Wentzville School District Teacher Named Missouri “Baseball Official of the Year”

A physical education teacher at Wentzville Middle School has been selected as the 2011 “Missouri Baseball Official of the Year” by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. 

Gary Langhorst will be officially recognized next month before the 4A baseball championship game in Springfield, MO.

“It’s a great honor, with all of the officials in the state of Missouri, to be recognized after 31 years of umpiring. It’s great to be honored by your peers,” Langhorst said. 

The Official of the Year Award is presented each year to an individual who has made “a lifelong commitment to the ideals of officiating interscholastic sports," by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Langhorst, a 1996 graduate of the Wendelstedt Umpiring School, works both softball and baseball games and umpires over 400 games a year. Langhorst runs the clock at Holt High School for wrestling and basketball games, and helps out with the middle school basketball team as well. Langhorst  umpired the 3A Championship game last year, and it was for his performance in that game and over the course of his career that coaches and activities directors from around the state selected him for the award.