By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

WARSAW – In a surprise announcement in the middle of the second season, Warsaw boys track head coach John Wesley Maierle announced his resignation from the program at the end of the season.

Maierle was hired in August 2018 and is in his season full season as head coach. In his first season, Maierle guided a pair of athletes to the IHSAA State Finals, Tanner Stiver in the 800 run (14th place) and Nick Bazzoni in pole vault (17th place). Bazzoni went on to pole vault for Belmont University and Stiver just announced his commitment to Purdue University in the fall.

Maierle is a 2006 WCHS graduate who excelled in three sports, track being one of the three. Maierle later went on to Bethel College where he was a five-time All-American in indoor and outdoor events and held the school records for long jump, decathlon and heptathlon events. Maierle would go on to coach at both Bethel and Olivet Nazarene where he coached two athletes to national championships and oversaw 29 All-Americans and 110 national qualifiers.

In a state to the Warsaw athletic department, Maierle noted, “I informed Mr. Binkerd (Matt Binkerd, Warsaw athletic director) yesterday that I decided to step down as head boys track and field coach at Warsaw Community High School at the conclusion of the season.

“I have always enjoyed being a Tiger and will always be a Warsaw Tiger. The relationships I built with the student-athletes and assistant coaches over the past three years have been fantastic.

“I want to thank the administration for giving me the opportunity to come back to Warsaw and coach the sport that I love and the assistant coaches that have gone above and beyond to help make Warsaw track and field a successful program.”

Warsaw did not announce a successor to the position. Maierle and the Tigers will compete Thursday at the Goshen Sectional.