APPLETON, Wis. — Keith Wilk and Landan Coates recently shot hoops together inside the Community First Champion Center in Grand Chute. With the court to themselves, they played a game of Around the World. Sports are one of the many things the two bond over.
“This year will be our sixth year of match,” said Wilk.
The two were paired together through the Outagamie County Mentoring program. Coates was 10 years old when they first met and one of their first activities was swimming lessons.
“We were making slime and throwing the ball around and doing younger kids’ stuff, which is fun, which is great. But now he just turned 16, got his temporary driver’s license, so we’ve gone to the making slime stage to we’re out practicing driving,” said Wilk.
Coates appreciates their time together.
“Just someone that would like want to listen to what I have to say and then help me out and he’s done all that,” said Coates.
The program matches kids ages 6 to 17 with an adult who can give them the attention they need. Mentoring program coordinator Kayla Yernesek said consistency and having a big heart are keys to being a good mentor.
“All the kids who meet regularly with their mentors are less likely to commit crimes, they are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, less likely to skip school. They have an increased level of self-esteem, they have fewer depressive symptoms,” said Yernesek.
In the game, Wilk got his shot going and hit a 3-pointer to finish Around the World first. Coates still had a long shot to tie, but he needed to hit a lot of shots.
Wilk said he participated in other mentoring programs in the past but wanted to get involved in this one when he retired.
“It’s just important for kids to have meaningful, caring adults in their life. Whether that’s mom or dad or an uncle or a big brother or a guy like me,” said Wilk.
Wilk is married and said while he does provide a big benefit to Coates, the mentorship allowed him to do a lot of activities that his wife simply wasn’t interested in.
“This is a great opportunity for me to have a buddy and a friend just to do stuff with, hang out with. We watch Packers games,” said Wilk.
Yernesek explained that the mentors are expected to spend between 4-8 hours a month with their match and the program also provides several fun group outings, like baseball games or trips to Bay Beach. Currently, the program has 40 matches, but another 35 kids are on a waiting list, awaiting their own mentor to come along.
“Knowing that there is someone in your corner cheering you on, there to support you, is a really powerful thing,” said Yernesek.
Coates doesn’t lack confidence, especially with Wilk in his corner. Undaunted by the challenge of completing the entire Around the World circuit from scratch, he started hitting shots. Coates missed a couple, but hit all of his “chance” shots. He lined up for the tying three pointer and missed, then used his last “chance” shot and nailed it. It was hard to tell who was happier, the mentor or the mentee.
“That was unbelievable. He made like 12 shots in a row,” said Wilk.
Both competitors seemed pleased to leave things in a tie.
“The next game will be at my house,” said Wilk. “Home court advantage.”
Wilk’s positive impact on Coates will keep paying dividends. Coates said that in the future he plans to be a mentor to pay it forward to someone else that could use a little more attention from an adult.