2010 BHS grad has big shoes to fill
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Nowadays, the Burlington boys volleyball program expects success.
Only in its 18th year, the Demons have appeared at state four times already and were a couple games away from state championship in 2012.
The idea of a boys volleyball team was moot in the 1980s and early 1990s, as Burlington was in its football heyday. Surely, starting a competing fall sport would take away talent from the football squad.
But in 1997, Burlington High School science teacher Tim Gesteland initiated the program, and his 17-year reign included state appearances and multiple conference championships.
Gesteland stepped down after last season, and the search was on.
Whereas most coaching successors are found promptly in high school sports, this literally just happened.
Kayla Uhlenhake, a 22-year-old, 2010, BHS graduate, had just finished college at Winona State in May and was planning on moving to Milwaukee to start her career in the big city, away from her hometown.
The former standout setter had just earned her pre-physical therapy degree and was starting a new chapter in her life doing physical therapy in Bay View, a neighborhood on Milwaukee’s southeast side, right off Lake Michigan.
But about a month ago, less than four weeks before the season, Uhlenhake got the call from Burlington’s Athletic Director Eric Plitzuweit.
“I wanted to come back this year and help with Dan and Teri with the girls team,” she said. “I coached my senior year with the Burlington Elite club, and now those girls are all seniors now. This just kind of fell into place. It was weird. I came and saw Plitz, and it just happened. I couldn’t believe it.”
“I’ve been a little overwhelmed with running the program. I know how to coach, but taking care of jerseys, concessions, contacting people and everything has been challenging. I’ve been running in circles.”
The week before tryouts is when the players found out Uhlenhake was the new coach. A lot of the open gyms and even offseason camp were cancelled because there wasn’t a coach.
“They met me at tryouts,” Uhlenhake said. “They’re a great group of guys. It was a stressful first week, but we’re figuring it out.”
Things won’t get any easier for the first-year head coach.
All-state player Nolan Rueter and all-conference setter Jake DeRosier are gone from last year’s squad, along with Ben Geiger, and Josh Ketterhagen is the only returning player with varsity experience.
“Josh will be our big powerhouse on the outside,” Uhlenhake said.
Right off the bat, Tanner Swartz, Trent Cramer, Bryan Batchelor and Zach Morrow, all experienced contributors, will miss the first two games with suspensions.
Tedman Yonash, another returning player, will be on a college visit and will miss the first game.
Everyone will be out of position at first.
“I addressed it and told them they better work their butts off because they’re putting the team in the position they are,” Uhlenhake said. “It kills. Everybody’s scattered for the first game.”
Jake Drettwan and Zach DeRosier will be the two setters in the 6-2 offense, which Uhlenhake says is a little different than usual.
“They’ve never done it,” Uhlenhake said of the offense. “The setter switches with the middles on a rotation. They’ve had a little bit of trouble with it. But they’ll be good.”
Uhlenhake said Morrow’s ball-control skills work well with her version of the 6-2. In a traditional set, he would exit the game when he gets to the back row.
Schwartz will be an outside hitter and Batchelor is the “powerhouse middle,” Uhlenhake said.
Eli Miller is another returner expected to see playing time.
Cramer, who is out for volleyball for the first time, will battle with another newcomer, Tanner Strommen, for a spot in the middle.
With only 20 players on the first day of tryouts, Uhlenhake reached out to the seniors to help find more bodies.
“I said ‘I don’t know you guys, and I’m not always around, but you need to go find players,’” she said.
Several others have joined the fold, and despite a lack of experience, Uhlenhake said this team can continue the winning tradition.
“Once we are full force, I have confidence we will be a very good team,” she said. “All of our key guys play club, and they have been playing together for awhile.”
Uhlenhake said a big key will be cutting down on mistakes. So far, that’s her only concern. Otherwise, she sees flashes of greatness.
“I’ve seen little moments, and once we put the little moments into a lot of moments, it will make a big difference,” she said.
Schedule
(HOME GAMES IN BOLD CAPS)
September – 4: at Franklin. 6: at Kettle Moraine Invite. 11: at Racine Horlick. 13: at Racine Park. 18: KENOSHA BRADFORD. 25: at Wilmot. October – 2: KENOSHA TREMPER. 4: at Shorewood. 9: RACINE CASE. 11: at Whitefish Bay. 16: at Indian Trail. 20: WESTOSHA CENTRAL. 25: at Wilmot. 31: WIAA Regionals.
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