Hello everyone! My name is Josh Dretzka. I am 22 years old and is currently a senior at UW-Whitewater. I’m majoring in Elementary Education, minoring in Special Education, and I have an emphasis in Middle School Education and Coaching. I am planning to graduate in the Spring of 2023, and hopefully start teaching in Mukwonago by the Fall of 2023. I’m currently an 8th grade football coach for the Mukwonago Braves Youth Football Program, and has been coaching for the Braves after I graduated high school at Mukwonago in 2018. Teaching and Coaching is my passion in life, and I can’t see myself doing something else with my life. Some nights I can’t fall asleep because I’m so excited to teach/coach my students/players. My plan is to teach and coach until I retire. This wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for my family, and my girlfriend for 4 years, 5 years in September, Abbie Hammer. They have been giving me the help and support I needed to achieve my goals, and to still fall in love with the game that I played in High School, and now coaching hopefully for the rest of my life. I’ve been living in Mukwonago for 19 years since my family moved from New Berlin in 2003. I have created so many memories in Mukwonago, along with meeting some amazing people that live in this awesome community. These memories and people have shaped me into the man I am today, and I can not wait to give back my help, and my knowledge, as a thank you for what this community did to make me call Mukwonago home.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I live with a family of 4, including myself. My mom (Shelly) started her own HR business, aHRrow, for the past 2 years and is thriving today. My dad (Kenny) has been the Director of Operations for AT&T for the past 21 years. Finally, my brother (Cole) is now attending Winona State University as a sophomore majoring in Business Administration and has a minor in Business Law. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
In high school, I started working at the YMCA in Mukwonago. I worked there for a couple of months before my position was terminated. After that, I started to bounce around jobs in Mukwonago including Garden Mart, BP, etc. Once I attended UW-Whitewater, I started working at Morning Star Golf Club as a waiter and cart attendant. I also started to coach for the Mukwonago Braves Youth Football Program shortly after. Now I’m working at the Mukwonago Walmart and planning on getting my bachelor degree in education and coaching at UW-Whitewater to hopefully become a teacher in Mukwonago in the next two-three years.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
My all-time favorite restaurants in Mukwonago are hands down David Allen Allens and Sol De Mexico. You’ll most likely find me at Sol De Mexico on a Tuesday night with my family for $1 taco nights.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I’ve been living in Mukwonago for 19 years, and have been working in Mukwonago for 6 years. I’m now working at the Mukwonago Walmart and on my 4th year of coaching football for the Mukwonago Braves.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Hands down the most interesting person I’ve met in our community is Craig Vertz aka “The Mayor”. Craig has been an active member/advocate for the Mukwonago sports community for as long as I remember. If there was a “true” Face of Mukwonago, it would be Craig Vertz.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
If I could travel anywhere in the world right now, it would be Ireland. I’ve always wanted to travel to Ireland to see the beautiful landscapes and the mighty castles that are a part of the history and culture of Ireland.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
One of my favorite movies of all-time include Remember The Titans, Dead Poet Society, and the Indiana Jones series. My all-time favorite TV shows include South Park, Family Guy, Bobs Burgers, and Friends.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
The advice I would give people would be a quote I heard from legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” I tell people that quote because we all have are ups and downs throughout life, especially from the last two years. When I’m in my lowest time of teaching, coaching, and in life, I just tell myself that quote. Overall, fight for what you love, and don’t you ever give up, because life doesn’t control you, you control it.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
One thing on my bucket list is to be the head coach for the Mukwonago Indians one day, and to coach at the college level where hopefully one day I can coach in the NFL.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
My go to artist is Post Malone. I’ve been listening to his music since he released his debut album in 2016. I have all of his albums on CD’s, and I always listen to them when I’m on my way to work, teaching, school, and coaching.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A current business that makes me feel nostalgic about this community is Jay’s Lanes. I can’t think of another business where you can see everyone from Mukwonago is one building. I’ve seen coaches, teachers, students, business owners, etc. all from Mukwonago to bowl and hang out at Jays Lanes. My friends still call me nuts when I say the best pizza in Mukwonago is at a bowling alley.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would have lunch with Post Malone because he’s my favorite artist, and it would be cool to sit down with him and have a 1-on-1 conversation about his life and how he became famous, along with having a couple of drinks with him too. I would meet him at Fork in the Road because it’s the nicest restaurants in town and he would love the food options that Fork in the Road has to offer, especially the giant pretzel.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
My favorite/unique thing about this community is all of us coming to Hensler Field on a Friday night watching Coach Gnewuch and the Mukwonago Indians whoop on who ever comes to their turf.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In 5-10 years, I see myself living here in Mukwonago with my wife and kid. Hopefully I will be teaching in the Mukwonago School District and coaching with the Mukwonago Indians.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A lot of people in this community don’t know that I have Autism. Autism is a mental disorder that affects how people communicate, learn, behave, and adapt. A lot of people don’t believe I have Autism when I tell them, that’s because I’m high functioning due to the many years of therapy to help me adapt with my everyday life. I don’t let my Autism define me. I also don’t let restrict me from doing what I love.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The most beautiful place I have been was Yellowstone National Park. I went there on vacation with my family back in 2012.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
My favorite month of the whole year is October because its prime football season and the leaves start to change colors. Halloween is getting close and I enjoy picking pumpkins, corn mazes, drinking hot apple cider, etc. My favorite holiday is Christmas because I love spending time with my family and listening to Christmas music while the snow is falling slowly outside. Finally, my favorite day is September 17th because that’s when I fell in love with the love of my life, Abbie.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Hensler Field on a Friday night during football season.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My family, my girlfriend, and my closest friends.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Some of my favorite smells include the turf on Hensler Field, the BBQ at David Allen Allens, and the smells of the Christmas Tree and Peppermint during the winter season.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
God, Family, Mukwonago
