July 23, 2018 – Kewaskum/West Bend, WI – On July 11, Kewaskum High School baseball coach Doug Gonring signed off on his last scorebook.
Following a 3-2 loss to Homestead the local baseball legend ended an era. “I just officially retired from coaching,” said Gonring.
For the past 25 years Gonring has been coaching local high school baseball. He also coached 10 years at Concordia University.
Gonring fielded hundreds of well wishes and penned the note below.
Thank you everyone it has been a nice ride on that roller coaster.
First off thank you Lauren you always have a way to make me soft. Tony and Maddie thank you for being there and supporting me in my endeavors. Bryan thanks for being in left field with all the baseball cronies out there.
Karen a big thank you for allowing me to pursue this coaching career and for 30 years having a baseball family in the SUMMER. I would not have been successful without your support being that you were the secretary, team Mom,concession guru, and psychologist at times. Love you.
My parents Dave and Joyce thank you for allowing me to chase this coaching career. Without you guys letting me to get off of work for all these years it would not have been possible as well.
A big thank you to my extended family,as well,picking up the slack at the West Bend Elevator my brother Bob,sister Mary Jo, brother in laws Mike, and Doug and all of my nephews. All of my coworkers at the Elevator thank you so much.
To all of the coaches that had to put up with me I appreciate all that contributed to both schools. Curt Schroeder, Robbie Michels, Tim Rohlinger, Casey Scheel, Dave Donath, Barry Wenzlaff, Michael Prochnow, Jeff Grotenhuis, Andrew Olla, and Mike Heisdorf. Thank you for your efforts I know I’m missing a few.
Special Thanks goes out to Tom Kuehn, Rick Averill ,Mitch Knox, Bob Meyer, and Willie Mueller for all the help you guys gave me through the years at both schools.
Fans from both venues you were the greatest and us coaches couldn’t be happier for all involvement to the programs for our successes. Thanks students, grandparents,parents, community, and businesses that supported the programs.
Coaches thanks for all the memories North Shore was a blast best coaches and teams year in year out. Thanks Ernie, Dave Weber, Billy, Wojo, Dickie, Frank, Wolfy and your family, and Jack. Eastern Wisconsin, thanks Butch, Brad, and Scott.
Lastly, you the players can’t put you all down but at East thank you Curt Schroeder,Sam Blahnik, Jason Wiedmeyer, Eric Fryklund, Jon Corbett, Erik Kraemer,Mike Mueller, Matt,Adam,Ryan Rohlinger, Nick Chesak, Chris Kilian, Andy Schneider,Adam Weidmeyer, Mark Adams, Ryan Gonwa, Joe Lord, Joe Kuehn, Boy oh Boyer, Brock Cranney, and Josh Heisdorf. This was an advantageous group.
Kewaskum Scott Donath, Brad Weinreich, Doug Buechel,Shawn Schneider, Aaron,Joe Rettler, Casey Scheel, Dan Shea, Matt Parrent, Jon, Nic,Sam, Olla, Bill Otten, Cody,Bo,Seibel, Matt Ringwell, Brad Boegel, Brett Boegel, Garret Yahr, Steve,Brandon Chapman, Cody Nurenberg, Brandon Zolp, Michael Prochnow the 2018 team, Steger, Miller, R. Prochnow, G. Christenson, Surprenant, Poole, Neu, Dogs, Buechel, May, L. Christenson, Horning, Bath, and Chesak.
Lastly to my son Tony thank you for putting up with me for four years, those I know were the toughest summers for you. I appreciate all that you had to endure for us to be successful. It was the hardest job coaching your son and not losing him. Thank you Tony for your toughness.
If I missed anyone I apologized and again thank you everyone for making 30 years go fast and fun.
Swing hard just in case you make contact.
What were you thinking?Thanks Doug
