Caringella takes over Wheeling softball

Mike Caringella, who has been an assistant in the Wheeling softball program since 2003, has been named the Wildcats varsity coach.

Former Wheeling three-sport athlete Beth Anderson is stepping down as the head coach.

Caringella, a graduate of Hersey High School (class of 1975) and Southern Illinois, felt this was an opportunity he could not pass up.

"I never thought I'd be a varsity coach but this opportunity came up and I felt like I wanted to be the guy to do it," said Caringella, who has been in the restaurant business since 1982 and currently runs the Armand's of Arlington Heights corporation, located in the downtown area.

Caringella served for 10 years (1990-1999) as an assistant in the Warren High School baseball program and spent eight years (2001-2008) developing and coaching age level athletes for the Mid-Suburban Panthers travel softball teams.

"We need to build the program at Wheeling from the bottom," said Caringella, whose daughters Angela and Carrie have played for Wheeling; another daughter, Tori, is a sophomore. "We've got to get the young girls from the area to start playing softball. We've got some good upperclassmen. Now we've got to keep building and get a tradition started."

Anderson directed the program for the past 10 years.

"I am going to miss all the great programs and coaches in the Mid-Suburban League," she said. "I've really enjoyed all of my players and parents."C