Pickerel Tournament has first female chair

Wendy Drinkard-Wojtas appointed to top spot

By Barb Pert Templeton

When plans for the 87th Annual Pickerel Tournament were taking shape earlier this year Wendy Drinkard-Wojtas was ready to lend a hand as usual until Algonac Lions Club President Dr. William Brady appointed her chairman of the event.

“I was very surprised when he appointed me chairman,” Wendy said. “Without his leadership and guidance, I couldn’t have done this. He’s a great mentor and I thank him for giving me this opportunity.”

“We couldn’t ask for a better person for the pickerel tournament this year, she’s really a go getter,” Dr. Brady said. “She goes out her way to help with other events too and she even helps out with organizations outside the Lions Club. She is a great person.”

This year’s Pickeral Tournament will be held in Algonac from Thursday, July 3 though Sunday, July 6. Food, music, activities and plenty of fishing are planned over the holiday weekend.

A resident of East China Township, Wendy has been a member of the Algonac Lions Club for four years and spent the last three years as sponsorship chairman for the Pickerel Tournament. She anticipates becoming the club secretary on July 16.

Noting her families long and rich history in the Algonac area, Wendy said she formerly lived in Eastpointe and spent 26 years as a court officer, including serving as the Chief Deputy Court Officer in the Juvenile Division. She was also a reserve officer with the Eastpointe Police Department.

“After those jobs, well, this one for the Pickerel Tournament is a cake walk, it really has been,” Wendy laughed.

If was after she married her husband, Robert Wojtas, who was already a member of the Algonac Lions Club, that Wendy decided to join the group. She was active right from the start including serving as the District Chair for Pediatric Cancer. She said so far, the Lions have donated $8,000 to the cause including $4,000 to Children’s Hospital of Michigan and $4,000 to CS Mott Children’s Hospital.

Taking the lead for this year’s tournament has kept Wendy busy but she’s got plenty of help from fellow Lions Club members. She said they have to manage the contract with the carnival company, plan the setting up of tents, the placement of port-a-potties and booking the vendors.

“Every aspect of the Pickerel Tournament is coordinated and run by the Algonac Lions Club,” Wendy said.

The exception to that would be the large group of high school students who come out to setup and tear down the tournament area. The Lions Club makes a nice donation to student programs at the high school as a thank-you for the help.

Wendy said the club members also work alongside local law enforcement throughout the weekend to keep things running smoothly.

Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis certainly appreciates Wendy’s effort on behalf of the city’s biggest summer event.

“I have seen Wendy’s work with the Lions and other groups she has been involved with and she always goes the extra mile to make sure everything is done properly,” Gillis said.

For this weekend’s event Wendy said she’ll be running around putting out fires and is really looking forward to simply walking around to see all the kids.

In fact, her favorite event during the four-day festival is the kids fishing contest held on Saturday morning along the boardwalk.

“I’ve always loved the kids fishing contest,” Wendy said. “They never know what they are going to pull up on the end of their poles and it’s just fun to see them and see how excited they get.”

Being the first woman appointed to chair the festival has been a nice experience for Wendy, she said everyone has been so gracious and eager to congratulate her.

As this year’s festival concludes on Sunday Wendy said the norm is to simply start planning for next year’s event.

Still, she’ll likely carry memories of this 2025 tournament for a long time.

“I’ve very proud and very exhausted,” Wendy laughed. “I was very taken aback to be picked as the chair but it’s really been a labor of love.”