After clocking out in the summertime, INB’s Retail Sales Manager Cayla Keyes is usually dashing to a baseball field somewhere in Central Illinois to cheer on her 12-year-old son, Greyson, who plays for Top Tier Springfield 12U.
Tis the season for travel sports parents who are busy balancing their careers and personal lives with the packed schedules of their children’s sports.
“Baseball is his passion, and he puts in the work every single day to get better,” Cayla shares.
This year is especially exciting for Cayla’s family. Not only will they be traveling around the Midwest for baseball, but Greyson was also selected to represent the USA at the Latin American Baseball Classic in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“Out of thousands of kids across the country, he was selected as a catcher, and we couldn't be prouder,” Cayla says. “Watching Greyson grow as an athlete and person has been such a joy. It’s incredible to see his dedication pay off, and being able to share in his journey is something we cherish.”
All In for the Game
Cayla is one of many INB employees who go the extra mile to support their children’s athletic dreams.
Tom Whooley, commercial lender at INB Champaign, has two sons involved with the Mahomet Diamond Dogs, and he also serves as treasurer of the organization – budgeting for tournaments, ordering uniforms, tracking fundraising, and fielding questions from parents.
Last year, Tom’s sons played a combined 110 games between March and July, traveling from Omaha to Indiana with barely a weekend off. This year promises the same.
“If you’re a parent involved in travel baseball, you know there’s no such thing as a ‘normal weekend’,” Tom says. “For my family, our calendar revolves around tournaments, practices and hitting cages. Life is anything but slow-paced.”
INB Communications Officer Lindsay Van Zele knows the feeling. Her two middle school-aged daughters play club/travel volleyball, with the season starting in the fall and ending in May. Her oldest, Addison, also plays travel softball, which starts in January and ends in July.
“I love seeing them excel at what they love doing,” Lindsay says. “When you put in time for practice and games, it’s great to see improvements in both skill and attitude. The biggest challenge: being in two places at one time!”
A Balancing Act
Juggling practices, games and work requires serious planning – and help from family. And Lindsay and her husband Nate, who is AVP, deposit operations at INB, have their own responsibilities outside of the office to work around too: Lindsay serves on the Pleasant Plains Village Board of Trustees and Nate serves as treasurer of their church council.
“Making sure we are at those meetings first and then coordinating who’s driving who to our kids’ sporting event – whether it be in Springfield or two hours away for a weekend tournament – is super important,” Lindsay notes.
Cayla is quick to point out her gratitude for INB’s understanding and flexibility.
“Balancing work and sports life takes planning, but my husband and I are fortunate to work for companies that value family and offer the flexibility needed to support Greyson,” she says. “We also have a great support system of family and friends who step in when needed.”
While family dinners may not happen regularly, Tom says his family prioritizes quality family time during car rides. He also appreciates the ability to work from the bleachers between games or answer emails during warmups, staying on top of his bank responsibilities and client relationships.
“With kids on two different teams, there are weekends when my wife and I are in different cities, trying to juggle two schedules and still stay connected as a family. You learn to live out of a duffel bag and be okay with fast food dinners,” he says. “It can be a grind, but the one positive thing is most of these tournaments don’t start game play until Friday afternoon.”
On Deck
While many INB staff are seasoned travel sports parents, we have more who are in the “on deck circle.” Zach Ponder, commercial lender at INB Peoria, has been supporting his oldest son’s passion for baseball and soccer for several years, traveling around the Peoria area for rec games and helping to coach his baseball team.
And his schedule is about to get a whole lot busier: Zach’s son just made a local competitive soccer team. While Zach and his wife are a little nervous about adding to a calendar that includes activities with two younger children, they’re also happy to see their son pursue this new journey.
“We’re excited for Will to play and get this experience and to see his growth over the next year in a sport he loves,” Zach says. “And we know this phase won’t last long, so we just want to remember to enjoy every minute of it – no matter how chaotic and hectic it might get.”
Lindsay offers great advice for Zach and other fellow travel parents: stay organized and budget-conscious!
“Travel sports are a big commitment. Make sure you have support to assist with driving to practices and games,” Lindsay advises. “Also, keeping your finances in check is a must. I try to remember packing snacks for away games and bringing our own refillable water bottles. Spending extra money on the road coming and going from games and tournaments is super easy to do.”
Is it worth the extra expense and intense schedule, though? All of our parents agree: absolutely!
“Supporting my kids through the season is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. I get a front-row seat to their growth – not just as athletes, but as teammates, competitors, and young men learning life lessons through the game,” Tom shares. “There’s something special about watching them bounce back from a strikeout or pull together as a team after a tough loss. The pride in their eyes when they execute a big play, the camaraderie in the dugout, the shared postgame ice cream stops – they’re moments you just don’t get back. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”