In 2004 there were few opportunities to play “travel” softball in the Raymond area.  The Mikolajczyk’s had two daughters who wanted to compete and experience this new atmosphere, so the trek to Waukesha and Brookfield for a couple of years began. The experience brought a desire to bring this to other local families in the area.   

 

The Aponte’s daughter played on this team, and soon the two families were on the path of developing a local “travel” club in the Raymond community.  They were naive and believed it could not be that difficult.  2004-2005 were crazy hard, but they had the tremendous fortune to attract some amazing softball families from the beginning.

 

Early goals were established; to start an organization that developed great softball players AND good people, to bring “travel” ball opportunity to the local community, to keep fees low and affordable for these kids, and to give all players playing time on the field and at bat.  The Wisconsin Twister’s Mission has evolved and has been refined over the years, but those early goals have remained true to today.

 

Lou Aponte developed a coaching “tree” of many gifted team leaders. Brian and DiAnna Johnson, both Head Coaches of additional individual teams, they were the first to join in and take on  these additional teams and each helped to establish a strong balance of coaching styles that we encourage for today.  The Johnson's became the stepping stone to the multiple teams and direction of the program. The Baumgartner’s joined the following season as additional Coach and Parent Rep and helped establish a broader spectrum of the full family support system.  These four families (Aponte’s, Johnson's, Baumgartner’s and Mikolajczyks) over 20 plus years built the organization you see as of today.  They have trained coaches, taught players, game coached, managed, team scheduled, financed, recruited, fund raised, strategized, negotiated, ran tournaments, offered clinics, built guidelines by example and tirelessly worked many fields.  Each of these members have held leadership roles within the Wisconsin Twisters of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and board members  throughout the years and currently DiAnna Johnson as  Director, Founder Debbie Mikolajczyk as Vice President and Evie Aponte as Secretary. The Annual Spring Fling (a state qualifier) and The Fall Brawl tournaments were introduced to give Twister teams the opportunity to not only play in a local tournament, but to provide additional tournaments for teams to participate in from all over Southeast Wisconsin. These two tournaments have been an annual staple and are still a place teams come from all over come and participate today.   

 

The organization continued to grow, and as more families stepped up to help with the business of running the Twisters; a Wisconsin Twister  Board was established by the four families. With the additions of remarkable volunteer leaders - Kathy Sterling, The Pinkos family, John Lewandowski, The Gemmels, The Michelfelders, The Ballews, Kristy Boyle, the Olle’s, Jim Peltier, Ed Odwyer, Janet Mulligan, Kerry Greil, Monica Munoz, Cristina Aponte (past player and coach-now President) and Callie Mikolajczyk (past player and coach).  

 

An estimated 600+ young ladies have passed through our teams, and many have gone on to play and contribute successfully at local high schools and beyond to become collegiate athletes. While many others have come back to the organization and give back to where they began. Many have graduated and begun successful careers. There are many that went into community service as police officers, fire fighters, EMT's, pharmacists, physical therapists, nurses, US military, counselors, and teachers. 

 

The Twisters, besides teaching softball skills, continue to emphasize individual and team "growth" as members of the community that surrounds us. We as an organization over the years have provided many ways to support  many worthy charities. Each year the Wisconsin Twisters bring awareness and have highlighted many social/health issues - from Juvenile Diabetes, Make A Wish, Koos for Kids, Congenital Heart Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Down Syndrome, Ovarian Cancer, American Veterans, Build a Bear for Children, Children's Hospital, Honor Flight, Mental Health Awareness, Cystic Fibrosis, Rare Disease Association and many more along the way. This year we bring awareness and rise up for us all to work together, belong together and thrive until all the pieces fit. Autism-Until All The PIECES Fit.  Our teams bring awareness and support throughout each season with annual logos, colors represented, ribbons, charitable outings, volunteer events and tournaments. 

 

Love for the game of softball, love for our community, love of family, and a desire to help others is what drives this organization, and these principals set us apart.  As a founder, I am most proud to see how far this club has “travelled” since its humble beginning in 2004.

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