‘We’re doing it for her’: Saluda High School band wins awards in honor of band teacher killed in crash

SALUDA, S.C. (WIS) - Saluda High School continues to mourn the loss of their beloved band director and girl’s soccer coach Jennifer Wingate, after she was killed in a crash caused by a suspected drunk driver back in January.

Wingate’s memory lives on through the band and soccer team, who are continuing to push themselves every day in her honor.

“She really is the motivation,” said Saluda High Girl’s Soccer Assistant Coach & English Teacher Erin Siegfried. “I don’t think there’s been a practice or a game where we don’t tell a story about her. Everything kind of reminds us of her, but in a good way.”

Many of Wingate’s students first got into picking up an instrument for the first time in middle school. Those students said she would want them to continue playing music and not give up.

“I looked at it as I’m going to finish her dream out,” said Saluda High School Senior Fernando Molina-Echeverria, “It was not about me anymore; it was just (about) what she had in mind; her vision.”

“She was the light in the room; anytime she walked in the room she always had a smile on her face,” said Lauren Owens, Jennifer’s older sister. “She was there for you, even if you didn’t ask, she was there.”

In addition to her sister Lauren, fellow teachers, students, and peers in the Saluda High School community described her as a friend rather than a teacher, always offering a helping hand to anyone who may need it.

“She went above and beyond for everybody (and) put her heart and soul into everything she did,” Owens said.

“She was just an amazing person,” said Saluda High School Sophomore Malashia Robinson.

Roughly a week after Wingate passed, students played through tears at a schoolwide memorial service and auditioned for the regional band that would represent Saluda.

Starting as the band director in Fall 2022, Wingate helped the band finish third in the Lower State Championships in Fall 2023.

In March 2024, the band scored a superior rating at the CPA festival by playing music Jennifer had chosen, but never got to teach them. On April 6th, 2024, the winter guard claimed a second-place silver medal at the CWEA Championships.

These victories helped the band program get their first Outstanding Performance Award in over two decades.

“We knew the OPA, which is the highest band award that you can win ... she was pushing us so much to get that award, and we got it,” said Saluda High School Junior Andie Stevens. “It feels great that we finally got it and to prove and show her that we’re doing it for her basically.”

“I’m really proud to have been part of this band program and still be part of it,” said Saluda High School Junior Angel Lezama-Dejesus, “I’m very proud of all of my classmates and friends who kept going after she had passed to do all the great things we have done.”

Substitute teacher Karen Price was tasked with filling in the shoes of Ms. Wingate, helping the band play out all of their performances. She said finishing the work Wingate started was what Wingate would’ve wanted and has been a motivation for everyone to keep moving forward.

“The fact that they didn’t just keep going, but surpassed the last 20 plus year of what this band program has accomplished, is just crazy,” Price said, “I think they’re even happier (now) than they would’ve been any other year, just knowing what they did.”

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