A Home Run for Wayland: New Softball Dugouts Open Thanks to Mietzel Family Support

Wayland Academy celebrated a major milestone for its softball program this week with the official opening of brand-new dugouts, made possible through the generous support of the Mietzel family. A ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the softball field honored Casey and Angie Mietzel, whose gift has transformed the space just in time for the spring season.

The donation was inspired by a deeply personal legacy. Casey Mietzel, whose daughter Sierra Mietzel `26 is a member of the softball team, shared that his father—a Wayland alumnus from the class of 1958—had always remained committed to the school throughout his life.

“My dad was a big part of this school years ago, doing things you wouldn’t believe,” Mietzel said. “If he were still alive today and knew his granddaughter was going here, he’d want to do something big. I think this is exactly how he’d want to be remembered.”

Mietzel recalled attending one of Sierra’s first freshman games and seeing the team braving the cold without shelter. That moment sparked a vision for how he could make a difference not only for his daughter, but for generations of athletes to come.

Head Coach Bryanna Michaletz `13 echoed that sentiment in her remarks. “With these new dugouts, our practices and games will be so much better—providing shelter from the sun, wind, rain, and yes, even snow,” she said. “Thank you, Casey and Angie, for making this possible for our team today, and for the teams to follow in years to come.”

The new dugouts are more than a facility upgrade; they represent the strength of community, the power of legacy, and the impact one family can have on the student experience.

“The Mietzel family has a long-standing tradition here at Wayland,” said Casey. “We are incredibly proud to have our name associated with these dugouts as a way to show our gratitude to Wayland for all the opportunities it has provided to our daughter and her teammates.”

The Wayland community is proud to celebrate this meaningful addition to its athletic program and grateful to the Mietzel family for stepping up to the plate for Big Red softball.