Next Wednesday LuAnn Stohrer will turn off the lights and shut the door to the athletic office in Clarkston High School for the last time.
Stohrer retires on Sept. 24 after seven years of being the athletic secretary. A few of her duties included scheduling games; making sure they had officials and busses; making sure coaches were paid and taking care of their needs; making sure Clarkston was following all the Michigan High School Athletic Association rules; and bridging the gap between the athletic department and the public.
With all the duties she is leaving behind she will miss the people the most.
“I will miss my boss,” she said. “I will miss the people. Thank you to all the people who made my time here a joy.”
Though Stohrer could have left a little earlier the people and the coaches were a few of the reasons she stayed for the beginning of the sports fall season.
“The fall season is so difficult,” she said, explaining every athlete needs a new set of paperwork and the number of athletes in the community is huge.
“We have done 500 sets of paperwork already,” Stohrer added. “I didn’t feel like it was a good time to leave to a new person. I love my coaches. I didn’t want to mess them up anymore than I had to.”
Stohrer and her husband, Fred, who also retired from Clarkston Community Schools this year, head to Georgia.
“I don’t know what’s next,” she smiled. “For now, move to Georgia and figure out what I am going to do for the rest of my life. Enjoy my grandchildren and enjoy the weather. I WILL NOT MISS SNOW – you can put that in capital letters.”
LuAnn leaves her position to Krystal Bergman, who has been learning all the tasks and duties since Sept. 2.
Bergman moved to Clarkston five years ago and has three children in the school district.
She is familiar with sports as she spent two years doing marketing and promotions for CART – Championship Auto Racing team.
“I always loved working in sports ever since my auto racing days I wanted to get back into it,” Bergman said. “But felt like with most of the athletic jobs comes a lot of travel.”
When she heard about an opening athletic secretary position she thought it would work out perfectly.
“I wouldn’t have to travel, I will still be in athletics and it is where I live, too,” she smiled. “It’s perfect and such a strong athletic community. I thought it would be fun.”
Bergman and her family are familiar with Clarkston Athletics as they go to most of the home football games and went to the state championship game last year at Ford Field.
She added her children are excited about her new job.
“They will come over and everybody is so welcoming,” Bergman said. “They get a kick out of seeing the kids suited up. They are in athletics, too, so it is exciting for them to see.”
She added they plan to see more basketball games in the winter season.
During her first two weeks in the position she has enjoyed working with LuAnn and Dan Fife, athletic director, and the people.
“I feel very much at home here,” she smiled.