Kenosha Reporter

Kenosha Unified School District is celebrating the upcoming induction of John Matera into the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 

Matera will be inducted on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the Madison West Marriott.

“Join us in congratulating John Matera, Tremper High School's baseball coach, and athletic director, on his upcoming induction into the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in February 2023,” KUSD said in a Facebook post. “Coach Matera has a record of 304-146 during his 19-year coaching tenure. He also has led the team to 10 Regional Titles and six Southeast Conference Championships. Congratulations, Coach, and thank you for all you have done for our student-athletes throughout the years! #KUSDproud #KUSDfamily." 

In addition, Matera oversees the school's sporting department. He has a 304-146 career record and has led the Trojans to five Southeast Conference championships and ten WIAA regional victories in his 20 seasons as head coach. Andy Smith, Red Oberbruner, John Cibrario, Lee Hlavka, Joe O'Neill, Augie Schmidt and Randy Krehbiel are other Kenosha coaches who have been honored with inductions into the Hall of Fame, according to Kenosha.com.

Tremper was one of only 12 Wisconsin high school baseball teams to have earned the Team Academic Excellence award from the American Baseball Coaches Association last season. The award is provided only if the team earns at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA. 

“We’re extremely proud of our students and the commitment they’ve made to excel both on the field and in the classroom. It is definitely a team effort supported by caring parents and outstanding teachers and school staff,” Matera said at the time, Racine County Eye reported. “We’re very fortunate to have the Tremper community supporting our students and helping them achieve at a high level.”

Two of Matera’s recent players are currently playing pro baseball. Justin Lavey, a 2016 draft pick for the Chicago White Sox currently is connected to the Seattle Mariners. The second baseman in 2022 had a .660 OPS and .230 average at Advanced Class A, with six home runs and 33 RBIs. He played college ball at Louisville. Jacob DeLabio plays in the minor leagues for the Houston Astros farm teams. The Carthage graduate participated in 23 games for four minor league teams last season. His record as a starting pitcher for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers was 1-3 with a 2.45 ERA.