One of the new staff this year at Tosa East is Mr. Withington, the new weight room coach. You may know him by one of his many other names such as “Coach Dub”, “DJ Dub”, “Inspirational Dub”, “Supervisor Dub”, “Motivational Dub”, “Super Dub”, and even “Safety Dub”. Coach Dub has worked with kids in a variety of ways; doing the YMCA summer day camp for 4 years, coaching travel baseball and lots of student teachings. After graduating from the University of Whitewater with degrees in physical education, health education and adaptive education, this will be his first official year as a teacher. During this interview Coach Dub talks about his love for sports and the impact he wants to make on his students.
Why did you decide to go into teaching?
There’s so many teachers who impacted me and I wanted to have that same experience and also too I know how much it means to y’ all to come to school, cause this should be you’re safe place where you have peace and joy and love and all that stuff. I don’t know what you guys go home to, I really don’t, so I want you guys to have the best time when you come here. I want you to have fun, but I also want you to learn some stuff and I just hope I have an impact on whoever it may be. But that’s the main reason, to have an impact on the youth, the future generations; the future Presidents or Vice Presidents or astronauts or whatever your future endeavors are.
What made you decide to teach at East
For those who don’t know I went to Wauwatosa West High School. I’m not originally from here, I grew up in Illinois and then in high school I flip flopped every year between here and Illinois. However I love this area so much, the people, the community, the culture, the everything about Wisconsin and Wauwatosa. So when I was deciding and looking through job postings and I saw Wauwatosa East, I was like “let’s do it”, so I applied.
Whats your favorite part of Tosa East?
At my high school the weight room was behind the bleachers and so small, at West it’s a good one but it’s small and then I come here and it’s ginormous. The fact that we have that big of a space to operate and do all the stuff, we are blessed with that weight room. That’s probably my favorite spot, but also the theatre is super cool and the digital music room is cool.
If you could change one thing about Tosa East, what would you change?
The weight room budget. I want ample money to where I can be able to get what I want. Like we do have our PE budget but that’s for every single PE class and that’s a lot of money to keep with all the stuff. If I had my own weight room budget I would buy new belts. They are essential to lifting so I would love to get new color coordinated ones based on size. And then I also want there to be more winter sports. In the fall and the spring there is so many to pick from but there’s just not as many options in the winter. If I could, I would add a pickleball league across all schools.
What advice would you give to high schoolers?
Just try. Just try and give it your best too. Let’s say you try something and you like it, just try, go even further.
Did you play any sports in high school?
I did. I played soccer, basketball and baseball. But that’s another thing, I’m a PE teacher, I love all sports and I’m telling yall right now, and I’m telling who ever is reading this, I’ll kick your butt in sport, no matter what it is. Pickleball, golf, tennis, badminton, pool, darts, volleyball.
What’s your least favorite sport?
I love it and hate it. It’s my least favorite but also one of my favorites. It’s actually golf because it is the most mentally frustrating sport of all time, but it’s also the most satisfying like awesome sport of all time too. Like you can have the best shot and then you chunk it the next shot, and then you miss an easy putt or whatever it may be. Let’s say you hit a bad shot, that’s ok hit another one, the next one you could get a hole in one.
What’s your favorite sport to watch?
Baseball. I know it may be boring for some people but I love it. It’s my first love, baseball taught my patience. You always got to be ready, no matter the moment, no matter the opportunity. Also with baseball you can hit it perfect but it can go right at somebody and that doesn’t mean it was a bad hit. The White Sox’s were my first love too, I went to all the games growing up but then when I moved here my friends took me to Brewer’s games and now I love the Brewer’s. White Sox will also be my number one but Brewers is close. I love Prince Fielder and I used to do his celly with my friends and this season I’m rooting for Jackson Churio.
What is your favorite kind of music to work out to?
Bohemian Rhapsody is the greatest song ever made, however what I mainly play every day is rap and hip hop. My favorites are Juice World, I think he’s the best artist of all time and Lil Uzi Vert, his songs are so fun. But, I love all walks of music, I’m a big rock and roll guy, I love country; if it sounds good to me, I love it.
