JWP baseball team eyes Florida

The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School Board received a presentation on the baseball team’s spring break trip for 2024 at its meeting Monday, Dec. 19. Head Coach Cory Jewison, Assistant Coach Tyler Fellows, and varsity players Cole Blomstrom and Josh Bengston spoke at the meeting on the team’s behalf.

The team plans a trip to Vero Beach, Florida to spend a few days at the Jackie Robinson Training Center to get the varsity kids some valuable life experience and a chance to play on a quality baseball field against other teams from across the country early in the season. The team will fly to Florida March 24, the Sunday after the state boys’ basketball tournament, and return either the Friday or Saturday before Easter.

“We thought that would be the best time to schedule it, between the end of the basketball tournament and when the spring sports season begins,” Coach Jewison explained. “We also have a five-day spring break scheduled for next school year, so the kids wouldn’t miss school if we did the trip then.”

Jewison broke down the numbers for the school board, claiming that the average cost for each person would be roughly $149 per player and $139 per coach.

When school board member Tim Burke asked why Jewison and the team chose the Jackie Robinson Training Center, Jewison responded that almost everything the team needed from food to lodging was on-site. Tampa Bay’s facilities were also considered, but the convenience of the training center in Vero Beach won him over.

“There is 24/7 security on-site, which is nice,” he added. “Sometimes, kids can get into some trouble at hotels. With the training center, they have an enforced curfew.”

The training facilities have a 6,500-seat stadium, four additional 90-foot fields, a half field for practice, plenty of batting cages, 32 practice pitching mounds, a weight room, and all the equipment needed to maintain the fields.

Players will be expected to sign a contract for the trip, complete homework ahead of time (if teachers allow it), maintain a C in every class, have at least an 85% attendance rate, and be on good behavior throughout the time away. Additionally, Jewison plans to have a meeting January 15, 2023 with all the players and parents to talk about the trip. Jewison wants commitments by players for the trip by February 3 and will set a deadline for September 30 for players who committed to the trip to decide not to go.

“That way, we have a month before the registration deadline for the facilities,” Jewison said.

He concluded that this would be a great opportunity for the boys, pointing out local teams like Stewartville and Hayfield have done trips such as this in the past.

JWP varsity players Josh Bengston and Cole Blomstrom then had the chance to speak. “I want to go to Florida because it’d be a great opportunity to play on a good field and face some competition,” Bengston said.

“It would be a chance for some good team bonding,” Blomstrom added. “It’d help the baseball program and potentially encourage people to join in the future if they’re looking for an opportunity.”

Board member Tim Oelke asked Jewison how many kids would need to sign up to make the trip feasible. “We’d need a minimum of 12 to have a team to field,” he replied. “20 would be great.”

Kids on the baseball teams that wouldn’t want to go on the trip will have the option to stay behind and help the junior high teams prepare for their season. “It would be a great opportunity for them to teach those younger players while they are practicing.”

Oelke suggested that it may be more feasible for the baseball players to go on a trip every three years instead of the original plan of every other year. Assistant Coach Tyler Fellows then explained the rationale for every other year.

“Every other year, the state basketball tournament dates flip between the girls and boys. We work in our games for the regular season between that.”

After a few other questions about logistics, the school board held further discussion after the team left. Oelke suggested that Jewison should submit all of his stipulations for the trip formally so that Athletic Director Paul Brunner and Superintendent Jeremy Erler can take a look at them.

Additionally board member Laura Seys wanted some clarification on the grade requirements. Fellow member Sherri Daschner wanted to know whether the facility would have contracts to sign. “Would he have to sign those or would we?” She further questioned.

The district business manager Matt Moline also considered whether any Title IX issues would be something to look into.

After getting all their questions on the record, all six board members present approved of the baseball team’s spring break trip to Jackie Robinson Training Center in 2024.