Softball has played a large part of Wendi (Siedschlag) Wipperfurth’s life. As a child she learned the game, then played in high school and college, only to eventually fall in love with coaching.

“Honestly, I knew sports would be a part of my life forever in one way or another,” she said.

Wendi was a three-year varsity player at Monroe High School, earning second-team all-conference honors as a junior in 2000 and first-team all-conference as a senior in 2001. She was also a second-team all-state selection her senior year.

She fondly remembers her time on the diamond in Monroe. As a sophomore in 1999, the Cheesemakers won the regional. Then, as a junior in 2000, she proudly remembers when the team took a big step forward as a program, knocking off rival Verona.

“We never beat them and they knocked us out of post season two out of my three years playing for Monroe,” she said.

Playing the game was only half the fun, however. “Playing in the summer on Sunday nights then going to the Sky-Vu with some of the team after … (I) cherish the friendships I still have with my teammates,” she said.

Wendi and her four siblings grew up on a farm outside of Monroe, and she said she got the encouragement she needed as a young player from her parents, Jim and Betty Siedschlag. 

“People that surrounded me always believed in my capabilities, beginning with my parents and family who was always there encouraging and guiding me,” Wendi said. “Then my high school softball coach Dale Buvid — he helped me grow so much as a person and athlete by holding me accountable and pushing me to be the best I could.”

In college at UW-Platteville, Wendi was a three-time all-conference pick and was a member of the 2003 WIAC conference championship team. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Physical Education and Health in 2005. In 2018, she completed her Master of Arts degree in Pedagogy of Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa.

After her playing days ended, she moved onto coaching. She said she had a “light bulb” moment as a senior in high school that helped take her down her life’s course. 

“I was helping Dale Buvid with a summer camp … I was working with a younger camper on how to catch a fly ball. She was struggling but when I began working with her, she starting catching most of the balls thrown to her,” she said. “I also love helping people and working with others to become better.”

She was the assistant softball coach in Solon, Iowa, from 2007-11, while she also taught high school PE and health. During her five years in Solon, she married her husband, Keith, in 2009. He had begun working at the University of Dubuque after graduating college, and Wendi decided to apply for jobs within an hour’s radius of Dubuque. 

She didn’t expect what came next.

“It was always a dream of mine to coach college softball, as I love the sport and felt I had a lot to give to others,” she said. In 2011 she took over as the head coach at the University of Dubuque, a post she held until 2018. “I always thought I would be a high school coach and didn’t expect my dream opportunity to become available at such a young age. I felt I could teach people skills about softball and loved the sport that taught me so much about myself.”

She said if she had known she would have become a college coach so young, she would have tried to be a softball graduate assistant before graduating, but she doesn’t regret her choices and the path she took to get there. 

She also learned that a lifelong dream may not be the final dream, after all. “Being adaptable and have the ability to adjust to change is important in all aspects of life,” she said.

After seven seasons she realized that coaching at the college level was too much of a grind. In her last years at the helm, she second guessed her career move and wondered what could have been if she had continued teaching and coaching at the high school level. However, by sticking it out at Dubuque, she was first in line when a new door opened up in the athletic department’s administration.

“It was a rewarding but a challenging experience, and I found myself wanting to return to a profession where I could make an impact on more than just athletics. Opportunities in my career path presented themselves and I took advantage of the opportunity,” Wendi said. “I will also be honest and say I was burnt out of coaching college and felt I needed a career change, but wanted to stay a part of athletics.”

In her seven seasons, she became the school’s all-time winningest softball coach. Her teams went a combined 98-168 (.416 winning percentage). The best year came in 2014 when the Spartans were 22-15 overall and 8-6 in conference play. 

When she stopped being the coach in 2018, she moved into the athletic administration department at the school. 

She first became the assistant to the athletic director, but not long after the associate athletic director position became available, which is the position she now holds. Wendi is also the athletic department’s senior women’s administrator.

She said she feels right at home as an administrator. “I can be honest and say I never thought I would be in the position I am currently in my life. I envisioned myself coaching my entire life, but feel being an administrator is where I am meant to be. I can work with and make an impact in all sports and athletes.

“UD has is a great place to be employed and cares so much for their employees and students. It is a blessing to be a part of this institution and am very thankful my employer believed enough in my capabilities to hire me in a different position,” she said.

Wendi says being an hour from her hometown has its benefits.

“My hometown has a special place in my heart. I still call it my home,” she said. “Growing up on a dairy farm I have a lot of great memories, but Monroe area is the most beautiful landscape in the Midwest.”

She said Cheese Days is always a source of fun memories, as is the annual Green County Fall Nationals Tractor Pull. “My fondest memories are when I am spending time with my family and friends,” she said.

Her advice for young people is to surround themselves with others who will encourage and help her grow. 

“Negativity will only bring you down and discourage you from reaching your goals. Remember what your true aspirations are and know those aspirations may change,” she said. “Any goal takes hard work and dedication — don’t just assume it will be easy and come naturally because one day, you will be faced with difficult choices only hard work and experience will be able to get you through.”

Finally, she said, young people need to enjoy the moment and not spend so much time thinking about the past — or the future. “You will miss out on the present experience,” she said.