, no matter how it is measured, can never change that.