Janel Batten - Co-Chair, Pulaski Athletic & Activities Director
Janel 
has been working in the education field in Wisconsin for 30 years and has coached high school volleyball, basketball, and softball during that time. This is Janel’s eleventh year serving as the Athletics and Activities Director at Pulaski High School. She also serves as the President of the Fox River Classic Conference. She is interested in serving on this committee because she serves to model and inspire others to commit selflessly and work hard to be empathetic teammates. Janel believes in kids first and foremost and also believes in supporting and leading the coaches that build relationships with our student athletes and have profound impacts in their lives.
Contact: [email protected] | 920-822-6706
Jake Beschta - Co-Chair, Denmark High School Principal
Jake has 7 years of High School Football and Girls Basketball coaching experience along with 1 year High School Track & Field and Boys Basketball coaching. From 2015 - 2018 he was the Athletic Director and Associate Principal at Sheboygan Falls High School. Jake is also a WIAA Master basketball official and is a current member of the Green Bay Officials Association. For Jake, being provided the opportunity to not only be a member of the Calendar and Contact Committee, but also serve as a co-chair, is an opportunity that he is exceptionally thankful for. The committee’s three significant topics of study, coaching contact, season lengths, and contest maximums, allow for the committee to apply a holistic approach in supporting the high school experience of all student athletes. As a building principal, Jake prioritizes making decisions based on “what is best for students”; this work has provided him with opportunities to collaborate with the membership to do the same at a state-level.
Contact: [email protected] | 920-863-4224
Paul Ackley, McFarland High School Athletic Director
Paul is starting his 13th year as the Athletic Director, and his 20th year as head football coach. He also serves as the Southern Vice President of the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, and is a member of the Football Coaches Advisory Council and the Sportsmanship committee for the WIAA. Paul is excited to be part of this committee as they look at bettering the state of education based athletics. The topics they are addressing are crucial to the growth of all sports in our association. Paul is eager to work with school administrators from around the state to generate a plan that they can take to the membership.
Contact: [email protected] | 608-838-4568
Rachel Biertzer, Port Washington - Saukville High School Principal
Rachel believes that as a principal, she sees the positive impact interscholastic athletics has on the whole child. Previously serving as a Varsity girls’ basketball coach for eight years, she also had the opportunity to bring a coaching lens to the conversation. Rachel is passionate about this discussion surrounding student athletes and their overall well-being and experience with high school athletics. She is honored to be able to lend my perspectives as it relates to season length, game maximums, and coaching contact and how this impacts the overall positive educational experience of a high school student as they balance academics and co-curricular opportunities.
Contact: [email protected] | 262-268-5510
Andrew Caudill, Altoona High School Athletic Director
Andrew is entering his fourth year as an AD at his second school with both schools being medium size in the northwest. Prior he spent about ten years working in collegiate athletics. This experience will allow him to see the questions and challenges in front of him and other colleges from a unique perspective while also understanding they need to be willing to all have a shared sacrifice to do what is best for the students of this state. Andrew believes it is always important to give back to any organization you are affiliated with. This work will be extremely important to the future of interscholastic athletics in the state of Wisconsin for the next generation of student-athletes. He also believes it will be important that the decision that is made will be the right one for our students, which will take time and deliberation that will ultimately lead to tough decisions. Andrew felt it was important to be willing to step up to be a part of the solution.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-838-7081
Willy Chambers, Black Hawk School District Superintendent
Willy just completed six years on the Board of Control for the WIAA and served when the decision was made to form the committee. During his time on the Board of Control, he heard several requests to consider adjusting coaching contact time, season length, and number of contests per sport. To form the committee and spend time studying different perspectives to make informed and thoughtful decisions is important to him. Willy has been allowed to see the different committees in action and wants to be part of the work. He hopes to be part of a process that improves access and equity for the student-athletes across the state and from varied backgrounds. He believes if the right process is implemented and with the eventual informed decisions that follow that more students will engage in education-based athletics. Along with a higher participation rate, he believes that the level of satisfaction from all stakeholders can improve as well.
Contact: [email protected] | 608-439-5400
Mark Denniston, Pittsville High School Activities Director
Mark is entering his sixth year as the activities director in Pittsville. He is also currently the head boys basketball coach at Pittsville school, and have served as the head football coach and assistant football coach in the past. The issues that this committee is examining are ones that Mark is very familiar with and hopefully can provide valuable insights into. He believes that his experience as an activities director and head coach will help in this regard. Additionally,he hopes to provide perspective from a small-school standpoint.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-884-6412
Todd Flehofer, Shell Lake School District Superintendent
Todd 
is beginning his 38th year in public education in the state of Wisconsin, 12 years as a middle school teacher, 16 years as an elementary school principal, and now in his 10th year as a superintendent. As the districts have ranged in size from over 4,000 students to less than 400 students, and have stretched from suburban Milwaukee to central Wisconsin to the Northwoods Todd feels he possesses an unique perspective and understanding of the challenges facing athletic programs across the board. Athletics have always played an important part of his life. He has been an athlete, a coach, a WIAA official in 3 sports, a parent of 4 children who played a variety of sports throughout their high school careers and also played on club teams, and now a grandparent of 4 who are also athletes. Todd wants to make sure our students continue to have access to athletics, while maintaining a sense of fairness and balance.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-468-7816
Patrick Galligan, Colby School District Superintendent
Patrick has coached football, soccer, and basketball during his nineteen years of classroom teaching. When he moved into a role in school administration, he first started as Wausau West’s Activities/Athletics Director, then moved into building administration roles in Wausau. This is his second year as Superintendent of the Colby School District, and all of these experiences have hopefully prepared me for work with this committee. Patrick is hoping to make a positive impact on high school sports in Wisconsin through this committee, partially as a way of paying things forward because of the numerous positive experiences that he was able to have during my time coaching in this state.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-223-2301
Matt Goodwin, Milwaukee Public Schools Recreation Manager
Matt currently manages recreation programs for Milwaukee Recreation to include Adult Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Adult Soccer, Indoor High School Soccer, High School Boys Volleyball (Non-WIAA), Summer Stars Basketball and Soccer, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing and Esports. Matt also had five years of experience managing Interscholastic Athletics for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) and the Milwaukee City Conference from 2019-2024. Job duties included the management and/or supervision of officials, event staff, scorers, timers, athletic trainers, schedules, coaches, athletic directors, camps, clinics, facilities, equipment repairs and day to day operations supporting 21 high schools and over 2000 events per year. Matt is driven by a deep sense of purpose to contribute to meaningful outcomes that not only impact his community but the entire state. He is passionate about leveraging his skills and experience to collaborate with others, address challenges, and help shape the direction of our initiatives. Serving on this committee gives him an opportunity to advocate for ideas, make an impact, and ensure that his goals are aligned with the needs and aspirations of those we serve.
Contact: [email protected] | 414-475-8194
Joel Heesch, Mauston School District Superintendent
Joel was fortunate enough to coach boys basketball at Mauston High School for 17 years. He has since moved out of the classroom and into administration, but his appreciation for athletics has not diminished. Since moving into administration, he has not been able to be as involved in the world of high school athletics as he would like. He wanted to give his time and attention to this committee so he could give back to an area of his life that has been so vital in his professional development. Joel’s desire is to be a valuable part of this committee and be able to assist coaches around the entire state of Wisconsin with recommendations that are best for our students/athletes.
Contact: [email protected] | 608-847-5541
Todd Irvine, Muskego Norway School District Superintendent
Todd has had the privilege of competing in Cross Country and Track and Field during his high school and collegiate careers, which ignited a lifelong passion for athletics and leadership. During his 25 years of experience in education, he has served as a coach in cross country, football, and track and field, helping to develop student-athletes both on and off the field. Additionally, he served nine years as a high school principal, and his current role as a superintendent has equipped him with a broad perspective on the needs and challenges faced by students, educators, and athletic programs. Todd looks forward to bringing this unique blend of athletic and educational experience to the committee. Todd has witnessed firsthand how sports provide a powerful platform for learning, growth, and character development. He believes that as educators, their responsibility goes beyond academics; we must also offer high-quality, education-based athletic experiences that foster healthy, well-rounded young adults. These experiences are crucial in preparing students for success in their careers, colleges, and communities.
Contact: [email protected] | 262-971-1800
Mike Kaczmarek, Gillet School District Athletic Director
Mike has been an athletic director for 28 years, head basketball coach for 29 years and a WIAA certified official for 38 years which helps him see the impact of every topic on our coaches, parents, officials and most importantly our student athletes. The topics this committee will address intrigues Mike, as every topic will directly impact the other and how it impacts all student athletes and school districts differently will be a challenge for this committee to tackle.
Contact: [email protected] | 920-855-2137
Taz Landry, Shorewood High School Athletic and Activities Director
Taz has served as an Athletic Director for 10 years in both private and public schools and brings several years of teaching and coaching experience to the committee. He was a football, basketball and track & field coach. Having worked in multiple educational settings, Taz can provide a focused perspective on the specific needs and opportunities within the Southeast region of the state.
Contact: [email protected] | 414-963-6924
Kolleen Nesheim, Mount Horeb Areach School District Athletic and Activities Director
Kolleen is honored to serve on this committee as the group explores the amount of allowed coaching contact days and the length of seasons that are set before teams. Her primary motivation for participating is to ensure that the committee prioritizes the mental health of the student-athletes and the needs of the coaches while ensuring that the athletic programs continue to thrive in the state of Wisconsin. High school sports play a vital role in the development of young people, not only in terms of athletic skills but also in fostering teamwork, resilience, and a sense of community. By listening to diverse perspectives from across the state, the committee will gather valuable insights that reflect the varied experiences of student-athletes, coaches, and families, in different regions. This collaborative approach will help us identify best practices that keep students engaged and excited about their participation in high school sports.
Contact: [email protected] | 608-437-7283
Ryan Olson, West Salem High School Athletic Director
Ryan has been involved with athletics over the past 10 years. He has served as a Football, Basketball, Track and Baseball coach. Ryan is currently an Athletic Director and serves as District 3 representative and serves on the WIAA sports advisory committee. He has a Masters in Educational Leadership from Viterbo University. Ryan believes being an AD and District rep he has heard many different views on seasons length, coaching contact and maximum of games. He also has experience in a D1, D3 and D7 school so he can look with a wide lens and help represent all schools.
Contact: [email protected] | 608-606-1258
Chad Steinmetz, Bloomer High School Principal
Chad will be entering his 28th year in education. After spending five years as a high school mathematics teacher, he became an Assistant Principal and Activities Director. After nine years in that role, he became a High School Principal and has served in that capacity for the past 14 years. Chad has also been an assistant coach and head coach, so he has experienced many different perspectives relative to education and high school athletics. High School athletics played a huge role in his overall educational experience, and since that time he has remained passionate about how those experiences have influenced him as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and school principal. Chad is excited and eager to be an active member in supporting student-athletes.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-579-8243
Jill Stobber, Waterford Union High School Athletics and Activities Administrator
Jill has been an athletic administrator for sixteen years, and is a current WIAA Board of Control Member. Jill has an athletic trainer background and was also previously coached basketball and softball. She also was previously on the WIAA Sports Advisory committee and was an NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee member. Jill believes as someone who works day in and day out with our coaches and manages scheduling as an athletic director, this directly relates to everything she does on a daily basis.She believes that she can give back with her medical knowledge as well.
Contact: [email protected] | 262-534-6223
Brian Trettin, Ashland High School Principal
Ross is a combined nine-time letterwinner in golf, 8-player football and basketball. He is a three-time team most valuable
player in golf and was named the conference golf co-player of the year as a freshman. During his junior season, he earned a trip to the State golf tournament while also helping his team earn a conference championship. In basketball, Ross helped his team win a conference championship his sophomore season. In addition, he was the Falcons' 8-player football team MVP his senior year. Reflecting on a lesson learned, Kevin shares, “During golf my sophomore year at sectionals, I had the worst round of golf ever. I decided to work really hard in the off-season. When my junior year came around, I was able to shoot my lowest round at sectionals and advance to State. I have learned through sports the importance of never giving up, to persevere.” He intends to compete in golf and study elementary special education at Viterbo University.
Contact: [email protected] | 715-682-7089 ext. 1001
Andy Trudell, Mukwonago High School Athletic and Activities Director
Andy has seventeen years of experience being an athletic director. Prior to becoming an athletic director he coached wrestling, girls golf and baseball for many years. All 3 topics (contact days, season start dates, game maximums) have been hot button items for all the years that he has been involved in athletic administration. Andy volunteered for this committee because he believes his experiences as an AD and coach give him a unique perspective and expertise that will make him a valuable asset to the committee.
Contact: [email protected] | 262-363-6200 Ext. 25581
Michael Vuolo, Frankling High School Principal
Michael will strive to ensure that the members are transparently represented and the organization continues to explore, create, and support opportunities and access for student athletes to thrive, belong, and grow through participation in or support of athletics and activities. Michael’s previous experience consists of being a teacher, associate principal, director of learning, and high school principal. He has advised and coached at the middle and high school level and been lucky enough to work at schools that emphasize the importance of involvement in athletics and activities.
Contact: [email protected] | 414-817-5538
Kevin Wopat, Central Wisconsin Christian Athletic Director and Director of Development
Kevin is in his 20th year as a high school activities director, 8 years as a high school varsity baseball coach,15 years as a high school head football coach and has been an assistant coach in track, softball, basketball, and golf. Kevin has also been a WIAA official for 25+ years. Kevin has a long career as a coach and activities director. He has a background in small rural public schools as well as the private side. These topics have come up quite a bit in recent years and he felt this committee was an opportunity to learn more about the topics they’re researching and lend his experiences to help come up with a plan that is best for student-athletes, schools, and families across the entire state of Wisconsin.
Contact: [email protected] | 920-230-3255
Gregg Zonnefeld, Central Wisconsin Christian Athletic Director and Director of Development
Gregg is in his 29th year in the Athletic Leadership role, has served 2 terms on WIAA Soccer Coaches’ Advisory Committee, he has also been the Soccer Commissioner for 12 years and is the Trailways Conference President and is a part of the Trailways Leadership Team. Greg believes that any opportunity to serve the WIAA membership is great and will impact kids in Wisconsin. Serving with this committee, there are some significant steps to work with leaders around the state. Together he wants to work for our kids for the next generation!
Contact: [email protected] | 920-324-4233 ext. 312