Bucks Coach Reaches Managerial Milestone

In his third year guiding the Waterloo Bucks, Travis Kiewiet is quickly moving up the ranks as one of the best field managers in Northwoods League history. Thursday night (June 19, 2014), he reached a personal milestone.

Kiewiet recorded his 100th career victory when the Bucks beat Eau Claire, 5-4, on the road. His overall record now stands at 100-63, following the win over the Express.

Kiewiet has been with the Bucks since 2008. He was a Waterloo coach for four years before being named the team's ninth manager prior to the 2012 season. Kiewiet becomes the third skipper to win at least 100 games with the club, joining Eric Snider and Darrell Handelsman.

Snider is Waterloo's all-time winningest manager, compiling a 161-86 record while guiding the Bucks from their inaugural 1995 campaign through 1998. Handelsman replaced Snider and managed the club to a 160-108 mark from 1999 to 2002.

Kiewiet is the 18th manager to record triple-digit career wins in the Northwoods League and currently ranks 18th in all-time league victories. He will move into a 17th-place tie on the managerial list with Waterloo's next win. Kiewiet is eight victories away from becoming the 14th winningest field manager in Northwoods League history.

Kiewiet's milestone victory at Eau Claire Thursday came on a night when the Bucks extended their winning streak to a season-high six games. Waterloo is 15-9 overall and is currently in third-place in the North Division standings, 2 1/2 games out of first-place.

The Bucks open a four-game home stand at 7:05 tonight, hosting the Duluth Huskies at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo.

Kiewiet earned NWL Manager-of-the-Year honors in 2013 after guiding the Bucks to a league-record 51 regular-season victories. Waterloo won both half-season titles in the North Division last season and made its first playoff appearance since 2002.