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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St. Joseph's Academy Celebrates National Signing Day With Nine Seniors That Will Play College Ball Next Year

Volleyball stars Natalie Gower and Alyssa Jensen, and basketball standouts Erin Nelson and Sydney Stipanovich highlight a crew of nine Angels that accepted college scholarships on Wednesday.

FRONTENAC -- Not a single shot was made. Nor were there any backhand winners up the line, nor any kills or digs or assists to keep track of either. Instead, what the excited crowd of 50-something classmates and parents witnessed on Wednesday afternoon in the St. Joseph's Academy atrium was a collective home run knocked out of the park by nine St. Joe seniors, who celebrated National Signing Day, by inking their names on respective National Letters of Intent to play NCAA sports at the college of their choice next year. "It's just a testament to the all the hard work these wonderful girls did over their four years here," St. Joe athletics director Michaela Witcher said, as droves of SJA fans and faithful took turns taking pictures of the …

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James Baer

6:21 am on Thursday, November 15, 2012

The best collection of athletes anywhere in the community. Congratulations to one and all.   more ›

Weather Gods Listen Up: No Rain Allowed This Weekend

St. Louis Classic at St. Joseph's Academy needs dry turf this entire weekend.

St. Joseph's Academy athletic director Michaela Witcher has been in contact with the weather Gods. She wants sunny skies Friday through Saturday. The three grassy fields on the St. Joe athletic complex are some of the best in the Midwest. However, they are not noted for draining very well following heavy storms. The annual St. Louis 10-team classic will be held in Frontenac Friday and Saturday. Large crowds expected for these games. The field includes the host Angels; Cor Jesu Academy, Parkway South, Granite City, Blue Valley Northwest, Incarnate Word Academy, Nerinx Hall, Lafayette, Marquette and Shawnee Mission East. The Friday games begin at 4 p.m. and Saturday the action resumes at 9 a.m. and runs through 3 p.m. The Angels open at 4 p.…

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