Bio

With exceptional creativity, unusual power and effortless twisting abilities, Ron Hanson was a striking personality on UW-Oshkosh men's gymnastics teams from 1973-76.

Specializing in the floor exercise and the vault, Hanson captured three NAIA and three WIAC event championships. He also performed to a total of five NCAA Division II All-America awards and four NAIA All-America medals. 

A graduate of Menomonee Falls East High School, Hanson began his UW-Oshkosh career in 1973 by helping the Titans to WIAC and NAIA titles. At the WIAC Championship, Hanson finished second in the floor exercise with a score of 8.925. The following weekend at the NAIA Championship, Hanson gained All-America status in the floor exercise by placing third with a score of 8.95. The national title won by UW-Oshkosh was the first in school and WIAC history.

In 1974, Hanson again helped UW-Oshkosh to championships at the conference and national level. At the WIAC Championship, Hanson finished first in the floor exercise with a score of 9.06 and second on the vault with a mark of 8.825. At the NAIA Championship, Hanson won the floor exercise with a score of 9.08 and received All-America status on the vault by finishing fourth with a mark of 8.72.

Hanson seized a pair of league titles in 1975 as the Titans finished second to UW-La Crosse at the last WIAC Championship held. Hanson won competitions in the floor exercise with a score of 8.86 and on the vault with a mark of 8.65. At the NAIA Championship, Hanson helped UW-Oshkosh to a second-place finish by gaining All-America honors in both the floor exercise and on the vault. He took first place in the floor exercise with a score of 9.25 and second on the vault with a number of 8.96. Hanson also competed at the NCAA Division II Championship, gaining All-America accolades with a third-place score of 9.40 in the floor exercise and a fourth-place mark of 9.20 on the vault. The Titans finished fifth at the 1975 NCAA Division II Championship to conclude their first year of NCAA Division II competition.

In 1976, Hanson captured the floor exercise title at the NAIA Championship with a score of 9.35. He also received All-America awards in both the floor exercise and vault at the NCAA Division II Championship with a second-place score of 9.40 and a fifth-place mark of 9.10, respectively. The Titans finished second in the team standings at the NAIA Championship and fifth in the team rankings at the NCAA Division II Championship. Hanson also qualified for the NCAA Division I Championship that year, placing 11th with a score of 9.40 in the floor exercise.

Hanson lives in Menasha with his wife, Gail, and two daughters. Hanson is a physical education teacher in Appleton, where he recently helped develop a national pilot program "Education For Healthy Kids" for the Appleton Area School District.