Strategic Conversation — Fairmont assistant coaches Stew Murfield (left) and Jesse Walters chatting at last spring’s regular season athletics meet. Walters was officially named head of the Cardinals’ track-and-field coach at the Fairmont School District board meeting on Tuesday. (Photo by Greg Abel)
FAIRMONT — Official.
Jesse Walters was named head track-and-field coach for the Fairmont Cardinals when the school board approved the motion at a meeting Tuesday.
“Jesse is a homegrown man.” Fairmont Activities Director Matt Mahoney said: “He helped the (men’s track and field) team win state championships in 2008 under coach (Bob) Bonk. He takes pride in his school and community. prize.”
Walters, 33, will replace Bob Bonk, who retired this summer. Bonk has been teaching boys and girls spring programs for over 50 years.
Walters has been one of Bonk’s assistant track and field coaches since he returned to Fairmont from the Minneapolis area in 2017.
Walters was in track and field under Bonk from 2005-2008. In 2008 Fairmont his team won the Minnesota High School League Class A State Team he won the championship when Walters was in her senior year.
Fairmont finished with 52 points, Glencoe Silver Lake with 33 points and St Croix Lutheran with 32 points.
“Jessie and I spent hours talking tracks between meetings.” Bonk said. “I am very excited for him and I think he will do a great job.”
Walters was a member of the Fairmont 4×400 and 4×800 teams and posted the second and sixth best times in school history, with 3:22 and 8:08 respectively.
“Whether in high school or college, he always embraced being a track and field athlete.” Bonk said. “He has a lot of experience in sports. He’s also a very nice guy.”
“I look forward to continuing the 50-year tradition of Fairmont Coach Bonk that was instilled in this program and continuing Fairmont’s 50 years of success with Coach Bonk.” Walters said. “I’m going to put some new spins on the program. I’ve learned a lot about family from coach Bonk. When I become the new head coach, I want to instill in my kids and being part of the family. Coach ‘s Bonk has taught us a lot about being part of a family, and we hope the kids on the track can do the same.”
Walters is a local athlete who graduated in 2008, ran track at Fairmont High School, and ran sprints at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls from 2009-2012. He was an honorary member of his 2009 and 2011 Wisconsin Inter-College Athletic Conference Scholastic, and in 2010 and he was also a member of the 2011 All-WIAC Indoor All-Sportsmanship Team.
“I did whatever the director said” Walters said.
In college, Walters ran the 100m in 11.7 seconds, the 200m in 23.66 seconds and the 400m in 51.39 seconds.
Walters has a degree in Environmental Science from UW-River Falls and currently works for the Martin Soil and Water Conservation District, where he maintains soil substrate, water quality, and tree production while maintaining cropland, pasture, woodland, and forest land. Assisting landowners to increase the productive use of urban land. Wildlife production, according to the Martin SWCD website.
Walters has been involved in soccer and track and field since he started playing sports in high school.
Fast forward more than a decade on the clock, Walters coaches junior varsity football in the fall and track and field at his alma mater in the spring.
Walters and wife Kristen have an 18-month-old son, Chase, and are expecting their second child this month.
“I want my children to be part of the athletics program here at Fairmont.” Walters said. “I give Bonk’s coach a lot of credit.
“I love the coaching track and can’t wait for the season to start.”
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