BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Lake Monsters manager Pete Wilk made countless connections during the three summers he spent in the dugout, leaving a lasting legacy for both the club and the baseball community here in Vermont. I left it. But on Wednesday, the Monsters announced the sad news that Wilk had passed away after a 15-month battle with glioblastoma. “Yeah, it was a big loss,” Monsters general manager CJ Knudsen said. “It's obviously a great loss for the Lake Monsters family, the fans, the state of Vermont, and obviously the entire sport of baseball.” Knudsen worked closely with Wilk throughout his time in Burlington and has been influenced by him on the baseball side. was obvious. “It's been a great year for us,” Knudsen said. “2021 was a really difficult year for us coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic as we restarted. And somehow Pete was able to lead the team to their first championship since 1996.” Futures League Two more trips to the Championship Series followed…but the relationships Wilk built were far more important. “Yeah, I loved Pete's smile. It was contagious,” Knudsen said. “I loved his leadership. I loved his dedication to the team and the players. He's a role model for the players.” “I got there at the end of the 2021 season. “Once I got to know him, he welcomed me with open arms and made me feel right at home,” said Colby, a Vermont Georgia native and BFA graduate. Brouillette added. Brouillette played with the Monsters all three seasons under Wilk, and he says it was Pete's personality and experience that combined to make him so effective. “Just his knowledge of the game,” Brouillette said. “That combination is also what sets him apart when you compare him to the affinity aspect with other young college players his age.” Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Wilk made the effort to come and coach the team late last summer. During that time, the team honored him with a special “Dig In for Pete” night. “He never gave up,” Knudsen said. “He was optimistic literally to the end. He was a true fighter and a true champion.” Knudsen said the outpouring of support from the league, the Monsters family and the community at large has been amazing. said. “Pete was a true leader,” he said. “On the field and off the field. And the response from our fan base, we're getting it on social media, emails, phone calls. We're all really heartbroken.” We have a special goal in mind: honoring the. “If there’s one thing I want to do this year, I want to win for Wilk.”
