In a coaching career that’s spanned 25-years, James Sebesta has impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes at Whitehall.

Those relationships, built over those two-plus decades with the track and field team, made his decision to retire extremely difficult, but he knew that time was slipping away if he wanted to watch his own son play high school sports.

Jared will be entering his senior year at Northampton High School and Sebesta wanted to make sure he would witness his final scholastic season.

“It wasn’t easy; I was really torn, but I would like to see him [play].” said Sebesta.

Sebesta announced his retirement last week, ending a run of coaching excellence that oversaw the establishment of numerous school records and a PIAA champ.

With each passing meet this spring, Sebesta realized that this would be the last time he would cover this ground as the head coach. He said he took time to think about that, reflecting through everything that he’s experienced, from those freezing meets in early spring where teeth chattered as fast as legs churned, to the tradition of eating breakfast at Esther’s Restaurant before competing at the PIAA Championships. Through it all, he became the face of Whitehall track and field for a generation.

When Sebesta took over as the head coach, returning the program to Shippensburg for the state championships was a big accomplishment.

However, once they started getting to Seth Grove Stadium in late May, assistant coach Tom Grammes gave Sebesta something to consider.

“He said that we now had to refocus and think about winning medals,” said Sebesta.

Those words from someone who Sebesta regarded as a mentor, made him refocus. It led to a string of seven consecutive seasons of medaling at the PIAA championships.

The list of athletes who made Whitehall a winning program under Sebesta included all those athletes who strived to help the team by gaining a point in any way they could.

He also helped mold the careers of numerous league and district champs, including one state champ, Andrew Fahringer (discus, 2006).

That list of athletes also includes Danni Smith, Brooke Hamscher, Matt Kacyon, Amanda Crooks, Tyler Myers, Andrew Beers, Calvin Schneck, Saquon Barkley, Ivanna Jones, Angela Stella, Logan Kreglow, Nate Hoenl, Doug Henninger, Christian Malone, Erinne Schmalzer, Jackson Buskirk, Gabe Lamm, Kyleem Harrison, Nick Nejad, Michael Leonhardt, Brian Plucinsnky, J.C. Falcon, Andrew Frisch, Michael Eible, Kourtney Cunningham, Kylee Cunningham, Decontee Krayee, Kate Bonshak, Angel Bacon, and a host of others.

In 2014, Sebesta took 17 athletes to states, a memorable moment in his career. His goal each season was to see everyone improve, culminating in a trip to Shippensburg for the state finals.

Success is often narrowly defined by wins and losses, but Sebesta understood that small victories were just as important. While both teams finished under .500 this season, every week his sheets were filled with personal bests. Sebesta said that watching the kids improve and seeing the results is “all you can ask for as a coach.”

Sebesta would stroll the infield, encouraging his runners and jumpers as they competed in their respective events. He was invested in everyone’s success and made sure that they knew he was right behind them.

While he will no longer be the head coach of the track and field team, he said he will still be involved in coaching football this upcoming season, fulfilling his commitment.

Sebesta said that a number of current and former athletes reached out to him once they heard the news.

“That just makes you feel good,” said Sebesta.

They took the time to thank him and wish him the best.

“It reminds you what it’s all about,” he said.

While he won’t be coaching the track team anymore, Sebesta said that he’ll still follow how they’re doing.

“I’m still going to be their biggest critic and their biggest fan,” he said.