Baumgartner honored

Holyoke Elementary School staff members surprised John Baumgartner with a small gift and recognition at a school assembly Thursday, Sept. 22. Baumgartner is pictured at right with Principal Andrea Kammer. The staff wanted to recognize him for his dedication to the teaching profession and the elementary school. He retired in 2021 after 29 years in a third grade classroom at HES and three years as the Holyoke athletic/activities director. Now, in 2022, Baumgartner has also decided to step away from decades of coaching Dragon athletes. Not many coaches in the state can say they have won both a boys and girls basketball state championship. Baumgartner led the boys to the title in 2010 and the girls in 2022.