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Published On: October 22nd, 2024
Northwoods League Announces Promotion, Community Program, Outstanding Theme Night and Team MVP of the Year
Lakeshore, Traverse City, Kenosha, Traci Wisz from Wausau, and Ashley Kouba from Madison are honored.

Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League has announced that Traci Wisz of the Wausau Woodchucks has been named the 2024 Northwoods League Baseball Most Valuable Team Member, with the Woodchucks also being nominated for 2024 Organization of the Year and President and General Manager Ryan Treu being nominated for 2024 Executive of the Year. Ashley Kouba from the Madison Night Mares has been named the 2024 Northwoods League Softball Most Valuable Team Member. In another vote by team officials, the Traverse City Pit Spitters were awarded the Promotion of the Year for their Corgis and Wieners night, the Lakeshore Chinooks were awarded the Community Program of the Year for their Make-A-Wish Wisconsin program and the Kenosha Kingfish won Outstanding Theme Night for their Kenosha Kickers alternate identity.

Traci Wisz just finished her 9th season with the Woodchucks. Since joining the Woodchucks front office in 2015 Traci has held a variety of positions with the team. She is currently the Vice President, Ticket Sales and Fan Experience and she oversees everything related to ticket sales, fan experience and marketing. Traci attended Minnesota State University, Mankato and holds a degree in Recreation Management.

The Woodchucks are proud to have Traci represent their front office at countless community events in Wausau and beyond. She serves as a mentor to many women who seek to make their career in sports. Her continuous drive to achieve success is contagious and an inspiration to all who work with her, and she leads the staff to seek to strive and excel in their respective areas. Through her efforts, the Woodchucks saw a 14.5% ticket sale increase. This award is very well-deserved. Congratulations Traci!

Ashley Kouba finished her first season with the Madison Night Mares and her third season overall with the Mallards organization. Ashley began with the Mallards in 2022 as a Corporate Ticket Service Manager. She was promoted to Director of Ticket Operations and Corporate Service after the 2022 season. In 2023 she was promoted to Assistant General Manager of the Mallards and then received the same role with the Madison Night Mares for their inaugural season. Kouba holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The Kenosha Kingfish were awarded the Outstanding Theme Night of the Year for their Home Alone Night and Kenosha Kickers alternate Identity. The Kenosha Kickers are a fictional polka band from the movie Home Alone, led by John Candy’s Gus Polinski, the “Polka King of the Midwest.” In the movie, when their flight is cancelled because of snow, the band rents a moving truck and drives from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Milwaukee, which of course is located in the Kingfish’s home state of Wisconsin. The Kingfish celebrated Home Alone Night July 6.

The Lakeshore Chinooks were awarded the Community Program of the Year award. This past summer, the Lakeshore Chinooks hosted the first annual Make-A-Wish Wisconsin Day at the Ballpark. The event was an all-inclusive experience for kids in southeastern Wisconsin currently on the wish waitlist or wish kid alumni. Wish kids were able to bring their parents and siblings for the ballpark experience. Thanks to the generosity of their partner, Hupy & Abraham, kids and family members were provided complimentary game tickets, concessions voucher, and bobblehead.

The Traverse City Pit Spitters won the Promotion of the Year Award for their Corgis and Wieners Night. Corgis and Wieners night was created to celebrate two of the best kinds of dogs–corgis and wiener dogs (dachshunds). This promotion took place on Tuesday, June 11th as part of their Barks and Brews Tuesdays and featured pre-game Corgi Races.

The Northwoods League is proud to recognize these most worthy award winners for the 2024 season.