Waterloo, IA – The Waterloo Bucks commence their 2025 season on Monday, May 26^th, with a home game against the defending second half champions of the Great Plains East Division, the Duluth Huskies. Field Manager Darrell Handelsman returns to Waterloo for his seventh season as the skipper of the club. Joining Handelsman on the Bucks bench, Jack Nathan and Will Chrisophersen will serve as the other two coaches on the staff.

 

Darrell Handelsman:

Handelsman began his second tenure as the field manager of the Bucks in 2023. Waterloo welcomed Handelsman back after he took a 21-year hiatus from the club following his first stint with the team from 1999-2002. In his managerial career which has spanned over two decades, Handelsman has racked up 829 wins with six different teams across three separate leagues.

During his 13 years managing in the Northwoods League, Handelsman has compiled 483 regular season victories, putting him third on the all-time NWL wins list. The veteran skipper has also earned two NWL Manager of the Year awards and led his teams to two NWL Championships, including the Bucks’ last NWL title in 2002. In his first two summers back with the Bucks, Handelsman put together consecutive 37-win seasons.

Jack Nathan:

Entering his third year coaching for the Bucks, Nathan has not only aided Handelsman on the bench during his time in Waterloo, but he also pitched for the club in 2023. Originally a hurler at High Point University, Nathan has six years of college baseball experience under his belt heading into 2025. Nathan also serves as an assistant coach at Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa.

Will Christophersen:

Christophersen joins the experienced Handelsman and Nathan on the Bucks staff in his first year as a coach. A former pitcher, Christophersen took the mound for the Bucks for three seasons between 2019-2023. During that time, he also played for Michigan State University and the University of Iowa. Christophersen last pitched in the Los Angeles Angels organization for the Inland Empire 66ers at the Single-A level.

The Bucks roster features a total of seven players from Power 4 schools, all of which are from the ACC. Offensively, Waterloo’s lineup will feature catcher Luca Perriello and third baseman Jake Slade from Virginia Tech, second baseman Peyton Young and outfielder Jake Bechtel from North Carolina State University and outfielder Trey Butler from the University of Louisville.

 

Furthermore, the Bucks welcome back three hitters from their lineup last year. Outfielder Larry Edwards and first baseman Marcus Heusohn both from McNeese State University along with second baseman Cole Smith from Bradley University return to the roster from the 2024 team. Out of all the batters, seven are lefties, 13 are righties, and one is a switch hitter. To start the summer, the Bucks present depth at every position with four catchers, 13 infielders and nine outfielders.

 

The pitching staff also exhibits great availability with 20 arms on the squad, seven of which are lefties. Two of those southpaws hail from ACC schools with Opening Day starter Eli Pillsbury coming from North Carolina State University and Parker Sweeney coming from Virginia Tech. The group also contains two returners from last year’s club with right-handers Aidan Elfering and Luke Riggs.

 

The Waterloo Bucks open their 31^st season with the Duluth Huskies at Riverfront Stadium on Monday, May 26^th, at 2:35 pm (CDT). For more information, fans can visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App.