Mastin brings coaching,
life experience
to Port

JEFF MASTIN

By TOM RICHARDS
Ozaukee Press staff
Posted 7-23-08

Jeff Mastin, the new activities director at Port Washington High School, knows firsthand the struggles teenage students — especially student-athletes — can go through.

Despite finishing his high school career as the leading scorer on the Hayward boys’ varsity basketball team, Mastin wasn’t always a star on the court.

“I was cut from my seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th-grade teams,” he said. “It gave me a perspective that most athletes don’t get to experience and really brought things around full circle for me. Getting my letter in basketball was one of the first goals I ever set for myself in education.”

Mastin went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business education and an athletic coaching certificate at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1989, but didn’t stop there. He also earned two master’s degrees and is pursuing a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership and policy analysis from UW-Madison.

Mastin, 44, who officially took over the Port High job Tuesday, has held a variety of teaching and administrative jobs since graduating from Eau Claire. He succeeds Eric Burke, who has become principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Port.

As activities director, Mastin said he will “ensure that all students, parents, coaches and communities have a positive experience participating in the wide variety of activities offered.”

He will also take an active role in the recruitment, hiring, development, supervision and evaluation of coaches and advisers.

Mastin most recently served as assistant principal at River Bluff Middle School in Stoughton.

From 1996 to 2000, he was the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Madison Memorial, the state’s fifth-largest high school. He also worked in the sport as an assistant girls’ coach at Verona Area High School and coached the freshman girls’ team at Sun Prairie for a season.

“I think my coaching background helps me the most,” Mastin said. “I think it helps me as an administrator in terms of dealing with coaches, students and athletes.”

Port High principal Duane Woelfel believes the school district hired a highly motivated person for the job.

“First of all, I think Jeff is a very intelligent person who has a strong work ethic,” Woelfel said.

“In an activities director, we were looking for a somebody to support and enhance the school experience for all students. Jeff is learning and is meeting with Eric to smooth over that transition.”

Mastin said his goal to have each student as involved in school activities as much as possible — something he hasn’t always seen in his own past.

“I think finding something to engage kids in, whether athletics or other activities, is another way to keep them active in their high school,” he said.

“I saw a lot of kids who weren’t engaged when I was going through school.”

As an example of how to get students involved, Mastin noted his role in motivated widespread involvement in homecoming activities at Verona High School. During a week of football-related events that culminate with a game, he tried to “get everybody involved and supporting things, not just the team. Everyone from student council members to the math club.”

During the school year, Mastin will commute to Port from Sun Prairie, where he lives with his wife Kristin, who works in marketing.

Although the couple don’t have any children, Mastin said his family has grown considerably this summer — with the addition of “the 830 students at Port that I just adopted.”

Black Hawks wait
well worth it

By TOM RICHARDS
Ozaukee Press staff
Posted 7-23-08

Superb pitching by starter Miles Mayer and reliever Conor Fisk helped the Grafton baseball team finish the regular season with a North Shore Conference win July 16.

The game began July 10 but was postponed due to rain with the score tied at 2-2 in the second inning. When play resumed, Grafton scored in the bottom of the second and added an insurance run in the fourth on the way to a 4-2 victory.

“It was a big win for us going into the (WIAA) tournament,” said Grafton coach Brian Durst, whose team improved to 2-16 in conference and 5-19 overall heading into regional play Tuesday.

“It gave us some confidence knowing we could beat a top-tier NSC team.”

Grafton grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

With two outs, Mike Kalies and Dustin Studelska were hit by pitches. Kalies advanced to third with a stolen base and came around to score on a wild pitch.

Germantown, which finished 12-6 in conference, scored twice in the second inning.

The Warhawks took advantage of an infield hit and subsequent throwing error before heavy-hitting Jared Fonn drove in a run with a fly out. Another run scored on a double.

But after play resumed, Germantown managed only one more hit and did not score again.

“When we came back on Wednesday, Miles struck out five of the first six batters he faced,” Durst said. “Conor came in (for the seventh inning) and was absolutely lights out.

“They never even threatened against him.”

Grafton scored a run to tie before the game was delayed and had the bases loaded with two outs when play resumed. Studelska drew a walk that forced in the go-ahead run.

In the fourth, Kalies struck again. He laced a two-out double, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Kalies finished the game with a hit and two runs scored for the Black Hawks, who only had five total hits.

“When Mike’s on base, he gives us a great chance of scoring, and he can also steal bases,” Durst said.

“He’s been an ignitor in the top half of our lineup. To have him and Studelska there has really helped us.”

Mayer earned the win for his six innings of work, striking out 11 and walking two. Fisk earned the save with a perfect inning in which he struck out two of the three batters he faced.

The win allowed the Hawks to avoid the basement of the NSC standings. Their lineup is at full strength for the first time this season, and improved play the last few weeks had Durst believing they could continue winning in the tournament.

“The kids have really stuck with it and stayed patient, even while the losses were piling up,” he said. “I think that we’re a better team for having gone through what we have.”

Having been at both a medium (Kiel) and large (Sheboygan South) school, Coopman is more than happy to be at a relatively smaller school.

“I think the thing I missed at South is the small school atmosphere,” Coopman said. “The people at Cedar Grove have been really helpful. That gets back to what this whole thing is really all about.

“People helping each other.”