ALL ABOUT THE OLD MAN...

Mr. Pitsch has taught at Mt. Baker Junior High for 18.7 years.   He started his first year at the same time he started coaching the varsity high school wrestling team, November of 1992.  That's why the 7/10 of a year.  Mr. Pitsch coached the high school wrestling team for three seasons.  In 1994 his team finished 3rd in league, 4th in district, 6th in region and 20th in state.  He also coached a state champion in 1994.  Lyle Cronk went 34-0 that year to win the 135 lb. championship.  Mr. Cronk taught at Mt. Baker Junior High in 2006-07.  The circle is complete!  Mr. Pitsch left the high school coaching to Mr. Ron Lepper after that year and began coaching the junior high wrestling team.  In nine seasons as the junior high coach his wrestlers captured six team county championships and crowned numerous individual weight champions.  Former wrestlers of his have gone on to high school producing 54 state medalists and 9 state champions.   Mr. Pitsch is proud of his Mountaineer wrestling years, but now must follow his own sons as they pursue their sporting careers at Sehome High School in Bellingham. 

In his first year at Mt. Baker Mr. Pitsch was a roving substitute teacher.  He taught all subjects including band, choir, wood shop, and agriculture.  He coached varsity wrestling, 7th grade baseball, took night classes to finish his schooling, and moved in to a new house.  It was a busy year.  He didn't coach baseball again for another couple of years but coached 8th grade baseball when he did return to it.  It was just for a year, but he enjoyed it.  Turnouts weren't at the log show that year. They were behind Acme Elementary School.  It was hard to get a team ready in those conditions, but how can you mess up baseball?

Before coming to Mt. Baker School District Mr. Pitsch worked at the Whatcom County Jail in the Juvenile Detention Center.  Teaching middle school was an easy transition.  He student taught at Meridian High School, finished college at Western Washington University, and graduated from Bellingham High School in 1981.  In between high school and college Mr. Pitsch was in the U.S. Navy.  He served four years, three of which were at sea on the USS AMERICA (CV-66). His job was that of a legal yeoman processing Article 15 cases and Summary Courts-Martial.  His General Quarters station (battle station) was in a fire suppression locker in the hanger bay of the aircraft carrier.  While in high school Mr. Pitsch played three years of football, lettered three years in wrestling, played three years of baseball and one year ran cross country.  He was also in the school band and choir.

Mr. Pitsch is married to Caren Pitsch who teaches 1st grade in Bellingham.  He has two sons, Tennyson and Anthony who attend Bellingham schools and are very athletically involved.  He has three dogs, Trudy, Dave, and Brutus.  He loves to cook, garden, play golf and baseball, and watch his kids play sports.  His father taught at Bellingham High School for over 25 years.  His sister Mary Apple taught at Mt. Baker Junior High for six years.  It's in the family.  If you've got several hours, just ask.