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Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association announces 2024 Hall of Fame Class

12/01/2023, 11:45am CST
By Travis Wilson

The Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association has announced its 2024 Hall of Fame Class:

  • Jeff Bigler, Brookfield Central
  • Greg Fetherston, Jefferson
  • Bob Gawlitta, Wisconsin Rapids
  • Tim Poock, Green Lake
  • Wayne Sankey, Pacelli

Jeff Bigler, Brookfield Central

After spending five years in pro ball as a first baseman, four with the Phillies and one with the Pirates at the AA level, Bigler has forged a career in which he has over 500 career victories as he continues to coach at Brookfield Central. His teams have won six Conference titles, 13 Regional titles and two Sectional Championships. He led the Lancers to a Summer State Title in 2014. He also helped his brother at Cardinal Stritch for three years. With just two more wins, he will move into 8th place on all-time victories for coaches who did the majority of their coaching in the WIAA summer season.

Greg Fetherston, Jefferson

Greg Fetherston has won 367 games while losing only 160 at the time of his induction. Ten Conference titles, he has been named Coach of the Year in the Rock Valley seven times, twice in the Southern Lakes Conference, once each as the 2014 WBCA Coach of the Year, NFHS Wisconsin Coach of the Year, and USA Today Coach of the Year. 12 Regional titles, five Sectional titles and two State Championships as well as two State Runner-Ups have been won by the Eagles during his 21 years as Jefferson’s head coach. He coordinates Jefferson’s youth programs, coaches Legion ball, and works with Brewer Baseball Academy. He has served the WBCA as a Conference Rep for the Rock Valley. He has been active in all areas of Jefferson baseball. He was Summer Legion General Manager for 15 years, Coordinated the Junior Eagles program for 15 years, Assistant Coach for Team Serbia for two years.

Bob Gawlitta, Wisconsin Rapids

Bob Gawlitta has been a great ambassador of baseball, not only at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids where he has coached at since 1994, but statewide in his service to the WBCA as a former Vice-President, President, a current District Rep for the North Central District. He also chairs the runs WBCA Scholarship Committee, something he has done since the WBCA began awarding scholarships. His record as a coach speaks for itself. Going into 2024, he amassed 371 victories, won four conference titles, eight Regional titles and a Sectional title. He continues working with Rapids youth programs and hosting clinics in addition to his WBCA and head coaching duties.

Tim Poock, Green Lake

Tim Poock has been the head coach at Green Lake and more recently, Green Lake-Princeton co-op program since 1995. After a playing career at Winona State, he has a career record of 388-182 with eight conference titles, eight regional titles, and a 2006 Sectional championship. He continues to serve as a conference representative and as a Co-District Representative for the WBCA’s South Central District.

Wayne Sankey, Pacelli

Very few men have amassed as many career victories as Coach Wayne Sankey has done in Stevens Point. He picked up his 600th career victory as an American Legion head coach in Plover and has a record of 437-145 at Pacelli Catholic High School going into the 2024 season. During his tenture at Pacelli, the Cardinals have won 10 Conference titles, two Sectional titles and won a State Championship in 2003. His Plover Legion teams have made nine State appearances , finished State runners-up three times and won two State titles. He serves as a conference rep for the WBCA and is District II Director or American Legion Baseball. He his a member of the Pacelli High School Hall of Fame as well.


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

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