EDITORIAL MILWAUKEE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
CHRIS ZILLS
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS & MULTIMEDIA
CODY BOHL
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS
ASHLEY STELTENPOHL COORDINATOR CONTENT CREATION
KOLTON SCHLICHTING COORDINATOR MULTIMEDIA SERVICES
GARY D’AMATO FEATURE WRITER
SHEA HANSEN
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP MILWAUKEE PANTHER SPORTS PROPERTIES
PHOTOGRAPHY
MIKE GRYNIEWICZ, LEN CEDERHOLM, ASHLEY STELTENPOHL, AND TOM BARRETT
CREATIVE SERVICES
ASHLEY STELTENPOHL, FRANK KUGEL, TOM BARRETT, BILLY KLINGSPORN JR., AND JONAH JAMORAZ
CONTENTS
05 11 19 25 32 35
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TRADING IN SNEAKERS FOR SCRUBS How Bre Cera took advantage of a break in basketball for a summer internship at a hospital
PITCHERS WHO RAKE: MKE STYLE A look at Nick Winter and past Panther pitchers who hit well for themselves
BUILT BY MKE
Alumni spotlight with Vienna Behnke
THE LONG-AWAITED (SAFE) RETURN TO CAMPUS Gary D’Amato feature
TENNIS WITH THE MILNER’S
Tennis runs deep in the Milner family. MKE tennis’ Nikki Milner talks about her tennis oriented family
DONOR PROFILE
Tom Powers - a long time fan and supporter of Milwaukee Athletics
KRIS & JAKE KELDERMAN: A PANTHER FAMILY AFFAIR MKE Men’s soccer father and son duo
The
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TRADING IN
SNEAKERS FOR SCRUBS
How Bre Cera took advantage of a break in basketball for a summer internship at a hospital.
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arly in March, life changed in ways that were unimaginable. The NCAA announced that it was canceling the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments, as well as the remaining winter and spring schedules, as COVID-19 began to take
over.
Just a few days later, Milwaukee canceled its May commencement and the dominoes continued to fall for the university as it shut down spring break, transitioned classes and lectures online, and moved students out of residence halls. Social distancing and facemasks became the new norm as hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients, non-essential businesses closed, and unemployment soared. This unfamiliar territory was difficult for student-athletes to take in but for Bre Cera, it presented a new opportunity. Cera, a senior nursing major, landed an internship at Ascension Southeast Wisconsin Hospital – St. Joseph Campus just a few miles west of campus. “With not having to come back for basketball, this was a perfect time for me to do this,” Cera commented. “My mom is employed through Ascension, she’s a registered nurse. She does cardiac rehab so she’s the one who heard about them having internships. I know a lot of places already filled those positions, so I was lucky to have heard about it through her.”
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// TRADING IN SNEAKERS FOR SCRUBS Cera has aspirations for a career in nursing so with basketball on a pause, the time came for her to build her resume in the field. And during a worldwide pandemic, her experience has been like none other. “I thought it was going to be just a cardiac floor because I’m interested in working in cardiac,” Cera continued. “But then when they called and offered me the job, they told me more about the floor and it is actually everything. Then on the phone they were like ‘just so you know, we have some COVID patients.’ I originally didn’t know they had that going in. My floor is actually the only floor at our hospital that has COVID.” As expected, it wasn’t easy upon arrival. “It was tough in the beginning because we didn’t have enough personal protective equipment, so they were really strict on what to recycle and what to get rid of. It was stressful but it’s a little better now,” Cera said. “Last time I was there, we only had three COVID patients.” After a long summer of uncertainty and with many precautions set in place, Milwaukee has slowly returned to campus. The NCAA began allowing athletic activities, assuming COVID-19 local and state health policies, meaning a step in the positive direction for the college basketball community. Cera’s workload now increases as she plans to continue to hold her internship the St. Josephs Campus while also preparing for her senior season with the Panthers. She isn’t taking anything for granted. “It has made me appreciate being back for workouts 7
because we couldn’t have this summer together,” Cera stated. “Even though it was a nice break, I haven’t had summer away from basketball since I was probably in fourth grade. To know that things could be taken away at any point, and it is my last year, it has made each day that much more important. You never know if it’s going to be your last practice. Or your last game.” It has been an adjustment for Cera and for the rest of the team with plenty of new COVID-19 guidelines in place including smaller group workouts, required masks, and overall social distance discipline between school, work, and home. “I feel like me and the seniors, since we do have a lot of experience, we’ve been really composed and levelheaded,” Cera said. “We aren’t thrown off by the changes and I do think we are pretty confident, all of us.” Another change for Cera, this one for the better, is having her sister, Angie, join her on the court. The two are four years apart and only been on the same court for a short period of time. After transfer rules forced Bre to sit out
one year after a freshman season at Iowa, the chance came for the Ceras to connect for a full year on the court. “It’s been really fun having her around because we are like best friends,” Bre said. “But I have been catching myself be a little ‘momma bear’ and hovering a little. I’m always making sure she’s okay. I have to remind myself that I had to figure it out for myself when I was in college and she has to do that too. I also don’t want to favor her. But its ben really fun.” “It has been a little crazy, but it’s been great,” Angie commented. “She’s a great leader and helped me through this first year a lot. It has been fun playing next to someone who plays as hard as her.”
“It has been a little crazy, but it’s been great,” Angie commented. “She’s a great leader and helped me through this first year a lot. It has been fun playing next to someone who plays as hard as her.” Although nothing is official for the 2020-21 season, Cera and the Panthers remain hopeful. In the meantime, workouts, practices, and virtual classes have become the new norm until the possibility of competition on the court is reality. And for Bre, regardless of what happens this year, she will be ready for whatever is next. She knows the work she has put in on and off the court is bound to payoff. “Right now, what I’m doing is really good experience,” Cera said. “I feel like I could be offered a job, but I haven’t committed to anything quite yet.” ***
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omwhere around the final years of the high school level, a line seemingly gets drawn in the sand regarding baseball players who are serious about their pitching skills. They become full-time pitchers. Batting is looked at somewhat differently. Practices become split up between “pitchers” here and “position players” there. The designated hitter becomes a staple of college and professional lineups.
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// PITCHERS WHO RAKE: MKE PANTHER STYLE Even in 2020’s version of Major League Baseball, the DH is being allowed on both sides after being part of the American League-only since 1973.
base.
Pitchers who are looked at as good hitters make for great social media content and always find their way into ESPN highlights when they hit home runs, with Zack Greinke and Madison Bumgarner making anyone’s list of current besthitting pitchers. In 2019, Greinke hit .280, collecting 14 hits in 50 at-bats, pounding three home runs.
Enter Milwaukee’s own Nick Winter, whose recent run of success at the plate in the Land O’ Lakes League has spurred the question: Who is the besthitting Panther pitcher of alltime?
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels certainly ends any debate as the current best-hitting pitcher in the big leagues, but a two-way player like him has not been seen in MLB in almost a century. Most pitchers, when they were still batting, found themselves slated ninth in the order and, a large majority of the time, asked to bunt if a runner is on 13
And then for some, they never give it up because … well … they’re just good at it.
Winter arrived on campus in the Fall of 2016 as one of the top two-way players in the state as a senior, named the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association DII Player of the Year after leading Milwaukee Lutheran to a 24-8 record and back to the state title game. He went 9-1 with a 0.83 ERA on the mound, striking out 108 batters. At the plate, he led the state in hits while batting .515 with a 1.253 OPS and 23 steals. However, due to an injury which caused him to miss the large majority of his freshman season in 2017, he did not bat much as a Panther
.535 BA 91 hits 72 runs 41 rbi 1.268 OPS THREE-YEAR TOTALS IN LAND O’LAKES LEAGUE
to help protect his surgicallyrepaired shoulder. Since that time, he has spent the past three summers wreaking havoc on pitchers in the Land O’ Lakes League, a league that has been around since 1922 to provide players in local communities – with no age limit – in southeastern Wisconsin the opportunity to play baseball in the summer. 14
He helped West Bend 7UP to the title in the summer of 2018 and was named the league Rookie of the Year, posting a 1.80 ERA on mound while leading the circuit in average (.564) and on-base percentage (.606). He posted league-leading totals in average (.512), hits (42) and runs (29) in 2019, earning the George “Doc” Kraemer Land O’ Lakes Man of the Year award. And in 2020, it was a three-peat for Winter, posting league-best totals in average (.568) and on-base percentage (.630). His three-year totals are gaudy: a .535 average – collecting 91 hits in 170 at bats – scoring 72 runs in 42 games, with 20 doubles, 42 RBI and a 1.268 OPS. Impressive totals, to say the least. That got us to thinking … who is the best-hitting Panther pitcher of all-time? There are a small handful of standouts that jump to top of this list. Some of the other nominees that deserve to be mentioned include the following players: MKEPANTHERS.COM
// PITCHERS WHO RAKE: MKE PANTHER STYLE
Goerdt piled up impressive offensive numbers in his two seasons, batting .389 (third all-time) in 104 games, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 109 runs. He was named MCC First-Team All-League in both of his seasons and was also the 2000 MCC Newcomer of the Year. He went 6-3 in 26 career games on the mound, making 10 starts. He posted a 4.85 ERA and five saves over 72.1 innings of work.
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Hetebrueg compiled a career .275 average over 244 career at-bats, highlighted by a junior campaign in which he batted .302 with career-highs in runs scored (22) and RBI (15). He pitched all four seasons, finding his way into a weekend starting role as a junior. He wrapped up his Panther career with 11 victories, recording 119 strikeouts in 199.2 innings.
Brockel was primarily an outfielder, batting .296 in his MKE career with 17 home runs and 97 runs batted in. He hit .325 as a junior, driving in a careerbest 47 runs in 2006. He earned Second-Team All-Horizon League honors as a senior, batting .290 with a team-high 7 home runs. He ended his collegiate career on a 20-game hitting streak. He also pitched, making 29 appearances over his time at Milwaukee, striking out 29 batters in 54.1 innings. He tied a Horizon League Tournament record in 2005, recording two saves on the same day. The next grouping of names is where the answer will come from. After much research, the top three nominees from which to choose include:
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Oiler was very successful on both sides, hitting at a .308 clip in almost 400 at bats. He recorded 73 RBI and added eight career home runs. On the mound, he recorded 15 victories as a Panther, making 36 starts among his 50 total appearances. He finished with 203 career strikeouts – one of just eight Panthers to reach 200-plus in a career – in 241.1 innings. His senior campaign saw him go 8-5 in 15 games (13 starts), striking out 61 in 86.2 innings while compiling a team-high five complete games. He capped his collegiate career by getting selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1997 MLB Draft.
MKEPANTHERS.COM
// PITCHERS WHO RAKE: MKE PANTHER STYLE
Sadowski, who is also a member of the UWM Athletics Hall of Fame, was named to the All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference First-Team three times after earning a spot on the league’s all-newcomer team as a freshman. He also was named MCC Tournament MVP in leading the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in 1999. In 182 career games, he batted .323 with a program-best 150 runs batted in while also hitting 28 home runs second all-time. In 1999 he hit .358 with school-record 17 home runs, 20 doubles, 68 RBI and 150 total bases. In addition to that, Sadowski was 7-5 on the mound with a 4.53 ERA in 16 games that
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spring, striking out 48 in 95.1 innings. In 2000 he added seven more victories and 58 K’s in just short of 80 innings. For his career, he finished with a 22-16 win/loss record in 50 appearances, with 213 strikeouts in 258.0 innings of work. His career wins and career strikeout totals were school records when he graduated and he still holds the program record with 17 career complete games. In addition, he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round of the 1999 MLB Draft and by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 23rd round of the 2000 draft.
In Stanczyk’s junior campaign – which ended up his final year with the Panthers after signing a free-agent deal with the Milwaukee Brewers following the season – he set a standard which has yet to be matched by earning both the Horizon League Player and Horizon League Pitcher of the Year award in the same season. Stanczyk led the Panthers in nearly every statistical pitching category in 2004, posting a 7-3 record with four saves and a 3.43 ERA. The righthander led the Horizon League and set UWM’s single-season strikeout record with 95 K’s in 94.1 innings pitched. In addition, he batted .374, good for second-best on the team and in the league, while leading the squad in home runs (10), RBIs (43), and slugging percentage (.590). He was even better versus
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foes, going a perfect 4-0 with a 2.51 ERA while striking out 53 with just four walks. He finished his MKE career with a 13-3 record with nine saves to go with a 3.07 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 140.1 innings of work. The two-time First-Team All-League performer left UWM first all-time in earned run average (3.07), winning percentage (.813) and strikeoutto-walk ratio (3.19-to-1), second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.0), and fourth in saves with nine. At the plate, Stanczyk posted a .336 career batting mark with 19 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs and 78 RBI in 381 career at-bats. There are your nominees – time for you to make the call!
MKEPANTHERS.COM
Vienna Behnke was key part of a successful stretch
in the recent history of the Milwaukee women’s soccer program, playing from 2011 through 2014 – a time that saw the Panthers claim three Horizon League regular-season titles and appear in the NCAA Tournament on three occasions. Her freshmen season came in the record-setting 2011 campaign, a year that saw the Panthers set a school record with 19 victories. She became a regular starter as a sophomore, eventually making 49 starts in her 65 career appearances in Milwaukee. She played numerous roles position-wise, finishing her college tenure with 14 points, netting five goals while adding four assists. She recorded 45 shot attempts and a pair of game-winners – including one at the end of her junior season that clinched MKE the league title in a 1-0 win and helped her to Horizon League Player of the Week honors. Behnke has been playing professionally for the past four seasons, spending her soccer career overseas to-date with Haukar in Iceland. She has enjoyed a very successful 2020 season to this point, currently second in the league with eight goals in 10 appearances. The MKE Communications staff recently caught up with her for a question-and-answer session.
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Q&A What is the name and league of the team you are currently playing for? I play for Knattspyrnufélagið Haukar, which translates to Hawks FC, in Iceland. We are currently in the Lengjudeildin league. What did you go to school for at UWM and what was your final year in school? I graduated from UWM with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in the spring of 2014. I earned a master’s degree in psychology - behavioral analysis, with emphasis in neuroscience, in the spring of 2016. I played soccer for UWM for four years: 2011-2014.
What was the biggest adjustment playing overseas? The Icelandic language is difficult to master (I’m still learning), and I had to adjust to the style of play. European soccer appreciates technical and tactical players, where the U.S. model places a higher value on strength, speed, and overall athleticism. Teams in Europe also have a larger age gap among players. In the U.S., high school and college allow for only a four- or five-year age difference. In Europe, the club structure allows the first team to call up players from the youth teams if they can contribute. On my team, we have players as young as 16 and as old as 30.
Tell us a little about your path to get to where you are since leaving UWM? “After UWM, I went to open tryouts for two NWSL teams: the Western New York Flash (now the North Carolina Courage) and the Chicago Red Stars. I played with the Chicago Red Stars Reserves in 2016, with the hope of cracking into the NWSL roster. The opportunity never came, so I hired an agent to look for opportunities overseas. After turning down a couple of offers in unstable countries, I signed a contract with Haukar in Iceland for the 2017 season, which ran from March to October. I started every game for Haukar in 2017, missed the 2018 season because of two back surgeries, then rejoined Haukar for the second half of 2019 and now for the entire 2020 season.” 20
MKEPANTHERS.COM
// BUILT BY MKE
What do you enjoy with your current free time? I often do Bible studies in my free time or watch other soccer games. Going to public pools and hot tubs is a popular social activity here. On our days off, I enjoy exploring Iceland’s natural wonders like waterfalls, volcanoes, hot springs, etc. What are your favorite memories looking back at your time at UWM? Scoring my first goal at UWM is a special memory. Our strong senior class had given us a comfortable lead against UWGB, and the last few goals of the game were scored by freshmen, myself included. It felt like a symbolic passing of the torch to the younger players. Winning a first-round game in the NCAA tournament in 2011 is a great memory, too. We were nationally ranked and got to host the match. It was the first time UWM had won a NCAA tournament game! Other highlights include winning three straight Horizon League Tournament titles. The 2013 title game against Oakland ended in dramatic fashion when we scored twice in the last four minutes to win 4-3!
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What did you learn as a Panther that has helped you the most in your career? To love the game of soccer for everything that it is. Coaches will change, teammates will graduate, and scoring streaks will end. Loving the physical and mental demands of the game, the creativity and toughness expressed on the field, and the personal strength a player develops through training and competing are what the game is all about. Love for the game itself and its ability to traverse cultures and conflicts. My time at UWM taught me not to focus on the little things that might frustrate me, but to continue to train and play my absolute hardest out of respect for the game and everything it has to offer.
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What are your future plans short and long term? My short-term plan is to continue to play professional soccer for as long as I can. It is the best job in the world! As all athletes do, I know retirement looms large, and I’m sure my body will tell me it’s time long before my head and heart accept it. So for now, I’m enjoying the season, and taking it one season at a time. My long-term plan is to return to school to get my doctorate degree in behavioral neuroscience. I want to continue my studies that focus on the cerebellum’s role in autism spectrum disorders.
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BY GARY D’AMATO 26
MKEPANTHERS.COM
// RETURN TO CAMPUS Te’Jon Lucas, trying to catch his breath during an early practice, accidently sucked in his mask and started to choke. On several occasions, Brandi Bisping had to pull back her hand just before giving a teammate a high-five, something that comes as naturally to basketball players as dribbling. Coaches shouting instructions through masks. Practices held without contact. Weight room workouts done in pods, with limited interaction and equipment cleaned after each use. Colored wrist bands distributed to signify players have satisfied daily protocols. There’s nothing normal about the “new normal” in the age of COVID-19. But the players, coaches and support staff in the Milwaukee men’s and women’s basketball programs want to have a 2020-’21 season – no matter how short or long or what it looks like – so no sacrifice is too big. As inconvenient and cumbersome as the protocols and procedures may at times be, they are a small price to pay for being on the court and playing the game they love. “We stress every day, stay safe,” said Lucas, a redshirt senior and the Panthers’ starting point guard. “If our goal is to win a championship and compete, we’ll do what we’re asked and do what we’re told and stay safe. We’ve got to be professionals about it. We’ve got to man 27
“We stress every day, stay safe.”
“...Safety is no. 1.”
up and do what we’re supposed to do. We’ve got to make sure our priorities are straight, especially seeing that (the Horizon League) canceled fall sports. We definitely don’t want to be the next sport canceled.” The coronavirus pushed back the players’ summer workouts to August and they arrived on campus a few weeks ahead of the start of the fall semester. The sports medicine and strength and conditioning staffs, following CDC guidelines and state mandates, put together a comprehensive program to ensure the safest possible environment.
“...Maneuvering ths new life that we all have to live.”
Players had to be tested for COVID. They had to fill out a daily questionnaire asking where they’d been and with whom they’d interacted. Temperatures were checked. Masks were required in all buildings at all times. “It’s all about kind of maneuvering this new life that we all have to live,” said Bisping, a senior guard on the women’s team. Much of the conditioning work was done outside, on the soccer field or at Atwater Beach, where the players could remove their masks. Early practices required adjustments on the part of players and coaches. With no contact allowed, there was no five-on-five scrimmaging or hands-on work. “That’s the greatest change,” said Pat Baldwin, head coach of the men’s team. “We as coaches love the contact, as well. We love to be a part of the practice from that standpoint of teaching. It was a little bit more
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// RETURN TO CAMPUS hands on. Now, we’re a lot more distant. There’s no contact on the floor between player-coach and player-player. So, a lot of the stuff is skill work, it’s five-on-oh, but no physical contact.” Said Bisping, “We’re playing defense against cones in set positions. Our coaches are running back and forth between the cones. Honestly, it’s crazy to me how creative our coaches have had to be to make it a competitive and motivated practice. How do you compete without contact? I think they’ve done an excellent job of that, making sure it feels as normal as possible.”
There’s nothing normal about the “new Normal” in the age of covid-19
Perhaps the biggest adjustment was having to practice while wearing masks.
Lucas, who nearly choked on his mask, wasn’t the only player who struggled initially. “Someone would be lying if they said it wasn’t “As long as anybody has played sports, I don’t harder to breathe with the mask on than think anyone has ever worn a mask during without,” Bisping said. “I think it’s something football or basketball or baseball,” Baldwin said. that takes getting used to. You notice it, like “Trying to run with that and move with that and when you take off your mask it’s kind of a breathe, understanding how your breathing is breath of fresh air and you can recover a little impacted … it’s a definite adjustment.” bit and put it right back on.” Matt Holt, Milwaukee’s director of strength and conditioning, acknowledged that a mask “to a certain extent changes your breathing patterns. Certain athletes have more difficulties than others.”
Ever mindful of player safety, Baldwin and Kyle Rechlicz, the head women’s coach, allow players to step out of drills if they’re having problems catching their breath or are struggling with their masks.
“Everyone responds to things differently,” said men’s assistant coach Paris Parham. “Breathing is a huge part of living and to have it interrupted or hindered at all is definitely tough. I’m just passing balls and trying to give some direction and every once in a while, I have to take my mask down and take a deep breath.”
“I have a policy where if they get to a point where they’re getting anxious with the mask on, or they’re really out of breath, then just step off to the side, away from everybody else, and remove the mask,” Rechlicz said. “Even if they’re in the middle of a drill, because safety is No. 1.”
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Another change: no more high-fiving, chestbumping or bringing it in for team huddles. “Good spacing” on the court has an entirely new meaning. The women have even taken to giving “foot-fives.” “I catch myself constantly going for a high-five and people have to get out of my way,” Bisping said with a laugh. “I’m coming in hot and they have to avoid me. We do the foot-five, but that’s a little awkward. Sometimes you miss. Sometimes you kick someone in the shin. It’s about finding those little ways to encourage your teammates.” Once practice is over and the players leave the gym, it’s on them to be mindful of their surroundings, to limit their social interactions and to take every precaution to stay safe.
“Do the right thing...It’s all about being smart.”
Accountability has been stressed forever in team sports, but never has it been more important. One person’s carelessness could impact the entire team. “We constantly remind them every single day, ‘Do the right thing,’” said women’s assistant coach Stacy Cantley. “It’s all about being smart. Don’t jeopardize our season by going to a party or whatnot. We cannot take a step back because of one bad decision. I know they’ve bought in, but you never know. They’re college kids. But so far, they have handled it very well.” Said Rechlicz, “You’re asking 18- to 22-year-olds to grow up when they come to college, and now you’re asking them not to just grow up and to take that one step, but to become complete adults. And it’s difficult, especially for the freshmen who are coming in and this is their first experience of
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// RETURN TO CAMPUS of college. … We’re asking them to live in a bubble.”
how we’re playing the games and testing prior to the games? Or, if a team or player comes down with the Lucas said he lived a near-Spartan existence during the virus, how do we adjust based on that? I’m optimistic summer, leaving his apartment only to go to the gym or that we will have a season, but once you’re inside of a to the grocery store. season what happens if something goes wrong? What happens after that?” “I’m pretty careful,” he said. “I really just go home, watch film, watch games and get ready for the next day. I live Said Rechlicz, “I definitely think there will be some sort with one of my teammates. It’s just me and J.T. (Josh of season. What that looks like, honestly, I don’t know. Thomas), and that makes it easier.” And I’m trying not to predict because I don’t want to get my players’ hopes up or get a message to them that Now that classes are back in session, however, there is might not come true. We’re really taking everything day an increased danger of exposure. by day.” “The biggest thing is now there’s a lot of students on campus,” Holt said. “There’s a lot of social gatherings. Our players are constantly reminded that they’re athletes and they have to live slightly different lives than the rest of the students.” Said Baldwin, “Our guys are trying to do the very best that they can. Obviously, we know the virus has its own mind, where it travels. And so, while we’re trying to do the right things and be safe, it can happen to any one of us. But the first part of it is the protocol, making sure we’re doing our due diligence in doing what we need to do. I think for the most part our guys are policing themselves pretty well.” The players and coaches know that despite all the precautions and measures they have taken, to a certain extent the future is out of their hands. It wouldn’t take much to shut down a program or impact a schedule. There are no guarantees about the 2020-’21 season. “I’m optimistic that we will have some sort of season,” Baldwin said. “The biggest thing will have to be when, or if, we do start the season, what is the protocol for 31
Gary D’Amato, a three-time National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association sportswriter of the year in Wisconsin, joined the staff of the Milwaukee Panthers as the feature writer for the Roar Report in September of 2018.
sisters took to tennis at an early age and, today, the two have turned into contributors on their respective college teams . Nikki is currently a junior academically and is in her sophomore athletic eligibility year. In her freshmen campaign, she tallied 10 singles wins and finished 4-5 in Horizon League play while splitting time between the No. 3 – 5 positions throughout the season. Milner also played in doubles and captured five wins from the No. 2 and 3 doubles spot.
TENNIS WITH THE
MILNER’S “IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY” – an obvious statement for anyone that knows Milwaukee tennis’ Nikki Milner and her family. Both Nikki and her sister Brooke (Stetson University) currently compete at the NCAA Division I level, but the bloodline runs deep and goes as far as her grandparents. Both parents, Bob and Sue were great tennis players growing up, and so were their parents. Meanwhile, Ben is still heavily involved in the sport and is considered one of the leading Junior Tennis development coaches in Australia. Coming from a tennis family, it was no surprise that the two 32
Her sophomore year was cut short due to COVID-19, but she managed to accumulate five wins from the No. 2 and 3 singles position, and was teamed up with Nicole Clarke as the No. 1 doubles pairing. The duo combined for a 9-1 record, including a fourmatch win streak before the season ended. She and Clarke were tabbed league Doubles Team of the Week on January 28. At Stetson, older sister Brooke enjoyed a strong first season with the Hatters, ranking second on the team in singles wins (13) and leading the team with nine doubles victories. As a sophomore, Brooke was named a ASUN Second Team AllConference selection and led the team with a 14-6 record at No. 3 singles. She was off to hot start in her final season earning eight dual match singles victories early in the season, but COVID-19 ended the season early. The MKE Communications staff caught up with Nikki for a Q&A to learn more about her tennis family. MKEPANTHERS.COM
// MILNER Q&A
Q: Let’s get the basics down. Why tennis and how long
have you been playing?
A: I first started playing when I was around 5 years old,
so for pretty much 15 years. As for why, for me, I not only like tennis because of its competitive nature, I like it because of all the other things it brings like long-lasting friendships, traveling around the world, and getting the opportunity to play college tennis.
Q: What is your favorite tennis memory? A: I have a couple of favorite memories, but the first
one would have to be my very first tennis tournament. I was too young to play singles so I just played in the doubles event with my sister against these two older boys. I remember being so nervous but so excited at the same time. My second favorite memory was the first time I clinched a college match against Northern Kentucky in my freshman year.
Q: What is it like having a sister who also plays? A: It was great to always have my sister Brooke
alongside me throughout my years of playing. I always had her to practice with and to rely on for advice on absolutely anything. My sister is also a great source of motivation for me because whenever I saw her doing something I always wanted to join in.
Q: Do you talk to each other about your matches? A: When we were younger, my sister and I didn’t
really talk about our matches or tennis that much, but because we are now both at different colleges and can’t see each other play, we like to talk about how some of our matches and try to learn from each other’s experiences. 33
Q: How has having an older sister who also plays the
same sport you do, helped shape you and your tennis career?
A: Having an older sister playing tennis has significantly
helped shape my tennis career. I always had her to look up to and continually motivate me and push me to be my best. At first, I was a little hesitant to even go to college, but because she went before me and told me what it was like, she encouraged and helped me to make the decision to commit to going!
Q: Tennis seems to be a family affair at the Milner’s. What
was it like growing up in the Milner household?
A: Growing up I lived in the Northern Territory and there
weren’t many players or tournaments up there, so we did a bit of traveling between states for tournaments. Once I was a little older, my family decided to move to South Australia, so we didn’t have to travel all the time, and there were lots of good players to hit with there. The tournaments I played in were mainly competitions between players in my state, but once a year I used to play in nationals where I could play everyone around the country. I almost always traveled and played the same tournaments as my sister. We sometimes even played each other! Once I was old enough to play international tournaments, my family and I travelled to Hong Kong to play in my first-ever International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Q: Any fun facts you want people to know about you and
your family?
A: : My family loves tennis so much, we named our old
dog Roger (after Roger Federer) and my two current dogs are named Rafa (after Rafa Nadal) and Stan (after Stan Wawrinka).
Q: I have to ask, are there any funny stories of you and
your sister growing up?
A: A funny story about my sister and I was that we used to play doubles together a lot, and sometimes we would argue during matches. One time we were arguing during a match so much we just stopped talking for the entire match and we still ended up winning! 34
MKEPANTHERS.COM
// DONOR PROFILE
Tom
POWERS Long time fan and supporter of our Milwaukee Panthers!
How did you get involved in supporting Milwaukee Athletics? Back when Bo Ryan was the coach, a group of eight guys each bought a season ticket and we split them up. We all stayed through the years with Coach Pearl and then some guys slowly bowed out, so I picked up four seats for some of my family and we’re still going. What do you hope to accomplish with your support, gifts? I’d like to see the MBB team return to great seasons and winning the conference. The stands will fill up again as everyone likes backing a winner. 35
Why is the support and backing of Milwaukee Athletics important to you? Support the locals (teams). I like basketball and it’s great seats at a reasonable price. Of course, at one time I had MU and Bucks seasons tickets, too. I dropped MU but still have Bucks tickets. Were you involved in athletics as a student in college or high school? Not really; my kids were and I coached and supported them all over the Midwest. What is your most memorable Milwaukee Athletics game or experience as a fan…so far? The 2004-05 season was great (Sweet 16). We also took a bus trip in March 2014 to UW- Green Bay and the team won.
KRIS & JAKE
A PANTHER FAMILY AFFAIR
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// KRIS & JAKE KELDERMAN
I
f you have children and your world revolves around athletics in any way, then “coaching the kids” is probably something that has been done at one point or another. Coaching your own child can be a wonderful, fun experience. It can also be a challenging situation that carries over into more than what was expected at the start.
finished 10-6-4, seeing the year come to a close as runner-up in the Horizon League Tournament Championship.
For starters and more background information on the two, Jake had quite the soccer shadow to grow up in. Kris was a two-time state champion and the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in 1986 at It’s been done all the way up to the professional levels: Neenah High School while actually playing for his own Yogi Berra and his son Dale with the Yankees in 1985. Bill and Kevin Dineen did the same in the NHL with the Flyers in 1991. Most recently, Austin Rivers became the first in the NBA, playing for father, Doc, in 2015 with the Clippers. Cal Ripken, Sr. actually coached two of his sons in Major League Baseball, directing Cal Jr., and Billy Ripken on the Baltimore Orioles roster in the late 1980’s. A son playing for his dad always brings interesting dynamics. There are good and bad parts to it, but the good seem to outweigh the bad. The Milwaukee Panthers men’s soccer team has seen this play out over the past four years, as Jake Kelderman joined the roster of his father’s team in the Fall of 2016. Kris Kelderman has been the coach of the Panthers since the 2012 season, with another successful campaign added to his resume last fall when MKE
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Shown in photos: Jake celebrates his first collegiate goal against Parkside in August of 2016.
soccer until well into high school.
father, Harry.
No pressure, right?
Next, he was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer at the University of Virginia and helped the Cavaliers win the National Championship in 1989, closing out his career in the top-10 in both career points and assists in Virginia’s record books. He then spent four seasons in the MLS.
Needless to say, it was easy for Jake “When he was younger, he played baseball, he played basketball,” Kris to be around soccer. said. “Ellen and I both made a point “When he was younger, soccer was to make sure he enjoyed doing it. We introduced him to several sports always first,” Kris said. “With me because one sport helps you with being a soccer guy and my wife another one and another one … playing soccer in college as well (mother Ellen played at Virginia), I it’s just overall athleticism. Soccer think the first ball that he touched has always been a favorite of his was a soccer ball. He was probably since day one but he played other kicking a ball before he could throw sports up until it was that time to specialize.” a ball.”
He has won championships as a player at the high school, college, and professional levels and was inducted into the Wisconsin State Soccer Association Hall of Fame in March 2010. 38
Soccer wasn’t the only sport stressed in the Kelderman household, however. Jake played numerous sports, not focusing on
“At the beginning I played a bunch of different sports, but I have been playing soccer as long as I can remember,” Jake said. “There are MKEPANTHERS.COM
// KRIS & JAKE KELDERMAN
“HE WOULD BE MY COACH IN THE BACKYARD, HELPING ME OUT WITH A LOT OF THINGS TO IMPROVE MY GAME.” -JAKE KELDERMAN
even videos of me as a toddler kicking a ball commit to that. And it was good for him to experience another authoritative figure on around.” the field and be involved with it without me being involved.” But organized soccer did start early. Kris recalls Jake playing at the first opportunity he could get, probably around six or seven Jake remembers it the same way. years old. Jake, now a defender for the “He would be my coach in the backyard, Panthers and key piece of a defense that was ranked No. 1 in the Horizon League last helping me out with a lot of things to fall, has fond memories of those early days. improve my game,” he recalled. “I remember I was a striker and I loved scoring goals,” Jake said. “My dad would ask me ‘what is life all about’ and I would answer ‘scoring goals’.”
Jake continued to play soccer, eventually reaching at the high school level at Nicolet. He earned First-Team All-North Shore Conference honors while there, also getting named to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area Second Team as a senior. In addition, he played four seasons of club soccer with the Milwaukee Bavarians. All of that soccer provided numerous memories for the pair.
Interestingly enough, schedules never allowed Kris to coach Jake at those early levels. His coaching career kept him very busy, which meant Jake was technically learning the biggest chunk of the game from “The first thing that comes to mind from other coaches. prior to college was when I coached his U19 team with the Milwaukee Bavarians and “I was always his coach in the backyard,” Kris said. “But when he started having team we won a state championship that year,” practices, I wasn’t involved in it. At that time, Kris said. “That was a big highlight. I knew a bunch of his buddies on the team and a I was coaching myself, so it was tough to 39
handful of those guys have even spot on the back line. He has played for me at UWM. come up with some big goals over his career as well, finding Winning a state championship the back of the net four times. in club soccer is a big deal. It His two goals last year were was something that group was both huge – one helped spark unable to achieve until that the 2-1 comeback win over point and being a part of that Marquette, leveling the contest and sharing it with your son, at 1-1 on a 49th-minute header. was a special season.” The other came in the season opener, putting home the gameJake agreed, both landing on winner in the 84th minute of that same special time in their Milwaukee’s 3-2 thriller over lives. Western Illinois with a header off a corner kick. “We had gotten close the prior three years, but finally got The first time he took the field the job done,” he said. “And I with a Panther uniform on came managed to score a goal in the in the fall of 2016, playing all final as well (a 3-0 win).” 45 minutes of the second half of an exhibition game against That led to his college career, Parkside in late August before which actually began with a officially redshirting. He made redshirt season in 2016. His the most of it, scoring the final freshman year saw him make goal of the 5-0 victory. 12 starts in 15 appearances, playing well enough to get “I was probably more nervous named to the Horizon League than he was,” Kris said. “His first All-Freshman Team. He worked game, that was pretty cool. He his way into the starting lineup redshirted his first year so there by the second week of that was a wait. His second year he 2017 season and has been there had his opportunity and has ever since. held a starting position since then. If memory serves me, he Heading into what should have did very well that game and held been his senior season in 2020, onto that position ever since. Jake had made 50 starts in 53 It’s natural nerves as a parent, appearances in his customary in a game-situation, it was 40
pretty special.” While Dad still recalls Jake’s first “official” game, it’s Jake who won’t forget that time on the field against Parkside. “It was awesome,” he said. “For me, playing at UWM, playing Division I soccer for my dad was my goal all along. So, to finally get on the field, especially after redshirting, was a huge accomplishment for me. But that first goal, against Parkside. That was the only 45 minutes I played that year so I would tell everyone my goals-per-game average was MKEPANTHERS.COM
// KRIS & JAKE KELDERMAN
2.0! We had a corner kick and I was up for it. The ball managed to squeeze through a bunch of bodies on the ground and I was able to poke it in and catch the goalie off guard.” The process to get to that point took some time. Jake weighed his options but, for him, he seemed to always have his heart set on being a Panther. “I feel like we that was
didn’t talk about it that much, but kind of like, I knew what I wanted to do,” Jake said. “It was just a matter of needing to keep improving to prove that I was good enough.”
Having played for his own dad in high school, Kris knew the pros and cons of the situation firsthand. “We had a long talk – several of them – before he came to UWM and we talked about the things, the positives that come with a son playing for a father,” he said. “And obviously, some challenges. Some things that may occur with what others or teammates are thinking when your dad is the coach and how to deal with that.” He was ready to take on that role, but always kept an open line of communication with Jake when it came to the process. “We always emphasized to him to be open about the process because you never know what situation might be best for you,” Kris said. “It can depend on what you are looking to study, location, opportunities for playing time, and things like that. I think he had an open mind and did explore some other options. At the end of the day, we were both comfortable with what would happen if he played at UWM.” With that came the balance of father/son. It hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but both have certainly enjoyed the time together over the years. “There are challenges in that relationship,” Kris said. “There are times 41
when I have to get after him and he probably gets the brunt of it. The reason this has worked has been due to him. He has accepted every part of it. Sometimes there are messages that need to get sent just to show there is no favoritism. I am sure it hasn’t been easy for him at all times. He has to see me on nights and weekends when maybe his teammates get that ‘escape’. Overall, the whole relationship between us at UWM has worked out really well.” Jake had the different viewpoint on the situation. He was competing among his peers and had to build a relationship with teammates that he did not know before stepping foot onto the UWM campus.
Panthers really clicked after the calendar turned to October, posting a 6-1-4 record from that point on, while closing the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3). Included in that was the 1-1 draw in the Horizon League Tournament Championship before falling in heartbreaking fashion in a penalty-kick shootout. The memories keep piling up.
season and no one seems to know for sure what is coming next after all fall sports were officially cancelled in August.
“He scored a goal at home against Marquette,” Kelderman started when asked of his favorite memory of Jake as a Panther. “Any time you have some success in scoring a goal – in a game you win – in front of such a large crowd when we play Marquette. He scored a very crucial goal in a 2-1 win, just the fact that he was able to help us win in a big game – that environment – with thousands of fans – as a defender and to do it on the offensive side – that was a big highlight for both of us.”
Things got strange back in March, when the COVID pandemic shut most things down. That meant back to an old routine for the Kelderman household.
“These past few weeks I have been busy trying to make decisions. I plan to stay in the spring and into the fall and start a graduate degree,” Jake said.
“He’s been at home now,” Kris said. “Not that it’s very far away (from campus), but he came back in March like the rest of his classmates. Being home with him “In the very beginning there was a all day brings some challenges but difference,” Jake said. “I was the new also more opportunities to discuss guy, but over time and the guys got aspects of his game as well as what to know me and it hasn’t been too to consider after he is done with bad. I was definitely worried about school and our preparation for what that, that I wasn’t just on the team Jake also had that goal at the top because of my dad. And then with of his list, joining that initial goal he is next. What will the preparation be for that? Thinking ahead, I know playing time, I had to keep proving ever scored for the Panthers that he has an interest in trying to play myself and help people overcome was previously mentioned. after his college career. And then that.” And here we are, entering the middle the academic side as well. Will he Now four seasons into the process, of September of what should have stretch that out and have him go to been Jake’s senior year. Things are grad school? There may not be a lot the team has had a nice run of not all figured out yet for the current happening visually soccer-wise, but recent success. Last fall, the
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MKEPANTHERS.COM
// KRIS & JAKE KELDERMAN “Some days I will come home and Ellen will ask ‘how’s Jake” and I will say ‘I’m not sure’, Kris For now, the future can wait. The present, when it laughed. “That was a little different than what I was gets here, will be Jake’s senior season and the last expecting but certainly not complaining. It’s been a hurrah in the father/son, coach/player relationship lot of fun … I will certainly miss it when it’s over.” they have been involved in. Have either of them thought that far ahead? *** “I really haven’t thought about that yet,” Jake said. “Hopefully we can end with a championship, that would be a great way to go out.” we are busy planning for his future.”
For the “dad” part of the equation, things weigh a little heavier. “Time flies, I tell you,” Kris said. “It feels like maybe two years and it’s been almost five. I get that question a lot – what is it like to coach your son? I realize that I see him every day but don’t necessarily get that chance to talk to him every day. I didn’t even realize it would be like that. He shows up for practice, we jump right into it, maybe a team meeting … boom, boom, boom, he’s one of 25 guys on the roster and I am focused on the group.” That carries over to when Kris arrives back at home as well.
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