LANCASTER MENNONITE SCHOOL bridges WINTER 2018 Teachers and Alumni Making a Difference in HEALTH AND THE HEALING ARTS in this issue Connecting School News the DOTS 3 Faculty Focus 27 This issue of Bridges 7 Featured Alumni 30 Sports Spotlight focuses on HEALTH and the HEALING As the last Bridges went to press, the Blazers 25 Alumni Notes were in the quarterfinals of the state soccer ARTS. tournament, seeking another state title. They ended up in the state championship game once again, finishing second in the state. >>> from the SUPERINTENDENT Sowing Seeds of Promise In this issue of Bridges, Gerald Baer ’72, describes his path to medicine as LM has produced an unconventional, yet his description of high school life is not uncommon. Students may extraordinary number of medical not always recognize their gifts and talents, but through continued nurturing, the seeds personnel making a significant planted eventually fully mature. We hear repeatedly how LM teachers offer patience, impact on the world. Although unconditional support and enduring confidence in students. LM does not have a pre-med program or provide medical Each student’s journey is unique, and LM teachers recognize the individuality of God’s training, alumni in the healing design. Dr. Baer mentions teacher qualities that stood by him during his years at LMH: arts say the school helped shape enthusiasm or passion for a subject, mediation of conflict, Anabaptist values and a who they are today. sense of belonging or being special were identified as factors impacting his life for the long term, equipping him to lead as a physician. The next issue of Everyday conversations happen in classrooms between lab partners working on an Bridges will focus on experiment, when an AP Biology teacher asks an essential question, and when P.E. and alumni involved in health fitness exercise push students to new levels. Seeds are beginning to sprout. MUSIC. Lancaster Mennonite continues to be safe and supportive while being academically excellent and spiritually relevant for students. Ultimately the seeds of promise mature with support from teachers and in God’s own divine timing. What a privilege to journey If you would like to be together and hear from alumni using their God given talents to serve others! considered for a story, or if you would like to suggest someone Enjoy the Health edition of Bridges! to be featured, please email [email protected]. Pam Tieszen, Ed.D LM Superintendent Bridges is the community magazine of Lancaster Mennonite School, sent to Lancaster Mennonite School admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, alumni, parents and friends. LM exists to programs and activities generally made available to all students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis transform students so they can change of gender, race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship our world through Christlike love, programs and athletic or other school-administered programs. peacemaking and service. Volume 45, No. 2 Editor: Gary Hiller – [email protected] www.lancastermennonite.org 1 Bridges ••• XX Bridges ••• HEALTH Through ATHLETICS & PHYS. ED. Considering the success of LM Larry Newswanger ’58, the Alumni “Sue Rohrer (the girls physical athletics over the past decades, it Association president, told the education teacher) was a positive is surprising that sports were taboo board of trustees that the alumni influence in our lives and was a on the Lancaster Campus until had “considerable interest” in great promoter of girls sports. I the 1970s. As more Mennonites constructing a gymnasium. think she was a big factor in the moved off the farm, Mennonite When the board of trustees development of interscholastic youth needed a new outlet to burn approved the construction sports in the years following my youthful energy constructively, and of a gymnasium in 1971, the graduation.” they burned to participate in sports enthusiasm and participation of the “As far as I know, Chet Wenger like public school students. school body were overwhelming. ’69 and I were the first LMH grads The desire for interscholastic Hundreds of students washed cars, to major in physical education and sports had to overcome a myriad sold baked goods, and did whatever teach physical education,” Ranck of objections. Church and school they could to raise money. Under said. Both men aspired to return leaders were afraid that allowing the slogan “Gimmee a Gymmie,” to teach at LM. Wenger did, in fact, LM students to interact with public students raised more than $21,000 land the job of teaching P.E. at schools might expose them to in two days of work, garnering LMH, while Ranck taught in Canada the very things LM was created to local media attention and even for two years. When Ranck’s visa protect them from. Students might congratulations from President expired and he needed to return be exposed to profanity, immodest Richard Nixon. home, teaching openings were uniforms and the more subtle Joe Ranck ’69, was among the scarce, so he went into the family influences of pride and glory- first alumni who went on to play business instead (Robert H. Ranck, seeking. collegiate athletics and become a Inc.). During the 1960s, student physical education teacher. Ranck “As I look back over almost 50 leaders consistently tried to recalled, “When I graduated in 1969 years, I acknowledge that some convince school leaders to permit we were not allowed to have any students were bitter over the lack athletics, leading to official interscholastic sports teams. But that of [athletic] opportunities,” Ranck intramural sports — and some didn’t stop us from playing other reported. “On the other hand, others unofficial informal competitions schools or being involved in church used our high school days as a with other schools. In 1969, leagues. Some of us were fortunate foundation for learning leadership, a physical education teacher enough to go on to play in college taking safe risks, growing their faith organized the school’s first despite the fact that we didn’t have in God, and moving forward with basketball team to “scrimmage” that opportunity in high school.” the ability to overcome the many approved schools. That same year, obstacles that life would present.” WINTER 2018 2 FACULTY focus FRED WINEY ’90 LMH has become a factor in the me, it’s the relationships that drew me national soccer community, being to education, and it’s the piece that I recognized on the NSCAA National still value.” Poll as one of the top boys soccer Winey’s emphasis on relationships programs in the country. This should goes back to his own days as an LMH not come as a surprise to anyone student and soccer player. “I had an familiar with the program’s recent affinity for athletics, so as I looked at success on the pitch. career paths that I might pursue in In the ten seasons since Fred college, I began to focus on education, Winey ’90 became the head soccer having been influenced by many of the coach in 2007, the Blazers have won teachers that I had coming up through an L-L section title nine times, a pair the LM system.” of L-L crowns and four District Three Ultimately, it was the opportunity Class AA titles. They also advanced to interact with students and have to the PIAA Class AA semifinals five a positive influence in their lives times, reached the Class AA state that drew him toward education. championship game four times and “My teachers provided me with great won the 2011 Class AA state title. role models for what being a quality Fred Winey ’90, M.Ed., serves as This is just the tip of the iceberg educator should look like,” Winey instructional area leader, P.E. for a program that has consistently said. “They instilled character traits and Health teacher and soccer developed players for success at the that helped me to succeed, and now I coach at the Lancaster Campus. collegiate level. try to pass these lessons along to my He holds a B.A. in Health and Winning isn’t easy in soccer-rich students and athletes.” Physical Science from Messiah Pennsylvania, home to a plethora of Winey chose to attend Messiah College and a master’s degree high-profile high school programs. College, where he was an all-star for in Coaching and Athletic However, the LM program has grown the Division 3 soccer powerhouse. “I Administration from Concordia and prospered under Winey’s expert feel that I was able to handle college University Irvine. tutelage, earning a reputation as a well due to the rigor that my high hard-working group that plays the school teachers required,” Winey game the right way. And people have related. “Biology and Physics were two LMH Head Boys Soccer Coach noticed. Winey has been named the PA courses that particularly helped me June 2007– present Soccer Coach Association’s State Coach navigate two of my more demanding • PIAA State Champions 2011 of the Year three times, including this college courses, Human Anatomy/ • PIAA State Finalist 2011, 2013, year’s stellar season. Physiology and Kinesiology.” 2014, 2017 Although titles are often the After graduating from Messiah, • PIAA State Semi-Finalist 2010, highlight of coaching careers, Winey Winey started teaching as a long-term 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017 said his thrills come from achieving substitute in 2000 and then began full- • PIAA District 3 Champions 2010, what seemed impossible, seeing time at the Kraybill Campus in 2001. In 2011, 2015, 2017 athletes develop from role players to the 2007-2008 school year, he started • PIAA District 3 Runner-Up 2013 impact players, and even taking pride coaching soccer for LMH, but taught • Lancaster-Lebanon League in watching students handle heart- another year at Kraybill before moving Champions 2012, 2013 breaking defeat with dignity and class.