When Mike Wilmoth retired at Wellington High School, he was presented with a ring to note his legacy as a long-time teacher and coach.
Many assumed he’d get it in red, the school colors of his beloved Wellington Crusaders, where over the course of his 42-year career in education, Wilmoth became the school’s all-time winningest baseball coach.
“No,” he replied. “I want it in Mustang blue.”
When asked for his rationale, Wilmoth was quick to point out that while his love for Wellington is true, at his heart, he’s still an Iola boy.
“Blue and gold run through my veins,” Wilmoth explained.
Wilmoth, who retired in May 2022, was tapped to speak at Monday’s annual IHS Football Awards Banquet, where he regaled the audience of players and their families with anecdotes and asides aplenty about what it means to be a Mustang.
Wilmoth, IHS class of 1976, also spoke on his 46-year career as a football official, where he worked six state high school championship games, countless Friday night tilts across Kansas, and even half a season as an NFL official.
“All the neat things I’ve got to do throughout my life are because of these men at Iola High School,” Wilmoth said, as he paid homage to his former coaches and teachers. “The impact they had on my life could never be calculated.”
Wilmoth also announced Monday’s big team awards, Landon Weide as this year’s winner of the Distinguished Mustang Award as well as team offensive MVP, while fellow senior Ben Kerr was voted defensive MVP.
All three awards are voted on by the players themselves.
WILMOTH, son of the late Don (a longtime principal at Iola Middle School) and Kathy Wilmoth, implored the audience to appreciate what Iola has to offer.
“Iola has meant a great deal for us,” he said, while listing off such local assets as the local radio station and newspaper, the buildings and downtown square, and especially the people.
“I didn’t think I’d be quite this emotional,” he admitted. “I talk to people for a living all the time, but for some reason, I’m a little excited tonight.
“The memories of high school at IHS are some of the best of my life,” Wilmoth said. “We had great coaches.”
Wilmoth recalled learning under coaches like Tom Stranghoner, Ray Houser, David Roe, Jerry Smith and Marv Smith. Tom Strunk also taught history, he noted. John Masterson coached him when he played baseball.
Others like Buck Quincy taught about life outside the athletic realm.
