Hutchins named associate director of Middle School
March 25, 2009
James Hutchins has been named the associate director of Darlington’s Middle School effective June 2009, announced Division Director Jim Van Es during a Middle School faculty meeting today.
Headmaster Tom Whitworth announced today that Ken Wempe, dean of Middle School students, will leave Darlington at the end of the current school year to assume a new role as Middle School Head at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tenn., a K-12 day school founded in 1889.
Earlier this month, Ken Wempe helped his team from the Atlanta Track Club to a third-place finish in the master’s 8K national cross country race in Derwood, Md., bringing home the highest national finish the club has ever achieved.
Long-distance runners are known to have huge hearts. As far as Darlington cross country coach Ken Wempe is concerned, senior Grier Fricks is a prime example of that philosophy.<br /><br />
On Wednesday morning [Feb. 20], the combination of heart and skill opened the college door for Fricks when she signed a letter of intent to run cross country at Young Harris College this fall.<br /><br />
"Her strengths are her leadership and her commitment to the team," Wempe said about Fricks, who lettered all four years in cross country and track. "All the girls on the team looked up to her."<br /><br />
The Lady Tigers' team captain last fall, Fricks has proven she can go the distance, earning top 20 places in the region meet the last two years. This spring, she will shift gears to run 1,600- and 3,200-meters, as well as the 300 hurdles<br /><br />
"She's been one of our top five runners for the last two seasons," Wempe said. "She's been a big part of the team concept, and as a coach, she's the kind of athlete you want. She gets others to not only run for themselves, but for the team and their school. Young Harris is getting a good one."
