Mrs. Winnie (Abernathy) Frentzel graduated from Perryville High School in 1947. After graduation, Mrs. Frentzel attended Southeast Missouri State University and earned a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Fine Arts. After teaching 12 years in Perry County rural schools and one year in Cape County, getting married and raising four children, Mrs. Frentzel returned to Perryville High School in 1965 to teach art.
Mrs. Frentzel was also instrumental in starting varsity girls basketball in 1974. She coached the sport until she started the softball program in the spring of 1982. She also coached junior high school basketball and volleyball which started in the early 1980’s. She has been pleased to see the changes and opportunities young ladies have experienced over the years in high school athletics.
Mrs. Frentzel also represented the Southeast Missouri District in softball several years serving on the MSHSAA Softball Board.
Each year an outstanding female athlete at Perryville High School is selected to receive the Coach Frentzel Award. Mrs. Frentzel’s teaching and coaching career has spanned a total of 40 years.
She was married to the late Byrd Frentzel, and she has four children, Alan Frentzel, Kirk Frentzel, Christy Leuckel and Tammy Moldenhauer.