Teacher, 40, Marries 16-Year-Old Student

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A 40-year-old high school teacher and cross country coach has resigned and married a 16-year-old student.

A marriage license shows Brenton Wuchae married Windy Hager in Brunswick County, N.C., on Monday. The county board of education approved Wuchae’s resignation Tuesday — a week after he had requested it.

Windy Hager: Natural Runner, soon to have natural relations with a 40 year old dude

Wuchae coached Hager at South Brunswick High School, where she was a star runner. He lives less than two miles from her home on Oak Island. Hager’s parents said they did all they could to keep the couple apart after noticing a deeper-than-usual friendship between them.

Betty and Dennis “Bubba” Hager told The Star-News that they exhausted their resources. They said they asked for help from school officials, law enforcement, teachers and students. They also said they asked Wuchae to leave their daughter alone and tried to get a restraining order against him.

The Hagers said they reluctantly signed a consent form allowing their daughter to marry her coach.

The parents said that on Saturday, Windy asked her dad to sign emancipation papers — which he refused. She then asked him to sign a paper Wuchae had drawn up and had notarized, which would give Windy permission to marry her coach. Her dad said he also refused that.

But on Monday, the Hagers met their child and her coach at the courthouse and signed off on the marriage certificate.

“He had all the power in the world — all he had to do was say, ‘I can’t do this,’” Betty Hager said.

Schools Superintendent Katie McGee said she was shocked and disheartened.

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About Windy at the State Port Pilot:
(this story says Wednesday , November 8th, 2006)

Windy Hager understands the strength to finish the race comes from within, yet she attributes much of her motivation to South Brunswick cross country coach Brent Wuchae.

He’s very encouraging. He’s always telling us how proud he is, the South Brunswick sophomore said. I’m proud of where I finished but he seems to be even more proud of me. He’s always been encouraging.

That’s what makes him a great coach. He’s always motivated us; he’s always out there helping us.

Motivation is very important. Such as: “You can do it, Windy! Visualize your goals and make them reality!” and also “If you win the race I promise we’ll get married next year!”

Wuchae had much to be proud of during the state cross country championships at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons last Saturday.

Hager finished 36th out of 126 runners with her time of 21:32, while Higgins, a sophomore, finished 85th out of 127 runners with his time of 18:55. North Brunswick’s Oscar Hernandez carried the banner for the Scorpions program, finishing in 54th place with his time of 18:11 over the 3.1-mile course.

I was extremely tickled with both of them, Wuchae said. They’ve both come a long way. I’m very proud of their accomplishments this year. Windy finishing in the top 25-percent was just outstanding. That was a little higher than I thought she would, but she did well and Josh finishing 85th in the state, considering the boys had a little stiffer competition.

Hager said her experience at the state meet has given her specific goals for next season, goals she feels are within her grasp.

You always think about next year; you want to make it better, she said. That’s what gives me the drive.

This girl is motivated! She set the goal of marrying her cross country coach and she made it happen! Follow your dreams!

Wuchae said Hager and Higgins have attained the status of conquering heroes among their peers, a positive sign for the program’s growth in the seasons to come.

It’s just overwhelming the support they’re getting here at South. We’re trying to build here and if we can get the exposure these kids going up there and just seeing what it’s like this year , next year, they’ll know what the competition is going to be and how hard they’re going to have to work to get to the next level.

Wuchae, a truly dedicated coach, is giving Windy all the support she could ever need, I’m sure!

Photo of the Happy couple, courtesy of Dumbass Daily:

Unlike the Kevin Spacey character, Wuchae was not shot in the back of the head by a closet homosexual.