Wisconsin

Wisconsin safety Travian Blaylock trying to savor every play, every memory of his final season

Published

5 months ago

December 25, 2023

Press Room

Wisconsin safety Travian Blaylock trying to savor every play, every memory of his final season

MADISON – Travian Blaylock was determined to make the best of a potentially frustrating development.

The sixth-year senior safety from Texas toiled for hours in the offseason recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring of 2022, started two of UW’s first three games this season and then saw his playing time reduced dramatically as the staff went with younger options.

“Obviously, it gets tough at times,” Blaylock said. “Especially when you have high expectations. But at the end of the day, I always try to bring it back to the team perspective. At this point I’m just doing whatever I can to help this team.”

For most of the season that has meant contributing on special teams and that likely will be his role when UW (7-5) faces No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1 in Tampa.

“I’m just trying to do everything in my power to make sure – with this being my last year – to leave with a good taste in my mouth.”

Travian Blaylock has traversed a long, painful road

Blaylock was hampered by injuries his first two seasons (2018 and 2019) and finally played a full season (seven games) in 2020. He was a key reserve and special teams performer in 2021, when he played in 10 games. He missed last season after suffering the knee injury in spring practice but came back this season determined to have his best overall season.

After starting against Washington State and Georgia Southern, Blaylock didn’t play at all at Purdue. Then during the off week before UW hosted Rutgers, Blaylock sensed his playing time on defense would be minimal.

Redshirt sophomore Preston Zachman and sophomore Austin Brown were getting more work and have continued to do so the remainder of the season.

“Those guys are doing great right now,” Blaylock said. “Preston is playing awesome. AB is such a young guy, but he learns and he plays so hard. He has been ballin’. Props to him.

“Everybody in the safety room works hard. Braedyn Moore hasn’t played any snaps on defense, but he works with us all week and does scout-team stuff.

“At this point it is just do whatever I can to help this team. I play for an audience of one…I play for the Lord. As long as I am out there doing what I can to give him honor and glory – even the ability to step on the field – that is my position.”

Blaylock’s last work on defense came late in the first half against Nebraska after Hunter Wohler suffered an apparent concussion.

“You have to stay ready because you never know when something like that can happen,” Blaylock said. “I practice hard and try to make an impact on special teams. That has been awesome.”

Armed with a master’s degree, Travian Blaylock has not given up on his NFL dream

Blaylock, who is married and has two young children, recently received his master’s degree in sports leadership from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

His plans for after the bowl game are to head home to Texas to train with his father, Derrick Blaylock, who played seven seasons in the NFL and owns Armed Sports Performance. Travian Blaylock has not given up on his dream of making an NFL roster.

“I just need to get in the door somewhere,” he said. “That’s what I’ve always said. Just get me in the door and you’re going to see what Travian Blaylock is about. That is my mindset.”

A benefit of moving home is that his parents can help out with baby-sitting duties.

“That is going to be awesome,” he said. “I’ll be spending a lot of time with my mom and my dad.”

How long will he pursue his NFL dream?

“I have no idea,” he said. “At this point I am taking it one day at a time. I get overwhelmed a little bit thinking that far into the future, wondering what I’m going to do.

“It is good to plan but I’m just trying to be in the moment and enjoy my time here, right now, my teammates, right now, the boys in the locker room. I love those boys. I’d do anything for those boys.

“Then I’ll let the pieces fall where they land. I’ll work my tail off.”

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Wisconsin

WI State Fair hiring event June 1st, variety of jobs available

Published

55 mins ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

WI State Fair hiring event June 1st, variety of jobs available

article

Wisconsin State Fair Park

WEST ALLIS, Wis. – The Wisconsin State Fair is fast-approaching, and it’s looking to hire the team for the 11-day event.

Those interested can attend a job fair on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the State Fair Expo Center in West Allis.

If hired, employees are required to be available to work all 11 days (Aug. 1 – Aug. 11, 2024) of the state fair and must be at least 16 years old.

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Jobs available:

Admissions: Concert Ushers, Ticket Sellers, and Ticket Takers
Facility Services: Equipment Operators and Custodians
Guest Services: Information Center Team Members
Public Safety: Public Safety Officers (18+) and Special Response Team (18+)

There will be on-site interviews where applicants will complete employment documents upon a successful interview. All applicants 18 and older will need to pass a criminal background check.

What to bring:

Resume, and employment applications will be available for those who do not bring a resume.
Proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. (Documents for I-9 verification).
Driver’s License/ID Card, Birth Certificate, School ID, etc.
Social Security Card (for payroll purposes).
A winning attitude and a smile!

If you are interested in attending, you should enter the Wisconsin State Fair Park at Gate 4, Gate 5, or use the walk-in entrance at the corner of 84th and Greenfield.

To learn more about 2024 Wisconsin State Fair, click here.

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Wisconsin

Northeast Wisconsin native VanDehy wins at final Cellcom Green Bay Marathon

Published

8 hours ago

May 20, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Wisconsin native VanDehy wins at final Cellcom Green Bay Marathon

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – The 25th Cellcom Green Bay Marathon was the last, but went out with a Northeast Wisconsin native claiming victory in the final women’s race.

Kathy VanDehy of Menasha originally planned to run the full marathon in 2019 before it was cancelled due to weather. Five years later she ran the full 26.2 mile race for the first time on Sunday.

“Really cool, really cool. I came into the race just trying to have fun and enjoy the distance and being here on the last one and just being able to do what I love. Being out there with the community support and just hearing all along the course like I don’t even know you and you’re cheering for me, that’s really fricken cool,” said VanDehy.

NIicholas Chelimo of Grand Prairie, Texas won the men’s race with a time of 2:24.32.

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Wisconsin

DNR: Plan ahead as camping demand in Wisconsin continues to rise

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Press Room

DNR: Plan ahead as camping demand in Wisconsin continues to rise

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An increasing number of people are taking to Wisconsin state parks during the summer for an outdoor favorite, camping.

Suzanna Topel has camped at Devil’s Lake State Park for over 50 years.

“Well, we love state parks,” she said. “We’ve been coming here since I was little… probably… I remember age two, three with my folks and then we took over, we began family camping with my children.”

Her family books their campsite 11 months to the day, the earliest you can secure a spot at a Wisconsin state park.

“Well, they’re kind of tricky. I have to say,” she said about the reservations. “You have to look far ahead, you can’t wait. You immediately either call the 800 number, because I’m old-schooled, that’s what I do. Or you book online if you’re computer savvy.”

Business operations sections chief for the Wisconsin DNR Chris Pedretti says while campers can book 11 months in advance, not many do.

“There is a perception out there that you have to do everything 11 months in advance because demand is so high. That’s not really the case,” he said. “In actuality, about 10% of our reservations are done at the 11-month window. So, there’s a big percentage of reservations that are done in between then.”

Pedretti adds that certain campsites book up faster than others.

“If you want to go to on Memorial Day weekend to Door County, there’s going to be a lot of competition for those sites.” But there’s a lot of other state parks and forests around the state that have sites available as well and they all offer great things to get out and enjoy the outdoors.”

With over 6,000 sites spread out across the state, there are plenty of options this summer. Even if you have your site set on one spot in particular.

“Sometimes you’re lucky, people will get cancel and you can get it. But if you want electricity, you’ve gotta grab ‘em while they’re hot,” Topel said.

Pedretti says people looking to book a particular campsite should keep checking their website as cancelations are made on a regular basis. He adds there is a notification feature that can alert your phone if a property becomes available.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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