For the City Times

CENTRAL WISCONSIN — The Central Wisconsin Conference (CWC)held an athletic leadership workshop on March 5 at the Northwinds Banquet Hall in Marion, with nearly 170 student-athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators attending.

The workshop included individual reflection, small group discussion, and large group sharing of ideas to grow leadership and athletics across all interested parties in the central northern Wisconsin schools. Participants began by better understanding why they were there and then moved on to sharing core values and SMART solutions to enhance athletic experiences.

“The focus of the participants was incredible. Athletics, like all of our co-curricular activities, offers leadership opportunities for our students. Our goal with this workshop was to share best practices and opportunities across the conference and with students, parents, coaches, and administrators working together and that is exactly what happened,” said Jim Grygleski, Rosholt High School principal.

Attendees came from Amherst, Almond Bancroft, Bonduel, Bowler, Gresham, Iola-Scandinavia, Manawa, Marion, Menominee Indian, Northland Lutheran, Pacelli, Pittsville, Port Edwards, Rosholt, Shiocton, Tigerton, Tri-County, Weyauwega-Fremont, Wild Rose, Wittenberg-Birnamwood, and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran.

Todd Kuckkahn, facilitator of the workshop, said, “I was thoroughly impressed with the level of engagement by the student-athletes and the overall interaction of the participants. Each school walked out with at least one SMART goal they developed and then I shared with all of the schools what each school did, so they ended up with twenty projects to glean ideas. It was truly results-based and not just a bunch of lectures on what kids should do or be.”

Kuckkahn has been working with the third, sixth and ninth graders at the Rosholt School District on a program called, “Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn.” This program was developed through the John C. Maxwell Team and Todd is a certified, independent speaker, coach, teacher and trainer. He is also a certified trainer and consultant for DISC.