WBCA Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Five distinguished men were inducted into the WBCA Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 11 at the Madison Marriott. In front of over 550 in attendance, these five men were inducted.
DOUG GONRING (KEWASKUM): Gonring has achieved success as head coach of both West Bend East and Kewaskum High Schools. His career record of 386-174 includes six Conference Championships at West Bend East and five at Kewaskum. His teams have reached State Tournament three times, winning two State Championships in 1999 and 2002. He has also coached at the college level at Iowa State, Claremont College in California, and Concordia University. He has been named District Coach of the Year four times, and in 2002 he was the WBCA High School Coach of the Year. Gonring is still active as head coach at Kewaskum.
MIKE GREGORY (EDGERTON): Coaching is in the Gregory blood. Gregory, head coach of Edgerton High School for the past 27 years, follows in the footsteps of his Father, Jack, who is a Hall of Fame football coach from the same school. His record is 374-187 to date. A member of the extremely tough Rock Valley Conference, Edgerton has won 12 Conference Championships under his reign. The Crimson Tide has made two trips to the State Tournament, winning a State Championship in 1990. Like his father, he is an outstanding gentleman and a coach who does everything the right way. Gregory is still active as head coach at Edgerton.
BOB HEINKEL (MILWAUKEE LUTHERAN): Heinkel has spent his entire coaching career while teaching at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. After serving five years as an assistant coach, he took over the varsity program in 1980, and coached through the 2015 season. He has accumulated a record of 398-340 during his career. Milwaukee Lutheran made five State Tournament appearances under his reign, and won State titles in 2002, 2003, and 2015. He coached many amateur teams throughout the years, including two National Championship teams, in addition to coaching at Milwaukee Lutheran.
CHUCK IHLE (WEST SALEM): Ihle has been the Head Coach at West Salem High School since 1985. A long time power during the WIAA summer season, West Salem hasn’t missed a beat since joining the spring Coulee Conference. His Panthers have won eight Conference Championships under his leadership. They have played eight times in the State Tournament, seven in the summer and the two past springs. He has been named WBCA Summer Coach of the Year twice. His involvement with several local baseball organizations has helped make West Salem a premier baseball city in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association is proud to induct Ihle into the 2017 WBCA Hall of Fame. Ihle continues to coach at West Salem.
BILL URBAN (PITTSVILLE): Urban has been the head coach at Gresham, Columbus, and Pittsville High Schools. In 25 years as a Head Coach, he has compiled a career record of 339-165. Bill has also coached college baseball, serving as an assistant coach at UW-River Falls. He is a three-time District Coach of the Year award winner. His teams have won three Conference Championships, and have reached State Tournament four times. In 1992 Columbus earned a Division II State Runner-Up award. Bill may be the only Wisconsin baseball coach in history to lead teams to State Tournament in three different divisions, Division II, III, and IV. Urban continues to coach at Pittsville.