****This article was written by Addison Anderson, a participant in The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
Tom McGunnigal is the Wethersfield high school health teacher, PE teacher, and athletic director. The Kewanee Voice sat down with him and asked him five questions about his position. Here are his answers:
How does Wethersfield’s athletic division differ from any previous jobs you’ve had?
“Our co-op is very different. Working with another school is different and requires a lot of communication and everyone between the two schools are good at communicating. Personally, I don’t think it differs that much from my past job because of the same amount of sports and they are smaller schools.”
Did your experience in high school/college sports influence your decision to be an athletic director?
“No, I went to college to be an accountant and I didn’t catch the coaching/athletic side until I coached junior high basketball and that opened my eyes to athletic divisions. I enjoy supporting my athletes. I take my job very seriously because if I mess it up, all of my athletes are depending on me to fix it, so they can enjoy their sport. It was never my plan to be athletic director, but I couldn’t imagine having another job.”
What did you picture yourself doing as a future job when you were younger?
McGunnigal said he bounced around. He wanted to be a math teacher, then an accountant. He even went to school to be an accountant. His original goal was to be a professional basketball, baseball, football player when he was a young boy.
What made you decide to work at WHS?
He said it was an opportunity that opened at the right time. He enjoyed working and coaching with Coach Parsons and he came here because the school and area are a good area.
How long have you been doing this job?
McGunnigal said he’s been doing the job for seven years at his last position and three years at Wethersfield.
