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quote:Originally posted by jakewestphal:
I went to a baseball camp their this fall, and someone from my town graduated from their a few years ago after playing baseball for four years. It is an amazing Division 3 program and they are in the top 10 every year. The coach appears pretty knowledgable and they have nice facilities. Now with every good program their are downsides. First off unless you are heavily recruited by the coach it is TOUGH to make the team. I asked multiple players how many guys tryout each year and they said between 60 and 80 each year. The WIAC conference has a 33 player maximum on their roster. I have heard many stories of people who went their to play baseball and didn't make the team. Also I want to mention that almost all of their seniors are fifth year greyshirts. So if you do make the team as a freshman you can most likely count on greyshirting. Playing time is sparse until you are a junior or senior unless you are an absolute stud. If you are planning on walking on you may want to look at a smaller D3 that doesnt cut. If you are being recruited by them then just keep this in mind as you proceed.
quote:Originally posted by jakewestphal:
I went to a baseball camp their this fall, and someone from my town graduated from their a few years ago after playing baseball for four years. It is an amazing Division 3 program and they are in the top 10 every year. The coach appears pretty knowledgable and they have nice facilities. Now with every good program their are downsides. First off unless you are heavily recruited by the coach it is TOUGH to make the team. I asked multiple players how many guys tryout each year and they said between 60 and 80 each year. The WIAC conference has a 33 player maximum on their roster. I have heard many stories of people who went their to play baseball and didn't make the team. Also I want to mention that almost all of their seniors are fifth year greyshirts. So if you do make the team as a freshman you can most likely count on greyshirting. Playing time is sparse until you are a junior or senior unless you are an absolute stud. If you are planning on walking on you may want to look at a smaller D3 that doesnt cut. If you are being recruited by them then just keep this in mind as you proceed.
I can personally echo jakewestphal comments and more. 2012 son recruited after attending a camp. Despite being told that worst case would be a grey shirt for 2013 season, he was cut (with 2 other players) from the program... a month into the spring semester leaving us with absolutely no options for transfer and thus missing an entire season. Coach's consolation has been to allow him to attend weight lifting sessions with the team and invited to try again next Fall. Be very careful and ask lots of questions. If you're not a Wisconsin resident be especially wary as the latest cuts were primarily non-res.
3/3/13 update - Just learned that all freshman pitchers were grey shirted and will not travel with the team on their spring break trip and have limited practice opportunities going forward.
I wanted to provide an update for any parents who may be doing their research, because the last comment posted on Feb 19 2013 and edited on 3/3 gave a very personal and not very positive experience.
2013 is a freshman at UWW and we had very candid conversations with the staff before he committed. Coaches explained their process and made no promises, but were also very clear on our son's strengths and weaknesses. This is a top 10 D3 every year and they do run the program a lot like a D1. Coach cautioned that the first year would be a grind, and it has been.
The conference roster max is 30 and 2013 just learned he will not be greyshirted. We believe three freshmen are on the roster, and two are from out-of-state (including our son). These kids have spent tons of time in the gym and the cages, and have gotten it done in the classroom. As best we can tell, no one has been actually cut from the roster since last fall. A couple did quit because of off-field issues and time management.
I have posted elsewhere that parents need to take comments on these boards cautiously sometimes. If you see a particularly negative comment, take a moment to research that poster's other comments . . . quantity and tone. If they have only posted once or twice, and only about one program or coach, perhaps their perspective is a little skewed.
Our son's experience so far with the team and the university have been fantastic. For the past month he has been completely content with the idea that if he greyshirted he would continue to get bigger and stronger and flip burgers during home games. Turns out he's on the roster and will get some opportunities - again, no promises.
If anyone has specific questions, feel free to send me a dialog message and I'll do my best to answer.
Yes, 2013 Parent, it is all very personal no different than your feedback. I agree with much of your positive remarks about UWW - good kids that work hard and a solid academic program. But in my experience, the coaching staff lacks integrity. Another example to support my opinion - one of the kids cut this past fall was a Junior who, after being told by the head coach they needed a middle infielder and wanted him to come to UWW, transferred in from a D2 program in Southern IL . Tell me how a coach consciously recruits a kid who is a D2 transfer then cuts him in the fall? Absent any academic or discipline issues it's hard to comprehend.
As for a skewed perspective, you don't know me or my situation, nor do I know yours so I'll not judge. As for single posts versus spending countless hours on social media websites, it's irrelevant. Is the person who posts 100+ "selfies" to Facebook considered a professional photographer? Of course not, but each has something valuable to offer if the mind is open.
Best of luck to you and your son. I hope it continues to be a great experience for you.
"Another example to support my opinion - one of the kids cut this past fall was a Junior who, after being told by the head coach they needed a middle infielder and wanted him to come to UWW, transferred in from a D2 program in Southern IL . Tell me how a coach consciously recruits a kid who is a D2 transfer then cuts him in the fall? Absent any academic or discipline issues it's hard to comprehend."
Since you are assailing the integrity of UW-W's baseball coach, I think it's fair to ask for more specific information.
First of all, a coach cannot "recruit" a student of another school. In the case you cite, is it not true that the D2 transfer contacted UW-W?
Secondly, making a statement that a team needs middle infielders does NOT imply that the player is being guaranteed playing time or making the team. It simply means UW-W needed middle infielders. Do you know for a fact that more was promised? (I'm pretty sure it wasn't because the philosophy of "no promises" is carried out across the board at UW-W in all sports as far as I know. The coaches value competitive athletes and kids who are not afraid to compete for a roster spot and playing time.
Thirdly, why would a college athlete expect to be guaranteed a roster spot "absent any academic or discipline issues"? College athletics are about competition. The best players make the team. You want to make the team? Play better.
Coach Voldenich's record is 358-121-1. He has developed one of the most powerful D3 programs in the nation. He didn't do it by making unwarranted promises to recruits and transfers.
If a talented player is not afraid to compete and is willing to be pushed to be the best player he can possibly be, UW-W is an excellent place to come. If you want promises or guarantees, you probably want to look elsewhere.
