Harris Captured UW-Oshkosh’s First NCAA Division III Individual Title
UW-Oshkosh continues its celebration of NCAA Division III Week by recognizing the school's 142 individual champions in Division III postseason competition.
Division III Week began Monday (April 13) and concludes Sunday (April 19) for the organization's 446 member institutions.
This year's Division III Week has taken place during an unprecedented time in our nation's history, but its purpose is to observe and celebrate the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on campus and in the surrounding community.
The event is part of Division III's Identity Initiative, which was introduced in 2010 to sharpen the division's identity and to enable schools and conferences to more effectively explain why they prefer to compete in Division III. The initiative has been guided by a strategic-positioning platform, describing Division III as a place where student-athletes can "follow your passions and develop your potential" within an approach that combines rigorous academics, competitive sports and an opportunity to pursue other interests.
Division III student-athletes have an opportunity to compete for an individual title in 14 sports (7 men & 7 women).
The first Division III Championship was conducted in 1973 for men's cross country. The event was held at Wheaton College (Ill.) and won by Ashland University (Ohio). Division III's first individual champion was crowned at the championship – Steve Foster from Ashland University.
The first Division III women's championships were conducted in 1981 in field hockey and cross country. The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) won the field hockey title at Westfield State College (Mass.) while Central College (Iowa) captured the cross country crown at Carthage College (Wis.). The cross country championship determined Division III's first woman to win an individual title – Cynthia Strum from Westfield State College.
UW-Oshkosh has a proud history of athletic participation and achievement, dating back to 1893, when the school's first football team was formed. Today UW-Oshkosh's 600-plus student-athletes are members of at least one of the school's 19 intercollegiate programs.
UW-Oshkosh became a Division III member in the late 1970s. Since then the Titans have won won 142 Division III individual titles in eight sports – 50 in women's outdoor track & field, 43 in women's indoor track & field, 19 in men's outdoor track & field, 17 in men's indoor track & field, four in women's swimming & diving and three apiece in women's cross country, men's swimming & diving and wrestling.
UW-Oshkosh's individual championship total ranks fourth in Division III history. Kenyon College (Ohio) leads all Division III schools with 553 individual championships while Williams College (Mass.) follows with 202.
The first NCAA Division III individual champion in UW-Oshkosh history was Paul Harris, who won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.78 seconds at the 1984 Men's Swimming & Diving Championship in Atlanta, Ga. His performance helped the Titans finish 27th in the team competition. Harris is still the only male swimming national champion in UW-Oshkosh history.
UW-Oshkosh's next three Division III individual titles were all won in men's outdoor track & field – 1985 by Max Harn in the 800-meter run, 1987 by Jamie Pollard in the 5,000-meter run and 1989 by Michael Neumann in the discus.
The fourth UW-Oshkosh Division III individual title was won by Ann Fink, who became the school's first female national champion when she won the long jump with a leap of 19-2 1/4 at the 1989 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Naperville, Ill. Fink also finished eighth in the 400-meter hurdles to help the Titans place second in the team competition.
Christy Cazzola owns the most Division III individual titles in UW-Oshkosh history with 17. She won the 2012 cross country title while winning indoor track & field championships in the 800-meter run (2012), mile run (2012, 2013 & 2014), 3,000-meter run (2014), 5,000-meter run (2013) and distance medley relay (2013 & 2014) and outdoor track & field crowns in the 800-meter run (2013 & 2014), 1,500-meter run (2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014) and 5,000-meter run (2013 & 2014).
Track & field performers Matt Groose and Willy Kaul hold the UW-Oshkosh men's record for Division III individual titles with five apiece. Groose won indoor titles in the 800-meter run (2002 & 2003) and distance medley relay (2003) and outdoor championships in the 800-meter run (2001 & 2002). Kaul won indoor titles in the 5,000-meter run (2008 & 2009) and distance medley relay (2007 & 2009) and an outdoor championship in the 10,000-meter run (2009).
Including national championships held in NCAA Division I, II and III; Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women; National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics; National Collegiate Gymnastics Association; and the United States Gymnastics Federation, UW-Oshkosh has won 47 national team titles and 199 national individual titles (excluding NAIA and USGF men's gymnastics).
UW-Oshkosh NCAA Division III Individual Titles (142)
1984 Men's Swimming & Diving: Paul Harris (50-Yard Freestyle)
1985 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Max Harn (800-Meter Run)
1987 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Jamie Pollard (5,000-Meter Run)
1989 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Michael Neumann (Discus)
1989 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Ann Fink (Long Jump)
1990 Women's Indoor Track & Field: 1,600-Meter Relay (Dena Beekman, Kim Bemowski, Ann Fink, Tina Partoll)
1990 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Michael Neumann (Discus)
1990 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Stephanie Bostwick (Shot Put), Nancy Dare (1,500-Meter Run), 400-Meter Relay (Dena Beekman, Patty Boehlen, Donna Prielipp, Sherry Schulte)
1991 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Stephanie Bostwick (Shot Put), Laura Horejs (1,500-Meter Run)
1991 Women's Cross Country: Laura Horejs
1992 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Stephanie Bostwick (Shot Put), Laura Horejs (1,500-Meter Run)
1992 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Scott Steuernagel (3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
1992 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Stephanie Bostwick (Shot Put), Laura Horejs (1,500-Meter Run)
1993 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Melissa Mueller (High Jump)
1994 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Dave McLaren (Shot Put)
1994 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Tricia Haralson (Shot Put), Melissa Mueller (High Jump, 55-Meter Hurdles)
1994 Women's Swimming & Diving: Cheri Tiegs (100-Yard Backstroke, 200-Yard Backstroke)
1994 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Dave McLaren (Shot Put)
1995 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Tara (Harding) Jaeger (Long Jump)
1995 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Lisa Melendez (400-Meter Run)
1996 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Tara (Harding) Jaeger (Long Jump), Melissa Oleson (Shot Put, 20-Pound Weight Throw)
1996 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Lisa Melendez (400-Meter Run)
1997 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Melissa Oleson (20-Pound Weight Throw)
1997 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Melissa Oleson (Shot Put)
1997 Women's Cross Country: Tiffany (Speckman) Ebensperger
1998 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Tiffany (Speckman) Ebensperger (5,000-Meter Run)
1999 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Shannon King (High Jump, Triple Jump)
1999 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Abe Mendoza (3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
1999 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Jill Kincaid (Triple Jump)
2000 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Shannon King (Triple Jump), Abe Mendoza (3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
2001 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Shannon King (High Jump)
2001 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Matt Groose (800-Meter Run)
2002 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Matt Groose (800-Meter Run)
2002 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Carrie Danielewicz (High Jump), Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run), Distance Medley Relay (Susan Hardtke, Jessica Marx, Jackie Munoz, Liz Woodworth)
2002 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Matt Groose (800-Meter Run)
2002 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run)
2003 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Matt Groose (800-Meter Run), Distance Medley Relay (Paul Brown, Matt Groose, Kevin Klueger, Pat Seger)
2003 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Deena Heins (20-Pound Weight Throw), Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run)
2003 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Chris Jensen (Discus)
2003 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Deena Heins (Hammer Throw), Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run)
2004 Men's Indoor Track & Field: David Cisewski (5,000-Meter Run)
2004 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (20-Pound Weight Throw), Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run), Distance Medley Relay (Jackie Munoz, Julie Hoch, Emily Steinhafel, Liz Woodworth)
2004 Women's Swimming & Diving: Rachel Heitkamp (1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving)
2004 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: John LeRoy (3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
2004 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (Hammer Throw), Liz Woodworth (800-Meter Run, 1,500-Meter Run)
2005 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (Shot Put, 20-Pound Weight Throw)
2005 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Kevin Deering (Decathlon)
2005 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (Discus, Shot Put)
2006 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (Shot Put, 20-Pound Weight Throw)
2006 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Robyn Jarocki (Discus, Shot Put)
2007 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Brandon Houle (35-Pound Weight Throw), Distance Medley Relay (Nate Boehlke, A.J. Hollanquest, Willy Kaul, Andrew McGuire)
2007 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Terri Schwamb (20-Pound Weight Throw)
2007 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Amanda Donath (400-Meter Run), Nadine Pieske (200-Meter Dash), Terri Schwamb (Hammer Throw)
2008 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Willy Kaul (5,000-Meter Run)
2008 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Terri Schwamb (Hammer Throw)
2009 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Willy Kaul (5,000-Meter Run), Distance Medley Relay (Willy Kaul, Nate Stymiest, Ben Wizner, Ben Zill)
2009 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Ayla Mitchell (Mile Run)
2009 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Tony Baker (Discus), Willy Kaul (10,000-Meter Run)
2009 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Ayla Mitchell (5,000-Meter Run), Ellie Sitek (Discus, Hammer Throw)
2010 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Ben Zill (400-Meter Run)
2010 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Holly Ozanich (20-Pound Weight Throw)
2010 Men's Swimming & Diving: Phil Devine (3-Meter Diving)
2010 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Holly Ozanich (Hammer Throw), Ellie Sitek (Discus)
2011 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Pete Delzer (35-Pound Weight Throw)
2011 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Holly Ozanich (Shot Put, 20-Pound Weight Throw)
2011 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (1,500-Meter Run), Jecel (Gerner) Klotz (Shot Put), Holly Ozanich (Hammer Throw), Breanna Strupp (Discus)
2012 Wrestling: Nazar Kulchytskyy (157 Pounds)
2012 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (800-Meter Run, Mile Run), Alexia Child (20-Pound Weight Throw)
2012 Men's Swimming & Diving: Phil Devine (3-Meter Diving)
2012 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Pete Delzer (Hammer Throw)
2012 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (1,500-Meter Run), Alexia Child (Hammer Throw), Breanna Strupp (Shot Put)
2012 Women's Cross Country: Christy Cazzola
2013 Wrestling: Nazar Kulchytskyy (165 Pounds)
2013 Men's Indoor Track & Field: Pete Delzer (35-Pound Weight Throw)
2013 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (Mile Run, 5,000-Meter Run), Samantha Loew (20-Pound Weight Throw), Breanna Strupp (Shot Put), Distance Medley Relay (Christy Cazzola, McKenzie Kelly, Stephanie Jahn, Kylee Verhasselt)
2013 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: Nick Baatz (Shot Put)
2013 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (800-Meter Run, 1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run), Samantha Loew (Hammer Throw)
2014 Wrestling: Nazar Kulchytskyy (157 Pounds)
2014 Men's Indoor Track & Field: McKena Ramos (800-Meter Run)
2014 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (Mile Run, 3,000-Meter Run), Jecel (Gerner) Klotz (Shot Put), Kylee Verhasselt (800-Meter Run), Distance Medley Relay (Christy Cazzola, Stephanie Jahn, Sonny Jenkins, Kylee Verhasselt)
2014 Men's Outdoor Track & Field: McKena Ramos (1,500-Meter Run)
2014 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Christy Cazzola (800-Meter Run, 1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run), Jecel (Gerner) Klotz (Shot Put)
2015 Women's Indoor Track & Field: Melanie Brickner (20-Pound Weight Throw)
2015 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Melanie Brickner (Hammer Throw)
2016 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: 400-Meter Relay (Ashley Holicek, Becklyn Hunter, Emily Reichenberger, Olivia Seeley)
2019 Women's Outdoor Track & Field: Lauren Wrensch (Long Jump)
UW-Oshkosh NCAA Division II Individual Titles (27)
1975 Men's Gymnastics: Mike Kavanagh (Parallel Bars)
1976 Men's Gymnastics: Mike Kavanagh (Parallel Bars)
1977 Men's Gymnastics: Casey Edwards (All-Around), Dave Russell (Parallel Bars)
1978 Men's Gymnastics: Casey Edwards (All-Around, Floor Exercise, Still Rings)
1979 Men's Gymnastics: Dick Ladd (Floor Exercise)
1980 Men's Gymnastics: Casey Edwards (All-Around, Floor Exercise, Horizontal Bar, Still Rings, Vault), Paul Gretzinger (Pommel Horse), Dave Russell (Parallel Bars)
1981 Men's Gymnastics: Evan Eklin (Floor Exercise), Dan Nekich (All-Around), Dave Pieper (Parallel Bars)
1982 Men's Gymnastics: Dan Nekich (All-Around, Horizontal Bar, Parallel Bars, Pommel Horse), Mickey Smith (Vault)
1984 Women's Gymnastics: Debbie Lindemer (All-Around, Uneven Bars)
1986 Women's Gymnastics: Mary Leivian (All-Around, Uneven Bars)
UW-Oshkosh NCGA Individual Titles (17)
1989 Women's Gymnastics: Wendy DeMore (Uneven Bars), Mary Leivian (All-Around, Floor Exercise, Vault)
1990 Women's Gymnastics: Lynnda Hahn (Balance Beam)
1991 Women's Gymnastics: Renee Counard (Vault)
1992 Women's Gymnastics: Amy Webb (Floor Exercise)
1993 Women's Gymnastics: Lisa Johns (Balance Beam), Amy Webb (Floor Exercise, Vault)
1996 Women's Gymnastics: Tiffany Barden (Balance Beam)
2000 Women's Gymnastics: Sabrina Ashton (Floor Exercise)
2001 Women's Gymnastics: Melissa Cummins (Vault)
2007 Women's Gymnastics: Teresa Phipps (Uneven Bars), Vanessa Virbitsky (Vault)
2017 Women's Gymnastics: Baylee Tkaczuk (Uneven Bars)
2018 Women's Gymnastics: Baylee Tkaczuk (Uneven Bars)
NAIA Individual Titles (10) (Does not include Men's Gymnastics)
1975 Wrestling: Rick DeMarais (158 Pounds)
1986 Women's Gymnastics: Mary Leivian (All-Around, Uneven Bars, Vault)
1987 Women's Gymnastics: Mary Leivian (All-Around, Balance Beam, Uneven Bars)
1988 Women's Gymnastics: Mary Leivian (All-Around, Floor Exercise, Uneven Bars)
UW-Oshkosh USGF Individual Titles (2) (Does not include Men's Gymnastics)
1987 Women's Gymnastics: Mary Leivian (All-Around, Balance Beam)
AIAW Division III Individual Title (1)
1980 Women's Gymnastics: Chris Rohrwasser (Vault)