School districts adjusting to new law

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Aug. 5, 2015

School districts adjusting to new law

Academic eligibility among concerns

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News

With the passing of a law which opens the door for home-schooled students to participate in public school sports, school districts are trying to figure out how to determine those students’ eligibility, among other issues associated with the law.

On July 22, the WIAA granted temporary relief for member schools to accommodate state law, which went against more than 100 years of tradition.

“It’s more than tradition,” said Dave Anderson, WIAA’s executive director. “There are very sound reasons why we do what we do.”

Before the law was passed along with Gov. Scott Walker’s budget in July, WIAA’s Rules of Eligibility required students to be enrolled full time at a school to be eligible for interscholastic athletics.

The law also said school districts couldn’t be connected with an association, such as the WIAA, that disallows home-schooled students the opportunity to play sports at the public school in the district where they reside.

“Because of the state law, which put schools and school boards between a rock and a hard place, as the board deliberated, the members’ constitution gives the board authority to provide temporary relief,” Anderson said. “That was the action the board took in order that home-schooled children could be provided opportunities as mandated by state law and that schools wouldn’t have been in violation of the WIAA rules.”

Anderson added he was more frustrated than disappointed with the law. He was also frustrated over the “style and manner” of which the law was presented and eventually passed.

“It’s not a style of leadership that would work in my job or in any other principal’s or superintendent’s job,” Anderson said.

From here, the WIAA and its membership is left wondering how to determine a home-schooled student’s academic eligibility and how long the law may stick around. “I don’t have a problem with the idea in theory,” said Josh Schoemann, Hartford Union High School District treasurer. “I think it makes some sense at some level.

“I think the problem is aligning the rules with the WIAA and the new legislation.”

Bill Greymont, principal at West Bend high schools, said he and other administrators in the West Bend School District haven’t had formal discussions about how to proceed with the new law. But they do plan to address it.

The same goes for Hartford and most of the other districts in the county.

At this fall’s area meetings, the WIAA’s executive staff plans to discuss the new law with its membership to get an idea of where the membership stands on the topic. “It’s so new,” Anderson said. “(School administrators) haven’t had any experience with it. There’s going to be a steep and rapid learning curve to form an opinion.”

Depending on the feedback at the area meetings, the WIAA could look into avenues such as legal proceedings to challenge the law.

Parents of children displaced by teams of home-schooled students may also be willing to do the same thing.

Anderson also suggested homeschooled students’ families may also challenge the law, saying they want to play at a non-public school.

“They are all premature at this point to speculate,” Anderson said, but acknowledged those are possibilities.

After the area meetings, and depending on any potential challenges to repeal the law, the membership will vote on changing the WIAA’s constitution to include the law at April’s annual meeting.

According to the law, home-schooled students, if interested, will have to provide a report of their academic eligibility. From there, the law says they must be taken for their word.

“What happens if you have a student that was expelled (from a public school) and that individual decides to homeschool?” Schoemann asked.

Tomi Fay Forbes, Wisconsin Parents Association representative for Washinton, Dodge and Ozaukee counties, said in May when the law was introduced that a home-schooled student’s curriculum is different than a student’s at a public or nonpublic school.

That was the reason home-schooled students are home-schooled, she said.

“We haven’t had those conversations yet,” Schoemann said. “Most of it is we’re waiting to see what the WIAA’s next move is, which set of rules are we supposed to work off of.

“To date, we haven’t had any requests for involvement.”

Local driver making noise

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Aug. 4, 2015

Local driver making noise

BEAVER DAM — Adam Peschek has already put his name amongst some of the greatest shorttrack racers in Wisconsin history and he’s only 20 years old.

Peschek, a native of Oconomowoc, has won an “A” main feature this season on an asphalt track and a dirt track.

“If you look at through history of who’s run asphalt and who’s run dirt, the names that have won on both are huge names, Al Schills and Brad Muellers and Kenny Richards,” Peschek said. “Just the names are phenomenal. So to say we’ve done both and run well on both, there’s so many people that stick to asphalt their whole life or stick to dirt their whole life. To be able to do both is incredible. It feels good to win on asphalt and dirt.”

So how different is asphalt and dirt racing?

“It’s like apples and oranges,” Kenny Richards said with a smile.

Richards is a multitrack champion in the grand national division at Beaver Dam Raceway. Richards, who parks his car next to Peschek’s at Beaver Dam, has become a mentor for the budding race car driver.

It started in 2011 when Peschek crashed his thunderstock at Slinger Superspeedway.

“We were at a turning point,” Peschek said. “The car was really wrecked. What do we do from here?”

The answer was provided to him when one of Richards’ customers went into the bar owned by Peschek’s father and they started talking. The customer referred the Pescheks to Richards’ business, Outlaw Chassis, in Montello.

A relationship was born.

“Everything I’ve learned in the last three or four years has been from him, car control, setup,” Peschek said of Richards. “He’s helped me with a lot of my asphalt stuff, too. I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am without him.”

It was also during that meeting to help repair Peschek’s thunderstock where the discussion of giving dirt a try also came up. After that conversation, Peschek attended a couple dirt races. Three years later, he pulled into the pit area at Oshkosh for his first dirt experience.

Peschek made his dirt debut April 25, 2014.

Peschek came through a “B” main to make the “A” main on a night 40 cars were registered in the sport modified division. Peschek started near the end of the “A” main grid and finished eighth.

“I looked at his dad and said ‘We’re going to go somewhere,’” Richards recalled.

Since then, Peschek has gone back and forth on both surfaces and has enjoyed success.

“We’ve had so much fun on the dirt,” Peschek said. “Going from dirt to asphalt tracks every weekend, there’s different people. You start running on an asphalt track, you’re running against the same people where now it’s a whole new environment, it’s a whole different ballgame.”

Peschek has been around a race track since he was 6 years old. At that time, his grandfather was a sponsor for area short-track legend Al Schill. Peschek hung around the garage, helping out any which way he could.

In 2009, Peschek, 14 at the time, started racing, competing in the thunderstock division at Slinger Superspeedway. In his debut May 17, 2009, Peschek finished sixth in a 16-car field.

Peschek went on to finish ninth in the points that season, competing in 14 of 18 races.

At Slinger, he’s won two career features (thunderstock in June 2011 and area sportsman this season). In 2012, Peschek moved up to limited late models and finished sixth in his debut. He finished 10th in the points that season.

After his dirt debut at Oshkosh, Peschek made his Beaver Dam debut May 3, 2014. He finished 17th that night, but he caught on quick after that.

In his fourth career start July 19, he finished second. In five starts at Beaver Dam, he had four top-10 finishes. He also won a heat race.

At Oshkosh in 2014, he made 11 starts. He had seven top-10 finishes, including three top-fives. He finished seventh in the points.

“His smoothness,” Richards said when asked what has impressed him the most about Peschek. “If you give him a wild, rough, tacky race track, he adapts to it. If you give him a dry/slick, he adapts to it. He still gets himself in trouble sometimes because of his lack of experience. But then there’s times he’ll surprise you, he’ll whip something out that you didn’t think he could do.”

Peschek’s first career dirt “A” main victory came April 18, the season opener at Beaver Dam Raceway.

Two weeks later, Peschek won the area sportsman feature at Slinger.

“When we started, we had no dreams or aspirations,” Peschek said. “We’ve already gone so much farther already than I ever thought I would.”

“I hope when I’m 70 I’m winning races,” he added.

COLUMN: Graf in a hard place at East

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Aug. 1, 2015

Graf in a hard place at East

The high school basketball season doesn’t start for another three months and already Travis Graf is set up to fail at West Bend East.

He’s not going to get the chance to succeed, which is sad. And you wonder why more coaches aren’t rushing to coach in West Bend.

Graf was hired as the girls basketball coach June 9, taking over a program that is in bad shape. It’s because of apparent tension between parents and school administration.

On Monday, a collection of parents sent a multi-page letter to West Bend School District Superintendent Ted Neitzke upset over the hiring process of Graf.

At the center of it is Ron Larson, the junior varsity boys basketball coach at East. Larson was one of the applicants for the East girls job and, according to Bill Greymont, the West Bend high school principal, he was interviewed.

But based on recommendations from the search committee, the decision was made to hire Graf, despite him having only one year of head coaching experience, compared to Larson’s five years as a JV coach.

It’s interesting the Larson family was one of the six families that signed the letter to Neitzke.

While frustrating, the school district can’t comment about personnel matters. The reason is privacy for all the applicants involved, Greymont said.

Of course, it’d be great to know why Graf was chosen over Larson. But in a way, we know why.

Greymont said he liked Graf’s enthusiasm, experience, knowledge and, maybe most importantly, his dedication to kids.

Graf had the one year at a small high school in South Dakota. But it could’ve been longer had it not been for health issues.

Just because Graf doesn’t have a lot of experience doesn’t mean he can’t be a great coach.

After his hire, I said he may not have been the best hire based on his resume. But he was the most intriguing. I liked that he had something to prove.

There are plenty of examples of coaches who had minimal success as players, but went on to be great coaches. There are also plenty of examples of great players who turned out to be lousy coaches.

There is just no way to know if one person will indeed be better than the other.

Larson may be a good coach. But Greymont said Graf best fit the needs of the program at this time.

If Graf doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. That happens. It’s not looking good for him right now.

Rick Riehl came to West Bend in the 1970s with little knowledge about basketball. Six years after taking over as the girls basketball coach, Riehl led the Suns to the state championship and he’s regarded as a legend in West Bend. Can that happen to Graf ? Absolutely. Will it? Tough to say. It won’t, though, if he’s not given a chance.

If it works out and he leads East to a state title someday, all will be forgotten.

When practices and games start in November, will you be there to support him and the Suns? If not, then who is to blame here?

Look at the other communities with successful basketball programs. They have it because of mutual support. There is no animosity.

One thing is for sure: someone needs to step up and be a leader and say this is what’s going to happen. If you’re not onboard, see you later.

For a long time, I’ve been critical of how the school district has handled certain things. The Don Gruber firing was one of them.

But in order to move on, we’ve got to suck it up and try to make the best of the situation. If you don’t, in two or three years, Graf will be out the door and then what? The message will be clear to the other coaches: West Bend is an impossible place to succeed.

Graf, Greymont speak out about parents’ letter

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: July 31, 2015

Graf, Greymont speak out about parents’ letter

To some, coach not a popular choice

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News

West Bend high schools Principal Bill Greymont stands by the choice of Travis Graf as the East girls varsity basketball team.

“He’s a great person and has great passion,” he said Thursday.

On Monday, a collection of parents sent a multi-page letter to West Bend School District Superintendent Ted Neitzke claiming they were “confused” by the hiring of Graf.

“Students and parents have discussed with Mr. Greymont and (East Athletic Director) Mr. (Shane) Hansen regarding the selection,” the letter said. “The student-athletes believe their progress has been stunted by a coach with limited playing experience, lack of coaching expertise and a general detachment to the school and community.”

Greymont said he was aware of the letter, which was signed by the families of Schultz, Vickney, Scherzer, Larson, Jommen and Barby.

“My thought is the parents are asking for input,” he said. “They’re expressing their concerns.”

He added dealing with situations like these is commonplace with his job.

However, he admitted this circumstance is unique.

The vacancy came about when Don Gruber was fired March 23. In the weeks that followed, there was speculation about potential improper benefits from Gruber to players, among other issues.

At the School Board’s April 13 meeting, Neitzke issued an apology to Gruber, the players and the parents for how Gruber’s firing was handled by administration and cleared all student-athletes involved free of any violations.

Gruber has since been hired as the boys basketball coach at Kewaskum.

Neitzke couldn’t be reached for comment.

“I think we’re in a unfortunate position with where we’ve ended up,” Greymont said, adding he hopes time heals wounds.

Graf’s passion, experience and knowledge for the game were factors as to why Greymont choose Graf. But parents didn’t agree with Greymont.

Graf has one year of coaching experience and it was at a small high school in South Dakota.

“I know there’s some people angry, but I haven’t dealt with it,” Graf said. “The kids I’ve been around are excited. I even asked them if they’re having fun and they said they are.”

The letter questioned why Ron Larson, East’s junior varsity boys basketball coach, didn’t get the job.

“(Graf) was named head coach close to eight weeks ago and has done nothing to help the incoming freshmen girls learn the game of basketball,” the letter said. “Knowing West Bend High School touts ‘excellence’ in athletics, Mr. Greymont was unable to offer any concrete examples of ‘excellence’ in Mr. Graf’s coaching history when asked by several parents, students and concerned citizens.”

The letter later states, “Why would Principal Greymont, an advocate for student-athletes, compare the two resumes of Graf and Larson and deem Graf more qualified merely by the face he has ‘head coach’ listed on his resume and has a teacher’s license?

“Five years as a head JV boys coach at a large high school greatly outweighs one year at a high school of 53 students.”

Just like in the letter, Greymont confirmed he made the decision to hire Graf after recommendations were made through the interview process. He said the “nature of what was occurring” was a reason why he made the decision.

Despite the opposition, Graf has done the best he can getting settled into his new position.

“The only thing I can control is they hired me for this job,” Graf said. “I’m going to stay positive. The girls deserve that.”

The letter addressed Graf’s alleged lack of contact with players this summer. He said that is limited by WIAA’s Rules of Contact.

WIAA rule says he’s allotted as many as to five days of unrestricted school coaching contact between the end of school and July 31.

Graf was announced as the Suns coach June 9.

The East and West graduations were June 7.

With that in mind, Graf asked Rick Riehl to help.

Riehl, who led East’s girls basketball team to the state title in 1984, gladly accepted.

“I wanted to help,” Riehl said, adding he said he wanted to do whatever he could to help. “I appreciated that he asked.”

Asked if he believed Graf was being unfairly treated, Riehl was reminded of his situation in the 1970s. When Riehl arrived in West Bend, he believed he was going to become a baseball coach. By the late 1970s, he was asked if he could coach the East girls basketball team.

He accepted the offer and began coaching the program in the 1977-78 season. Six years later, Riehl won a state championship.

That’s what Graf and Greymont are hoping for.

“My only comment is give it a little bit of time,” Graf said. “There’s a lot of people and they have their reasons for being angry. I’m just going to go do my job.”

He added the parents he’s spoken with have been supportive.

The letter also addressed Graf’s employment. It states Graf is not employed by the district. Greymont denied that.

He will be a day-sub in the high schools, floating from class to class as needed.

Greymont admitted the proverbial microscope is in close on Graf. But he has faith Graf can and will get the job done.

“They’ll see his dedication to kids,” Greymont said.

Wajda comeback

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)

Published: July 24, 2015

Wajda comeback

Brookfield native disqualified from last year’s event after being in top 15

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News

TOWN OF ERIN — For a year, Eddie Wajda III repeatedly heard the story of him signing an incorrect scorecard at the WSGA Men’s Amateur Championship and was disqualified.

At the time, he was in the top 15.

One year later, he achieved something that easily erases that bitter memory.

Wajda held off charges by Patrick Sanchez and Matt Bachmann to win the 114th WSGA Men’s Amateur Championship on Thursday at Erin Hills.

“That’s just how crazy this game is,” Wajda said about the difference a year has made on him. “Everybody keeps bringing it up. Nobody seemed to forget it. Hopefully, this will help.”

Wajda, who entered the final round tied for fifth and three strokes behind the leader, shot a 2-under-par 70 in the final round.

“It was one of the best rounds I’ve played,” he said.

Wajda, 18, needed his best to not only hold off two hard-charging golfers, but to finish off a grueling four-day tournament on a championship golf course that played at more than 7,200 yards. In a way, a 2-under in the final round at the site of the 2017 U.S. Open felt better than that.

“It’s pretty crazy the way (WSGA Director of Rules and Competitions Bill) Linneman and (WSGA Assistant Director of Rules and Competitions Geoff) Pirkl and them and the way they set it up and try to make it like a U.S. Open,” Wajda said. “A 2under is pretty good.”

Bachmann, who will be a senior at Sheboygan Falls next year but is committed to Marquette, also shot 2-under after starting the day four strokes behind the leader.

“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” Bachmann said. “I played really solid. I really never had any trouble. I wish I would’ve finished a little better.”

The leader after 54 holes was Zach Gaugert. He led Sanchez by two strokes. Gaugert, the cousin of last year’s champion Alex Gaugert, shot a 6-over 78 and finished seventh. Wajda’s victory was part of a thrilling finish where, with less than six holes remaining, four golfers were tied for the lead.

The momentum swing came on holes 15 and 16. There, Wajda birdied both holes to take the lead. On 15, he pumped his fist, knowing he made an important shot. Otherwise, he didn’t know where he stood on the leaderboard.

“I just did my own thing out there,” Wajda said.

Wajda three-putted 18 after getting to the fringe at the front of the green on his third shot. His second putt was from about 10 feet, but it grazed the lip of the cup and he tapped in for bogey.

From there, it was a waiting game as two groups remained on the course, including Sanchez, and it wasn’t easy.

As those groups came to the 18th green, Wajda was crouching behind his bag, barely able to watch.

“I didn’t know if it was going to hold up,” Wajda said of his bogey on 18th.

Bachmann birdied 14, 15 and 17 to move into a three-way tie for the lead. He finished with a bogey on the par-5 18. “I was just trying to finish as well as I could,” Bachmann said. “I wasn’t really aware of where everybody was at.”

With Bachmann in the clubhouse and Wajda holding a one-stroke lead, it came down to how Sanchez finished.

Sanchez, a native of Mazatlan, Mexico, and a senior at Marquette University, birdied 14 and 16 to draw even with Wajda. Even after completing his round, Wajda didn’t pay attention to the scoreboard, but that didn’t stop others as he overheard rumblings of where he stood on the leaderboard.

Wajda got a break when Sanchez made bogey on 17, forcing Sanchez to make birdie on the 660-yard par-5 18 to force a playoff. At 660, it was the longest the hole was set up for all week.

On his third shot from about 115 yards out, Sanchez hit a 56-degree wedge and stuck the ball to within feet of the pin.

“That was an unbelievable shot,” Wajda said. “It was really tough over that slope and then we have the one slope in front of (the pin) and the one slope behind it and it falls off to the side. So to hit it within 5 feet was an incredible shot. Hat’s off to him for doing that. That’s good stuff right there.”

At that moment, the buzz began for a potential playoff. A playoff for the state amateur title hadn’t happened since Pat Boyle won at The Bog in 2004.

From about 15 feet, Sanchez gently rolled the putt toward the pin, but missed it right by less than 2 feet. When the ball came to a stop, the gallery groaned and many turned around to greet the new champion, who beamed wide.

“I expected Pat to make it on 18,” Wajda said. “Both him and Zach; I’ve played a lot against them this year. I expected him to make it because he’s a good player. You expect that from someone like that.”

In addition to earning a lifetime exemption, Wajda’s name will go alongside some of the state’s greats, including Andy North, Skip Kendall and Steve Stricker — as well as Jordan Niebrugge, winner of the 2013 tournament, who finished tied for sixth at The Open Championship at St. Andrew’s.

“It’s great,” Wajda said. “It’s a cool list to be a part of.”