Signed letter of intent Tuesday January 9 at ceremony at Chester High School
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester High School senior Mabry Wingerter has signed a letter of intent to continue her volleyball career at the collegiate level next year when she goes to college at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.
Mabry Wingerter of Chester will play volleyball next year at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. Westminster is an NCAA Division III school and Coach Dalton Tucker leads the Blue Jays. Shown here at a signing at Chester High School’s James F. Sharp Cafeteria is Mabry Wingerter, with family members, including parents Nicki and Chris Wingerter (sitting at the YellowJacket signing table) and (standing, left to right) are Prentiss and Mary Wilson, Paternal Grandparents, Michael Wingerter, Brother, and Maternal Grandfather, Larry Surman. (Maternal Grandmother Joyce Surman was unable to attend). Wingerter was the Lady Jackets Volleyball MVP this senior year. Jim Beers Photo
Wingerter is the daughter of Chris and Nicole Wingerter of Chester. She has been heavily involved in volleyball at all levels throughout her lifetime, and most recently has excelled at the high school level for the Lady Jackets of Chester.
Mabry said, “I am beyond excited to continue my volleyball career at the next level at Westminster. I absolutely love the college, the campus, and the family dynamic of it all. I definitely would not be where I am right now if it wasn’t for my amazing support net of coaches, fellow-players, and family.”
Mabry Wingerter, a Chester High School senior, poses for a photo with her Lady Jacket Volleyball Coaches following her official signing event to play volleyball next year at the collegiate level. She will play next year at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. The Blue Jays are NCAA Division III. Sitting with Wingerter is her CHS Head Coach, Colleen Runge. Standing (left to right) are Alyssa Keith, Assistant Coach, and Reese Chandler. Volunteer Assistant Coach. Jim Beers Photo,
Wingerter mentioned her long line of coaches over her career that have influenced her love for the game and her current level of expertise that has created her opportunity to be recruited at Westminster including:
*Her mother and father, Chris and Nicki Wingerter, when she played volleyball for “SILVA” (Southern Illinois Volleyball Association)
* Tasha Gibbs at “St. Mary’s Catholic School”
* Jenny Schroeder and Yvonne Seymour at “Chester Grade School”
* Colleen Runge, Alyssa Keith, and Reese Chandler at “Chester High School”
* Jessie Gartman and Paul Stoner with “Pursuit”
* Abby Wesselman with the “Southern Illinois Wave” (Currently)
Miss Wingerter notes that she is really looking forward to being coached by Dalton Tucker, Head Coach of the NCAA Division III Blue Jays of Westminster. She has met with him and some of the team members and really thinks Westminster is going to be a great fit for her!”
Mabry has been a varsity volleyball player for the Chester High School Lady Jackets since she was a freshman. She has recorded quite a resume at CHS including the following 13 items. This list will not include any spring accolades she may make in 2024 track and field or club volleyball:
Varsity volleyball player all four years at CHS
USAV and AAU Club Volleyball all four years
Volleyball All-Tournament Team at Trico Tournament sophomore through senior years
Volleyball All-Tournament MVP at Trico Tournament senior year
Volleyball All-South Award senior year
Chester High School Lady Jacket MVP senior year
Volleyball All-Conference Selection sophomore, junior, and senior years
Volleyball “Teammate Award” junior year
Volleyball “Most Aces” award junior year
Volleyball “Most Blocks” junior year
Volleyball “Most Assists” sophomore, junior, and senior years
Volleyball “Defensive Award” sophomore year
Track and Field “Most Improved” Award sophomore year
Colleen Runge, CHS Head Coach of the Lady Jackets Volleyball Team, was Mabry’s first coach at the high school level. It was Runge’s first year at CHS and Mabry’s class of 2024 was her first group as Chester’s volleyball coach.
Runge said, “As a coach, it’s always a special moment to see a player be able to continue his or her career at the next level. Mabry has been an absolute joy to coach and watch grow these last four years!”
“She has learned a lot and has become one of the toughest players I have ever seen on the court. Her passion for the game is contagious and I am so blessed to have been able to be a part of her journey.”
“On behalf of the coaching staff and players of the Chester High School Volleyball Team, we are so proud of Mabey. We congratulate her on a stellar volleyball career and are excited to see what this next level brings for her. I know that Westminster is a great fit for her both athletically and academically. Go get ‘em Mabry!”
When asked about her decision to accept her offer to play for Westminster, Mabry said, “We traveled to several schools last summer and this fall. Some I really liked from an academic stand point and others I really liked from a volleyball standpoint. Westminster was the only one that I liked both athletically and academically.”
“I want to study biology and the field of medicine. Eventually I want to be a Physician’s Assistant. I think that Westminster is a great fit for me academically”
Proud parents Nicki and Chris Wingerter of Chester pose for a photo holding T-shirts and window stickers that state that they are” proud parents” of a YellowJacket athlete that has just signed to play sports at the collegiate “next level.” Daughter Mabry Wingerter had just signed a letter of intent to play volleyball next year at NCAA Division III Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, Wingerter was the Lady Jacket Volleyball MVP this season and looks forward to playing for the Blue Jays while she studies to eventually become a Physicians Assistant. Jim Beers Photo
“When we visited Westminster I also had an opportunity to meet the coach and some of the players from the Blue Jay team. They made me feel welcomed and I loved the family atmosphere of the program. I am looking forward to going there and studying and playing volleyball.
Besides being a great volleyball player, Wingerter an excellent student in the Class of 2024. She is a member of the CHS Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She is a “High Honor” student, and a member of the Summit Chapter of the National Honor Society.
Her junior year Mabry was a Medical Explorer, Pep Club member, member of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and a Spanish Club member. As a senior Wingerter has been involved in Advisory Youth Council, Woman’s Leadership Initiative, and NHS President. In her spare time Mabry enjoys baking desserts.
Mabry Wingerter, a Chester High School senior volleyball player, is joined by her fellow Lady Jacket Volleyball teammates immediately after she signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at the collegiate level next year at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. Westminster is an NCAA Division III school that completes primarily in the SILAC conference (St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Jim Beers Photo
Attending Mabry’s signing ceremony were several family members including her parents, Chris and Nicki, her maternal grandfather, Larry Surman (Maternal grandmother, Joyce Surman was unable to attend), paternal grandparents Mary (Wingerter) Wilson and Prentiss Wilson, and brother Michael Wingerter.
Nicki Wingerter said, “We are so proud of Mabry! She has honestly dedicated the past eight years to volleyball. We are happy she will get to continue to play the sport she loves at Westminster. We all fell in love with the school and what it has to offer both academically and athletically for volleyball.”
The electronic billboard in the James F. Sharp Cafeteria at Chester proudly announces the signing event that took place Tuesday afternoon January 9 for senior Mabry Wingerter who signed to play volleyball at the collegiate level next year at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A nice crowd of family, friends, CHS staff, fellow teammates, media and coaches joined Wingerter for the prestigious event. Jim Beers Photo
CHS Athletic Director, Jennifer Cartwright, introduced Mabry and her family at the event and presented them with special T-shirts and window stickers pertaining to the signing. She also gave a brief resume of Mabry’s accomplishments and wished her well in her future endeavors at Westminster.
Also in attendance were most of Mabry’s Lady Jacket Volleyball teammates, friends, CHS staff members and her CHS Volleyball coaches including Colleen Runge, Head Coach, Alyssa Keith, Assistant Coach, and Reese Chandler, Volunteer Coach.