Former District 11 championship coach resigns

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/ FROM KEITH GROLLER Barb Wismer, who coached Bangor to both the Colonial League and District 11 4A championships in 2008, has resigned as the Slaters softball coach. Wismer was 45-74 in her five seasons in charge with the highlight clearly coming in 2008 when the Slaters rode the pitching of Amanda Whitford to both league and district titles. The district gold was the program's first. Whitford was incredible in that postseason, tossing five consecutive shutouts. In the district final, she outdueled Northampton's Alex MacLean in a 1-0, 14-inning classic. Whitford had 24 strikeouts and tossed a three-hitter. In all, she had 91 strikeouts in 42 playoff innings through leagues and districts. Bangor, however, lost its first state playoff, falling to Garnet Valley and finished the season 19-7. Whitford graduated and after her departure, the Slaters could never rekindle its 2008 magic, going just 26-67 over the next four seasons, including 7-13 in the 2012 season. In a release sent out by athletic director Mark Farnan, he made clear that night the Bangor Area School District Board of Education accepted her resignation this week and said Wismer cited in her resignation letter that family commitments and opportunities to enhance her career in education were the primary factors in her decision. Wismer is a 1997 Liberty High graduate, having played for Jimmy Lees. Her maiden name is Rutkowski. She attended East Stroudsburg University and was the head coach at East Stroudsburg North before coming to Bangor. Prior to Wismer, Larry Ott had been Bangor's softball coach for 27 years. Barb will be missed in our athletic program. She came to Bangor with outstanding credentials as a student athlete in both high school and college. During her tenure as our head softball coach she served as a positive role model to many of our female athletes.