The Dike-New Hartford softball team experienced a unique scenario this season. After first-year Head Coach Tianna Butteris delivered a newborn daughter several weeks earlier than expected, previous head coach Rhandi Oelmann stepped back in for approximately the second half of the season.
Superintendent Justin Stockdale says a plan was in place for a smooth transition.
“Naturally, the baby comes, I think, five weeks early, somewhere in that vicinity,” Stockdale says. “Our AD, Cody Eichmeier, was Johnny on the spot and had it all planned out that if something should happen, our previous coach, Rhandi Oelmann, who is still on our staff and works in our preschool program and whatnot, was willing to jump back in and see us through the end of the season. I just saw Tianna at our last home game against Aplington-Parkersburg, and she’s doing great. Her husband’s doing great. The baby’s doing great. It was interesting talking to her and just sitting on the sidelines now as the head coach, while Rhandi did her thing. And, you know, another 20-win season for that program.”
Oelmann was grateful for the opportunity to serve in an interim capacity.
“I’m just so grateful and like, it sounds cliche, but I’m so blessed to be able to come back and just coach these girls because I love it so, so much,” Oelmann says. “Their parents are amazing and we really have a great group of kids. And, you know, I stepped away because my family, I have an 11-year-old daughter, an 8-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy and it was time for mom to be able to go see their games. So walking away was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. My husband has been so supportive, so the chance to come back here is just, I mean, just fun.”
The Wolverines went 20-10 and bowed out in the regional semifinal round.
