Posted 7:41 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Several UW-La Crosse alums have stepped up to the plate — taking on leadership roles within one of the largest, organized baseball leagues in the world.
[caption id="attachment_4508" align="alignright" width="993"]
Liz Kern, ’06, right, was the 2010 Northwoods League Executive of the Year and 2010 Ballpark Digest Executive of the Year. She is now co-owner, vice president and general manager of the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Here she is pictured with John Pagel, owner of president of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewanee, Wisconsin.[/caption]
John Fanta[/caption]
John Fanta, who earned degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration in 2009, manages two UW-L student interns in his summer staff of about 120 people with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Fanta, the team's general manager, says he trusts the interns who come from his alma mater.
“The [Sports Management] program is second to none,” he says.
Fanta and Liz Kern, ’06, co-owner, vice president and general manager of the Green Bay Bullfrogs, got started on their career tracks as interns while at UW-L.
“I had great professors that always encouraged me to get experience and, through that encouragement, I was able to get a job I truly was passionate about,” says Kern.
[caption id="attachment_4510" align="alignright" width="150"]
Liz Kern[/caption]
Kern, who also majored in Sports Management and Business Administration, moved to Madison after her sophomore year at UW-L to get a part-time job with the Madison Mallards. There she learned her love of the ballpark and her desire for a career in the Northwoods League.
Fanta was an event management intern for Viterbo University’s Athletics Department. He also was a ticket manager for the La Crosse Loggers for two summers.
“Internships were a big boost,” he notes. “A lot of hands-on experience gave me knowledge of what was out there. That helps you be successful when you’re thrown into the fire.”
Kern says after she completed her UW-L degree, she landed a full-time job with the Madison Mallards. From there she was promoted twice, to general manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and then to her current position with the Green Bay Bullfrogs in December 2013. When Kern was promoted, Fanta became the general manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
Dan Kapanke[/caption]
Kapanke,’75 and ‘87, and his wife, Ruth, bought the La Crosse Loggers 2002, knowing the city would be a good market for a baseball team. His education and contacts through UW-L helped him secure the franchise and make it successful, he says.
“The fact that I’m an alum certainly gives me a common bond with so many people,” he says.
A continuing connection to UW-L has also helped give his team, UW-L baseball and the community a premiere place to play ball.
Kapanke says about $650,000 in improvements to Copeland Park — including artificial turf installation and a large video screen for the left field scoreboard — wouldn’t have happened without the Loggers' partnership with UW-L. Through the partnership, started in May 2012, the Loggers provide an annual donation to support UW-L baseball and the Eagles are allowed to play all regular season home games at Copeland Park. In exchange, UW-L agreed to assist the Loggers in raising funds for needed improvements at the park.
It’s a big boost for the Eagles team, which was cut from university funding in 2009 and is sustained by fundraising.
“As a UW-L alum, I’m happy to play small role in their baseball program,” says Kapanke. “And that partnership led us to have the opportunity to play on this beautiful, new turf.”
Kapanke says he is also grateful for community support for the Loggers from day one. The turf was made possible thanks to a donation from Dave and Barb, ’67, Skogen, who contributed $300,000.
Kapanke notes it's not just the Loggers and UW-L who are enjoying the field. American Legion baseball, high school leagues, youth teams and others also use the facility.
“We are establishing a tradition for the old and young to come to Copeland Park and have a wonderful time,” he says.
Liz Kern, ’06, right, was the 2010 Northwoods League Executive of the Year and 2010 Ballpark Digest Executive of the Year. She is now co-owner, vice president and general manager of the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Here she is pictured with John Pagel, owner of president of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewanee, Wisconsin.[/caption]
Teams bring entertainment, opportunity and support
Several UW-La Crosse alums have stepped up to the plate — taking on leadership roles within one of the largest, organized baseball leagues in the world. Four teams in the 18-team summer, collegiate Northwoods League are owned or managed by UW-La Crosse alums. The teams include the La Crosse Loggers, Green Bay Bullfrogs, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and Wisconsin Woodchucks. These alums are bringing top-notch collegiate baseball players from around the country to Wisconsin communities. But the league brings much more than entertainment. These leagues, and the UW-L alums behind them, have given back to UW-La Crosse by providing work experience for UW-L interns, opportunity for UW-L student athletes, and, in one particular case, a big boost for UW-L baseball.Interns and athletes
The teams bring opportunity to many interns and student athletes. The La Crosse Loggers hire about 20 interns a summer and the majority each year are UW-L students, says owner Dan Kapanke, ’75 and ’87. “They [UW-L students] are hard workers, willing to learn and they represent our organization and UW-L so very well,” says Kapanke. Mark Macdonald, ’81, owner of the Wisconsin Woodchucks, also employs UW-L interns. Intern Doug Morovits, in his second summer with the Woodchucks, is responsible for media relations. “Wausau has three TV channels and two newspapers and Doug has done an outstanding job keeping Woodchuck news in front of them,” he says. [caption id="attachment_4509" align="alignright" width="149"] John Fanta[/caption]
John Fanta, who earned degrees in Sport Management and Business Administration in 2009, manages two UW-L student interns in his summer staff of about 120 people with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Fanta, the team's general manager, says he trusts the interns who come from his alma mater.
“The [Sports Management] program is second to none,” he says.
Fanta and Liz Kern, ’06, co-owner, vice president and general manager of the Green Bay Bullfrogs, got started on their career tracks as interns while at UW-L.
“I had great professors that always encouraged me to get experience and, through that encouragement, I was able to get a job I truly was passionate about,” says Kern.
[caption id="attachment_4510" align="alignright" width="150"] Liz Kern[/caption]
Kern, who also majored in Sports Management and Business Administration, moved to Madison after her sophomore year at UW-L to get a part-time job with the Madison Mallards. There she learned her love of the ballpark and her desire for a career in the Northwoods League.
Fanta was an event management intern for Viterbo University’s Athletics Department. He also was a ticket manager for the La Crosse Loggers for two summers.
“Internships were a big boost,” he notes. “A lot of hands-on experience gave me knowledge of what was out there. That helps you be successful when you’re thrown into the fire.”
Kern says after she completed her UW-L degree, she landed a full-time job with the Madison Mallards. From there she was promoted twice, to general manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and then to her current position with the Green Bay Bullfrogs in December 2013. When Kern was promoted, Fanta became the general manager of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
A boost to UW-L baseball
[caption id="attachment_4511" align="alignright" width="140"] Dan Kapanke[/caption]
Kapanke,’75 and ‘87, and his wife, Ruth, bought the La Crosse Loggers 2002, knowing the city would be a good market for a baseball team. His education and contacts through UW-L helped him secure the franchise and make it successful, he says.
“The fact that I’m an alum certainly gives me a common bond with so many people,” he says.
A continuing connection to UW-L has also helped give his team, UW-L baseball and the community a premiere place to play ball.
Kapanke says about $650,000 in improvements to Copeland Park — including artificial turf installation and a large video screen for the left field scoreboard — wouldn’t have happened without the Loggers' partnership with UW-L. Through the partnership, started in May 2012, the Loggers provide an annual donation to support UW-L baseball and the Eagles are allowed to play all regular season home games at Copeland Park. In exchange, UW-L agreed to assist the Loggers in raising funds for needed improvements at the park.
It’s a big boost for the Eagles team, which was cut from university funding in 2009 and is sustained by fundraising.
“As a UW-L alum, I’m happy to play small role in their baseball program,” says Kapanke. “And that partnership led us to have the opportunity to play on this beautiful, new turf.”
Kapanke says he is also grateful for community support for the Loggers from day one. The turf was made possible thanks to a donation from Dave and Barb, ’67, Skogen, who contributed $300,000.
Kapanke notes it's not just the Loggers and UW-L who are enjoying the field. American Legion baseball, high school leagues, youth teams and others also use the facility.
“We are establishing a tradition for the old and young to come to Copeland Park and have a wonderful time,” he says.