Goodbye, Dawn Kerstetter

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Sometimes, good things happen only because of someone or something behind the scenes. That was the case in the Athletics Department at Matanzas High School.

Sure, former Athletics Director Ken Seybold (who is now an assistant principal) did much of the heavy lifting. But even Seybold himself would put his hands together for a very long (and deserving) round of applause for Dawn Kerstetter, the athletics/activities secretary at Matanzas.

Kerstetter announced earlier this week that Friday was her final day at Matanzas. She and her husband have decided to move west, to Texas, for “new adventures (and jobs!)” Kerstetter will be joining the student services department at Texas A&M University, Seybold said earlier this week.

As secretary, Kerstetter was the backbone for the athletics programs. Having been at Matanzas since the day the school opened, she organized schedules, dealt with media requests (trust me, I’d know), coordinated buses, helped coaches and students with academic eligibility, and, as Matanzas girls soccer coach Tony Benvenuto said, “Help parents who usually had twice as many questions.”

This was Kerstetter’s ninth year as a Pirate, and Seybold said she will be sorely missed.

“She’s been a great asset to the athletic program, and we’ve been very fortunate to have her,” he said.
In addition to the sports, Kerstetter also sponsored the Fellowship for Christian Athletes.

“As if she didn't have enough on her plate, she led FCA for our students, where she impacted many students' spiritual lives over the years,” Benvenuto said.

Rich Weber, the boys soccer coach at Matanzas, said Kerstetter has been an invaluable and trusted resource since he joined the staff three years ago.

“She has always gone out of her way to ensure our program got what it needed and always kept me straight in regard to any changes, new processes, requirements,” Weber said. “She will be greatly missed as not only a colleague, but as a friend. I wish her all the best on her new life adventure.”

There’s no question Kerstetter will be missed by many. But here’s to wishing her and her husband good luck in their next chapter.