Gert Wilcziek
Member
2009 WHPA Hall of Fame
WHPA Hall of Fame Introduction:
Gert Wilcziek was the youngest of 10 children & was raised on a farm. Besides farm chores, Gert's mother taught her how to crochet & to this day she donates crocheted items to community fund-raising events. She's co-chair of the Fall Festivals at her church. She taught herself how to play the concertina & played in two old-time bands, plus entertaining at several nursing homes in the Whitehall area.
In 1982 Gert met Ron Wilcziek. They married in 1985. Ron was a commercial painter & Gert helped him whenever she wasn't working at the nursing home, where she continues to work three days a week.
In 1994, Ron was pitching with the Eau Claire Horseshoe Club & one night invited Gert to cheerlead & keep score. Later, the men's league needed a sub pitcher so Gert began pitching...& the rest is history!!! She started pitching in 1994 with the Eau Claire Club & a few years ago a highlight was throwing 49 ringers out of 50 shoes (against me! Elly McCarn.) In 1998 Gert became the Eau Claire Horseshoe Club's Sanctioned League Director. She's won the Wis. State Ladies Championship 9 times;
has placed in the Top 10 of the World Tournament Ladies Championship Division 7 times...twice finishing in 4th place & twice in 5th place. She took 1st place in Class "B" in the 1998 World Tourney held in Ainsworth, NE, & 1st in Class "B" in the 2001 World held in Hibbing, MN. And in Springfield, IL this year, she placed 3rd in the Senior Ladies Division at the World.
In 2004, Gert & Ron won the WI State Doubles Championship Tournament. Gert also placed in Sanctioned Adult League Top 10 list, mostly 1st in high ringer average & high ringer games...sometimes taking 2nd place. She has had the highest average of 82.9% in Women's WI Sanctioned State Tournaments. Her most historical accomplishment was in 2007 when she pitched a perfect game in our State Tournament...26 consecutive ringers! In its 85 years of existence, this was the first perfect game ever pitched (by a man or a woman) in a Wisconsin State Tournament.
It gives me, & our state, great pleasure in introducing this quality & talented pitcher...GERT WILCZIEK.
Elly McCarn