Where are they now: Former NIACC baseball player Max Waletich

By KIRK HARDCASTLE        

NIACC sports information director 

Several members of the 2013 NIACC baseball team called themselves "the Renegades." 

The Trojans with that group of "Renegades" made school history by becoming the first baseball team to win a regional title and play in the NJCAA Division II World Series. 

At the World Series in Enid, Okla., the Trojans won their first two games in dramatic fashion and placed fifth in their initial Series appearance. 

Max Waletich, the first baseman on the 2013 Trojans, has very fond memories of that magical 2013 season. 

"Everyone on that team was competitive to the bone," Waletich recalled, "but one thing that most people might not realize is that we were great friends on and off the field. 

"We spent every hour of every day together and had a lot of fun, but we knew that if we lost, that was the end of us all being together. That was the real fuel to the fire behind the 2013 NIACC baseball team." 

Travis Hergert, the head coach of the 2013 Trojans, called Waletich a leader on that squad. 

"He was the glue that kept The Renegades together," Hergert said. "His baseball knowledge was off the charts. 

"He is a high character guy that comes from a great family." 

Waletich was an honorable mention all-region selection in 2013 as he hit .329 with nine doubles and 33 RBIs. 

Waletich drove in two runs in the NJCAA Region XI title game, which turned out to be an 8-6 win over Iowa Central and sent the Trojans to the NJCAA North Plains District Tournament in Glendive, Mont. 

"There are many moments that stand out from that season," Waletich said, "but the three that are atop my list are winning the regional tournament in Waterloo, Tim Black setting the Juco College World Series record for strikeouts in a game and Hunter King's walk-off home run in the World Series." 

In the opening round of the World Series, NIACC right-hander Tim Black struck out a NJCAA Division II World Series record 16 batters in a 2-0 win over Madison College. 

In the second round, Hunter King hit a walk-off home run to lift the Trojans to a 7-6, 11-inning victory over Murray State College. 

The Trojans dropped their next two games at the World Series to bow out with a fifth-place finish in a season that will not be forgotten. 

"The 2013 team was second to none," Waletich said, "and my favorite team to be a part of. 

"It was a good combination of local talent like King, (Drew) Verstegen, (Ryan) Voves, (AJ) Hrubetz, (Robert) Swenson and (Tanner) Unkel, mixed with unbelievable international talent like (Lucas) Bakker, Black, Alex Stuart, and Reynaldo (Sala)." 

Waletich gave credit for the team's success to the NIACC coaching staff of Hergert, Pete Lauritson and Shawn Schlechter. 

"Hergert is the best leader in terms in leading by example that I have ever seen," Waletich said. "You can tell when someone is as invested as you are in achieving your goals and will stop at nothing to get you there. That's Hergert. 

"But let's not forget about Pistol Pete, either. He is one of the best hitting minds in the country and a huge reason the program is where it is today. Both of those two are great coaches and their career progression speaks to that. Looking back, they also did a great job dealing with some big personalities on that team." 

After NIACC, Waletich, a Fairmont, Minn. native, transferred to Minnesota State-Mankato. 

The former NIACC walk-on was a NCAA Division II first-team all-American by the NCBWA in his senior season in 2015. As a senior, he hit .423 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs to help lead the Mavericks to a record of 43-9. 

"Max was a great example of our process-oriented approach at NIACC," Hergert said. "He deserved every bit of what he became because he put in the work. 

"He earned it. I'm really proud of everything he has accomplished, not only in his baseball career but everything thereafter." 

Waletich hasn't forgotten the process-oriented approach that was taught to him in his years at NIACC in 2012-13. 

"Hergert and Pete were big on trusting the process," Waletich said. "Don't worry about the outcome, just trust in the process and the results will follow. 

"I am a firm believer in that philosophy and I attribute a lot of my success athletically to that and I still keep that mindset professionally, which I think really helps."

WALETICH CURRENTLY WORKS at Allianz Life, which is a financial services company headquartered in Minneapolis. 

He lives with his wife Emilie in Victoria, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis. 

"Pre COVID-19, I traveled all over the United States weekly so I've been fortunate to see and experience many cities and states," Waletich said, "but what I enjoy most is I get to work with some of the most successful financial advisers across the country and present strategies that they can use to help put their clients in a better financial position. 

"It's a tough but rewarding career especially right now with the stock market so volatile and interest rates are as low as we have ever seen them." 

Waletich said he knew a career in finance was the career path for him for a long time. 

"When I was young, I had a paper route and after months of riding my bike to the bank to deposit my checks, the teller asked me if I have ever heard of a "CD" (certificate of deposit). 

"She explained that I could make money on my money and I didn't have to do anything. My grade school mind was blown and ever since I have been addicted to finance." 

Waletich says his time going to school and playing baseball at NIACC help him in his daily life. 

"I know this is a very cliché answer but attending NIACC was undoubtedly one of the best decisions I have ever made," he said. "Competing in any sport creates discipline and life lessons but one aspect that is overlooked is the mental training that we did as a baseball team." 

Waletich said he misses playing the game of baseball. 

"I miss getting all fired up with my teammates before big games," he said, "beating a team that's supposed to beat you, knocking around a good pitcher, all of the things that make baseball great." 

Waletich said he remains in contact with several of his "Renegade" teammates. 

"Absolutely," he said. "I lived with Joey Reed at NIACC, who I also lived with for three more years at Minnesota State. 

"Joey and his wife live near Minneapolis so we still get together. I am also still very close with the original "Renegade" crew consisting of AJ Hrubetz, Ryan Voves, Hunter King, and myself. 

"We still talk on a weekly basis and get together as often as we can."