Two staff members have been appointed as athletic director and assistant athletic director this school year.
Through an application process, Timothy Torkelson, assistant athletic director, and Patrick Hanley, athletic director, were chosen for their respective positions. Torkelson had previously worked as athletic director at Plainfield East for ten years, and Hanley had worked as assistant athletic director at Central for three years.
“Our number one goal is to make sure that our student athletes are put in the best position they can to be successful,” Hanley said. “We want to make sure we’re doing our best to recognize our students’ efforts.”
The two work alongside Darlene Castillo, athletic secretary, each week to ensure that transportation and officials are ready for upcoming meets and events. Torkelson in particular oversees all of the clubs and activities, but still has the time to teach recreational activities for the first two periods of the day.
“The best part of the position is being able to work with a lot of different students, athletes, and a lot of adults. No two days are the same,” Torkelson said.
The two staff members’ responsibilities are not limited to working with students, however. They also ensure that the coaches are effectively teaching student athletes.
“Hanley has great communication and organization. Tork is incredibly dependable and understanding,” Rebecca Vickers, head poms coach, said. “Both have been incredibly supportive of our team and consistently helped us have a successful sideline season.”
“We certainly want to make sure we’re winning around here, but ultimately, winning can mean some different things,” Patrick Hanley, athletic director, said. “We want to make sure we’re preparing great athletes to be successful on and off the field. Sometimes that results in a win on the scoreboard, sometimes it won’t.”
In order to bring awareness to the athletes’ achievements, Hanley is instituting an athlete of the week program. Additionally, he plans to put up photos of PCHS athletes around the school to further promote the teams.
“We are hoping to get some signs around the school, just making it feel more welcoming of a place,” Hanley said, “but overall, [we’re] just trying to have the signage express ‘welcome to Plainfield Central’ and ‘it’s good to be a wildcat’.”
“My big thing is students supporting students, whether that means students are in the stands at games or students are going to different clubs and activities,” Timothy Torkelson, assistant athletic director, said. “I just want to see more students involved and supporting one another.”
