Maureen McVey Promoted to Athletic Director at St. Joseph's Academy

One of the most successful soccer coaches in the St. Louis Community.

St. Joseph’s Academy has promoted Assistant Athletic Director Maureen McVey to fill the top spot vacated by retiring Athletic Director Michaela Witcher.  A physical education teacher at the school for more than 24 years, McVey has served as athletic department chair for 11 years, varsity soccer coach for 20 years, and freshman field hockey coach for ten years. Like her soon-to-be-predecessor Witcher, McVey says she will continue to hold her coaching staff and student-athletes to the highest standards. “I want St. Joseph’s Academy to remain one of the best athletic programs not just in the state of Missouri—but across the entire nation. And like Michaela, I plan to inspire my coaching staff to develop values-driven women leaders through …

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The Baer Facts

They Don't Make 'Em Like Michaela Witcher Anymore

The dean of women's athletics in St. Louis is ready to bow out after 38 years at St. Joe.

My sportswriting career, off and on has now spanned more than 40 years. That includes covering more than a zillion games. I was lucky enough to get my start at the Suburban Journals, starting in 1971. My single greatest source of pride was covering the career of Kirkwood’s basketball coach Denver Miller. He coached the Pioneers for 43 years before the administration drove him into forced retirement. Second on the list and moving up has been my relationship working with Michaela Witcher, athletic director for the St. Joseph’s Academy Angels. I wasn’t sure how to react when the word came down a couple of weeks ago, “M” was going to retire after 38 years of making the same turn into the school drive on Lindbergh Boulevard. They don’t make …

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Come Back Friday & Read the Baer Facts

If you are a Michaela Witcher fan, or a St. Joe fan, or just like nice people who do great things, check it out.

Friday, Jim Baer has some thoughts about Michaela Witcher, bringing to an end a 38-year teaching, coaching and athletic directors' career at St. Joseph's Academy. Fair to say, Michaela touched the lives of thousands of bright, talented young ladies as they passed through the hallways. Just ask anyone who is the most popular person at SJA, year in and year out, it would be hard to top this fun-loving spirited leader. Michaela Witcher is the personification of what St. Joe is all about so read about it Friday and draw your own conclusions.

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St. Joe's Athletic Director Bowing Out After 38 Years

Michaela Witcher has been at the school that long, 28 as athletic director.

Talk about a long run... St. Joseph’s Academy has had just two athletic directors the past 60 years. Rosemary Wellington was athletic director from the inception of the new campus on Lindbergh in 1954, and retired at the end of the 1985 season. The new athletic center is named in her honor. Michaela Witcher, who came to St. Joe in 1975 as a coach and health teacher has just announced her retirement after 38 years at the school. She took over AD duties from Wellington at the start of the 1986 season. They ought to name the whole school after her. Witcher is the personification of what an athletic director ought to be. What a coach has to say “Michaela has been the heart and soul of the St. Joseph’s academic/athletic program for the past 38 …

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THIS JUST IN: St. Joe Athletic Director Michaela Witcher Calls it a Day

Lengthy dedicated 38-year career is coming to an end.

Michaela Witcher, one of the lifers at St. Joseph's Academy has just announced her retirement after 38 years on the job. This, of course will allow more time for golfing and other activities. Speculation is running wild already who might be a good candidate for one of the most prestigious jobs in all of women's sports. It will take a Herculean effort to fill the shoes of Michaela Witcher. Everyone wishes her well.

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Final MVP of the Winter: Point Guard Emmie Haring of St. Joe

Haring runs the point to perfect and is one of the big reasons why St. Joe reached the Show-Me Showdown this weekend in Columbia.

Emmie Haring, senior at St. Joseph's Academy plays a big part in the success of her team which headed to Columbia with a sparkling 22-5 record. She does the little things that helps the Angels win big. She leads the team in assists (133 this season); runs the offense; rebounds, hits outlet passes and brings the ball down court. Her coach, Julie Matheny is convinced without Haring, the team would not have the success they've had. For that, she was run-away winner as MVP "Athlete of the Week in week No. 12, the final poll for the season. An interview with Emmie Haring: Patch.com: How is your season going? Emmie Haring: This season has been amazing and I could not ask for a better last year at St. Joe. The team has really bonded and we have …

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Coach's Corner

St. Joe Soccer Ready to Compete for Another Run at a State Title

Angels took third in last year's championships and finished with a 16-7-1 record.

Veteran coach Maureen McVey has a talent-rich skilled soccer team to put on the field this spring. She returns 17 letter winners including high scoring returners Kaley Nieters (12 goals); Allie Magletta (12 goals) and Haley Kavanaugh (11) goals and an experienced goal tender Kelsey Ponder. This fall, McVey became the first female coach to be inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in its 40-year history. McVey took a turn in the Coaches' Corner to talk about her top players; the Angels challenging schedule and her feelings about going into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.

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St. Joe's Alyssa Jensen Appears in National Skills Contest, All Star Game

Under Armour 2012 match & skill competition airs December 23.

Senior Alyssa Jensen who wrapped up a brilliant volleyball career at St. Joseph's Academy will appear in the Under Armour 2012 volleyball match and skills competition. That match can be seen on ESPNU on Sunday, December 23 at 12:30 p.m. CST. Jensen capped her career by signing to play for the University of California-Berkeley earlier this year.

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Sectional Champs: St. Joe Softball Roughs Up Hazelwood West, 13-3

Angels win in abreviated 5 inning game. Host Francis Howell next on Saturday.

It might be a fair statement to make, Hazelwood West has seen enough of the St. Joe softball team this year. Catch the photos on the Ladue-Frontenac Facebook page. The visiting Angels piled up 15 hits and limited the Wildcats to 6 hits to win their sectional showdown 13-3 Wednesday. At ABC Park September 6, the Angels trimmed West, 6-4. The win propels the Angels into a regional championship game this Saturday, home at 1 p.m. versus Francis Howell, upset winners over Troy, the defending state champs, 4-0. Game called after 5 innings The St. Joe win lasted just 5 innings. The Angels piled up 8 runs in the the fourth behind the power hitting of third sacker Anna Langhorst, a senior. She picked out a juicy third pitch from Roxanne Dennis and …

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Thunder, Lightning: Weather chases St. Joe & Seckman off the Softball Field

Game was called before the first pitch was ever thrown.

This is what happens when lightning and thunder overtake the region. The softball game Tuesday between St. Joseph's Academy and Seckman High of Jefferson County was called off before the first pitch was thrown. Laura Flowers' career .1000 percent win streak was on the line. She has won two games as substitute coach when J.P. Cummings goes to graduate school on Tuesday nights. Flowers will have to wait another day to see if that illustrious streak will be extended. St. Joe was hoping to improve on its 7-7 mark. Rules call for a half hour wait period once lightening is spotted. Officials agreed any delay would take the game well past daylight hours. No word yet when this game will be replayed.

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