PV girls cross country coach Jane Wheeler wins 4A Cross Country Coach of the Year

Grace Schmidt, Student Life Editor • November 28, 2023

Jane Wheeler coaches at PV girls track meet. She is now seen head coaching the PV girls cross country team. Photo credit to Jane Wheeler.

Pleasant Valley girls cross country has proven to be a force within the MAC and the state of Iowa. They are led by coach Jane Wheeler, whose dedication and coaching ability has led to her receiving the 2023 4A Cross Country Coach of the Year.

The award is a representation of the successful cross country program she has implemented at PV and one Wheeler does not take lightly. “I mean it’s a huge honor. There’s a coaches association that votes on it, so it is cool to be honored by other coaches in our class size, class 4A. Cross country coaches get to know each other really well, so I think we have a lot of respect for each other and know each other as humans,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler believes her runners are a substantial part of her being names 4A Coach of the Year. “For me, it is just a testament to our team. I told a lot of people this year, it was a joy to come to practice everyday, and I just love working with my team, so to me it is not hard to put time into coaching. It is nice to see the team rewarded in that way,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler’s assistant coach Maddie Himmelman and star runner Grace Boleyn both believe she has created an uplifting environment and is still able to be dedicated to her coaching.

PV girls cross country assistant coach, Himmelman, ran for Wheeler in high school and decided to come back to PV to teach and coach. “I had coach Wheeler in high school. She incorporates runners of all abilities and connects with every athlete on the team. She makes being on the team fun; she plans silly things and prizes, like Halloween activities and the garage sale run,” said Himmelman.

Boleyn notices the positive environment Wheeler has created for her runners to grow as people and athletes. “Coach Wheeler brings a lot of energy to practice everyday and it’s really awesome to have that kind of vibe on the team. She helps people feel comfortable being themselves and she is approachable so you can always talk to her,” said Boleyn.

All of the hard work and dedication Wheeler has put into her coaching has paid off in creating a strong cross country program and led to many coaching highlights. Wheeler coached the 2013 and 2015 Iowa high school individual state champion, McKenzie Yanek, and coached the Spartans to the state runner-up title in 2021. This season, the girls cross country team placed 4th at the state cross country meet.

Seeing the exceptional performances and physical improvements runners make throughout their time on the PVGXC team is gratifying for Wheeler, but the funny moments and mental growth she sees in her athletes is what keeps her coaching year to year.

“You always remember MAC championships and state championships, and all that, and those are special moments because it is cool to see the team work to get to that level, but honestly what we probably spend the most time talking about is the funny stories over the years,” Wheeler said.

Boleyn is also appreciative of the growth she has had throughout her cross country career. “Coach Wheeler is nice to have as a coach because she believes in you even when other people don’t. I think for myself in running she has helped me to be a leader and to also become a better athlete and person,” reflected Boleyn.

Throughout the cross country season, Wheeler coaches a successful team while balancing other aspects of her life. Wheeler added that it can be difficult to balance everything, but her time spent coaching is very rewarding.

“There are years where it is tougher than others, because of life circumstances, but I really enjoy seeing the growth of my athletes not only in running, like it is really cool to see them put in the work and get faster. But, especially with girls who come out for multiple years, just to see their growth in their personality and their character, and then even after they graduate, just to keep in touch with them,” said Wheeler.

Wheeler continues to curate an uplifting environment for her athletes to thrive. The hard work and passion Wheeler has for the sport is one of countless reasons she was given the award of 4A Cross Country Coach of the Year.

Pleasant Valley’s Award-Winning Educators

Kenny Wheeler: 2022 IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction

Coach, Kenny Wheeler stands composed waiting for the next event, the 4x800 meter relay, to begin.

Coach, Kenny Wheeler stands composed waiting for the next event, the 4×800 meter relay, to begin. (Abby Riley)

Entering his 16th season as part of the Pleasant Valley Girls Track and Field team, head coach Kenny Wheeler continues to make an impact on high school athletics, teaching his athletes lessons that travel beyond the track.

During the previous track season, Wheeler was awarded the 2022 IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction. This award recognizes the successful career of a coach who has not only led their team to athletic success, but also positively impacted the school and coaching community in areas that go beyond the track and field season.

With his newfound recognition, Wheeler is continuing to inspire his past, present and future athletes, both on and off the track. College junior Morgan Ramirez ran track at PV through all four years and continued her running career at Loras college. “Throughout my years in high school, my years on the team, and even now, Kenny is someone I could reach out to for just about anything. If I just needed someone to talk to about struggles within my track career or even about struggles within my personal life. He is a great mentor and role model to all athletes he has ever coached,” Ramirez said.

Wheeler’s impact on Ramirez and the PVGTF family is a widespread occurrence. Many athletes who have been a part of the PVGTF family call it a second home where they gain more confidence in themselves and their abilities.

This feeling of home is what Wheeler works to create as he develops this program and his athletes everyday. “My greatest hope for the young women that come through this program is that they develop a greater sense of self and self-worth, confidence, courage, and a greater capacity to be uncomfortable and understand that that is where the greatest growth can occur,” said Wheeler.

As Wheeler continues to coach, he strives to learn more about his athletes and how to better understand and inspire them. “In the first decade of coaching this team, I got to coach alongside my wife and that was really special,” he said. “Not only did I learn a number of invaluable lessons about how to coach young women and to see things from their perspective, but I saw the way she connected with the team, inspired them, and instilled her passion in others.”

As a coach, it is important to understand athletes in terms of the sport and a personal level. Anxiety, depression, and burnout are not uncommon amongst high school female athletes as they figure out who they are in a world where social media creates unrealistic standards of perfection. Wheeler constantly checks in on his athletes, making an environment where athletes feel understood and valued.

Senior athlete Malayna Albertson feels she has grown as an athlete and person during her time on PVGTF as a result of Wheeler constantly checking in and building confidence in his athletes. “Throughout the year, in season and out of season, Kenny is someone I can reach out to when I’m overwhelmed with balancing everything,” said Albertson. “I have grown so much confidence in myself and I have learned lessons that go far beyond the track during my time on PVGTF,” she added.

With Wheeler constantly supporting them, these athletes are able to surpass their own limits because, in addition to the confidence they have in themselves, they have a coach who is confident in them and sees unlimited potential.

PVGTF has a legacy of excellence, hard work and championships with athletes that have graduated and carried these characteristics with them. This legacy motivates future athletes, and Wheeler’s legacy as a coach recognizes the athletes and community that he has created and will continue to inspire.

Erik Belby: 2017 Iowa Association of Track Coaches Coach of the Year

Track and Field head coach Erik Belby. Photo credit to Shield staff.

The Iowa Association of Track Coaches named their 2017 selections for coach of the year for all classes. For class 4A, Erik Belby of Pleasant Valley was awarded this title. Belby commented on his honor, “I am honored to receive this award. First of all, it means so much to me that my peers (fellow Iowa coaches) consider me worthy of their recognition. Secondly, I believe this award highlights the overall strength of our program and for that reason I have to thank the my assistant coach (Nick Sacco), teachers, administrators, parents, and fans who have supported our team all year long. Most importantly this honor recognizes the accomplishments of the boys that dedicated themselves to our team’s success. They worked extremely hard in all conditions to achieve our number one goal…a state championship!”

Senior Konnor Sommer stated, “ Coach Belby is very knowledgeable about the sport, and was able to put together a workout plan that allowed the team to peak at the end of the season for the meets that mattered. He deserves this award because the team has been very good for a very long time, and we were finally able to take the state title again this year under his coaching.”

The Pleasant Valley team is fresh off of a successful season, ending with a state title in Fort Dodge. What sets the PV team apart from the rest of the state is explained by Belby, “We have a deep team that is dedicated to competitive running. Our mission is to compete for a state title every year. That means we need fresh, soph, and JV runners progressing each day so that our lineup is not weakened by injury or graduation.”

All the best in the future seasons to Belby and his team.

Sara Russell, 2022 Iowa Teacher of the Year

Iowa Teacher of the Year, Sara Russell, poses in the White House (Sara Russell)

The role of teachers is fundamental to society. Learning, creating and innovating all come from the significant influence of the people we learn from: our teachers. So what makes a good teacher?

A teacher’s impact can be different from person to person. At PV, the teachers of the district worked together to create a Blue Ribbon Award worthy school. Recently, one of its own teachers earned a special title for her exceptional work.

Sara Russell is a history teacher from PV. On Oct. 15, 2021, Russell earned the title of the 2022 Iowa Teacher of the Year Award. Her take on teaching and the fundamentals she brought into the classroom are qualities that gave her this well-deserved accomplishment. Her humbling acceptance and genuinity of her presence in the PV district was more than enough to put herself in the running for the award.

Although her acceptance and running for the award was definitely a surprise to Russell, her dedication to teaching and the impact she’s made on the PV community led her to her winning of Teacher of the Year.

“It was very humbling to receive this honor. I feel like I work with the best teachers in the world so it is hard to feel like you are more worthy of such an honor. In addition to teaching, I also serve as a member of the Teacher Leadership System as a Building Lead, I mentor new teachers, and I work with a number of student groups. When I first received the nomination from Mr. Jones I was extremely surprised. I sent in my application materials to the state and really felt like I would hear nothing. So you can imagine my surprise when I found out I was a finalist and then ultimately won.”

Russel values not only her teaching of students, but also the influence she has on the incoming generation of teachers. After 19 years of teaching, Russell’s experience and knowledge she has picked up is inspiring to other teachers and students alike. “I would tell new teachers to be brave and to remember that they are not alone. There is a whole community of educators who will help them. I would also urge them to not be intimidated by older teachers and to speak up with their thoughts and ideas.”

Russell is one of the most loved teachers at PV. Over the course of her teaching, the leadership she’s taken in her career and the impact she’s had on the students earned her the title of the 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Meg Byrne, Finalist for GRAMMY for Music Educator

Choir director Meg Byrne has worked her entire career at the PV choral program, helping students to improve their vocals. (Meg Byrne)

Pleasant Valley choir director Meg Byrne has spent 29 years leading PV’s choral program and is being recognized for her substantial contributions. As PV’s lead director, Byrne has been named one of 25 semifinalists for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award.

In the 2021-22 school year, Byrne was named a quarterfinalist for the award after PV graduate Tommy Glennon nominated her. This nomination has carried into this year, but each year Byrne has to submit her resume, information about PV’s music program, an eight-minute rolling recording of class, information about her involvement locally in music, and a teaching statement.

Glennon believed Mrs. Byrne’s work in the choir program deserved appreciation on a larger scale. “Mrs. Byrne is an extraordinarily talented artist and conductor. I admire her hardworking nature and I’m glad she’s getting recognized for the work she does. I nominated her nearly two years ago because I felt so strongly that she deserved to be recognized at an international level, and those feelings have only amplified. She’s a powerful figure in the choral community who advocated for arts education, and she is my biggest inspiration as I pursue my own musical career.”

Throughout her years as a choir director, Byrne has received several other honors. Byrne has been part of the board of the choral directors association and a chair person of the all state jazz choir. She has also planned the all-state jazz convention and hosted events like the all-state show choir competition.

As a result of PV’s choral directors, PV’s choral program has had a large representation in all-state choirs and other choirs across the state of Iowa.

“We’ve done some really exciting things over the years. It was a slow build, but I think we’ve maintained things at a high level in a number of areas of music, and I don’t think you will hear about that a lot, especially in Iowa. You will have this choir who’s known for their show choir or this school does a lot of music theater, or this school has their madrigals.”

“But we have been consistently good in a lot of areas. We have done a lot with Opus and All-state, we do a lot with jazz choir, we do a lot with solo ensemble and large group, and we do all those at a high level. People take note of that,” said Byrne.

Year after year, Byrne has played a substantial role in PV’s excellence, yet she continues to find motivation to give her best year after year. “There is always something new to do in this job, it’s always fun and it’s always interesting,” she said.

Byrne has not only made a substantial impact on the program but also individuals participating in it. One of Byrne’s former students, Caroline Sierk, has gone on to study at UCLA and recently released a single, “I’m Yours.” Sierk is thankful for Byrne and her experience with PV’s choir program. “She really knows how to make kids feel safe asking questions but also knows how to push kids in a way that is healthy and not toxic…making kids want to do better by instilling the belief that they can,” Sierk said.

Caroline is not the only student that enjoyed her time in Byrne’s choir. Glennon created a line of apparel called “Meg Merch.” This student-run apparel line raises money for the choral boosters through clothing featuring Byrne’s face.

“You can always count on teaching adolescents for spontaneous new things to happen, so they’re going to keep it fresh and exciting too,” Byrne said.

Byrne may have a lot of fun moments with her students, but also has a substantial impact on her students. Sierk reflected on the impact Byrne had on her life and what she taught her as a PV student.

“As a singer I have a really big sound, like I’m a loud singer, I’ve always had a really loud voice, and that was something I was afraid of for a long time, I was too loud or not blending, so I would sing in a way that wasn’t giving my full sound to give my voice the opportunity to be beautiful. Talking and working with Mrs. Byrne, I learned all these ways I can use my full sound and make it blend and work with other people,” Sierk explained.

“I think metaphorically that has taught me that I can be my full self and my entire personality, give all my efforts to a community or to a group, but also let other people shine, and bring out the best in any situation,” she continued.

Not only are Byrne’s past and present students respect her accomplishments over the years, including her announcement as a GRAMMY semifinalist, but her colleagues believe she is very deserving of the award. Choir director Catherine Lyon noted that Byrne’s work ethic rubs off on everyone else in the program. “I know that Mrs. Byrne likes things to be excellent and that she works hard to make everything a fine and finished product, and that rubs off on all of us to do the very best we can.”

Byrne is very appreciative of the award, and believes her colleagues all work very hard to make PV a positive learning environment for students. “It’s a huge compliment and honor to be recognized. I think every teacher in this building works really hard every day, and it’s amazing when someone takes notice of your work and recognizes you for it. It’s a big honor.”

Sierk commented, “Mrs. Byrne has been the head of the program for so long, she has touched so many students’ lives in immeasurable ways, whether they were crazy involved like I was, or if they were just in choir for a year or two. She made sure she always knew everyone’s name, she would always make a beautiful sound out of every singer she got to work with.”

Mrs. Byrne impacts every individual who goes through PV choir, and her positive impact will continue past her years leading the program.

Jane Wheeler, 2023 4A Cross Country Coach of the Year

Jane Wheeler coaches at PV girls track meet. She is now seen head coaching the PV girls cross country team. Photo credit to Jane Wheeler.

Wheeler’s assistant coach Maddie Himmelman and star runner Grace Boleyn both believe she has created an uplifting environment and is still able to be dedicated to her coaching.

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About the Contributor

Grace Schmidt, Student Life Editor

Grace Schmidt is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and currently serves as the Business Manager for Pleasant Valley’s Spartan Shield. This will be Grace’s second year as a staff member of the Spartan Shield. As of the 2024-2025 school year, Grace is involved in a variety of clubs. She is the campaign executive and co-founder of her school’s amnesty chapter, an intern for the Eric Sorensen campaign, and a member of her school’s Ethics Bowl team. Additionally, Grace runs track and field and is an avid member of the Pleasant Valley Chamber Choir, including involvement in her high school jazz choir. Outside of school, Grace works at Isabel Bloom in Davenport and enjoys watching reality television. Grace is excited to write and work alongside the other staff members this school year!

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Sandarbha • Dec 3, 2023 at 2:47 am

As someone who has wheeler as a teacher, I believe she is fully in the right for getting this award for coaching, and am personally happy she is getting the recognition she deserves now.


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