UW-Oshkosh To Host Gymnastics Alumni Night
The UW-Oshkosh gymnastics team will host the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) West Regional Championship and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship at Kolf Sports Center at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday (March 9).
Alumni Night is hosted by the UWO gymnastics team to show their appreciation for the alumni continuous support over the years. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Fratellos Fieldhouse in Oshkosh on Friday. Current UWO gymnasts will be there to welcome UWO alumni.
Retired UW-Oshkosh men's gymnastics coach (1969-1993) and faculty member Ken Allen plans to attend the Alumni Night at Fratellos. He hopes to reconnect with former students and athletes he has taught and coached at the event.
The NCGA West Regional Championship and WIAC Meet being held at home this year provides the gymnastics team with "home mat" advantage. The winning team qualifies for the national tournament. There will be eight teams total competing on Saturday - five Wisconsin teams and three Minnesota teams.
Hosting these events in Oshkosh is sentimental for both UW-Oshkosh Gymnastics Coach Lauren Karnitz and captain Madeline Helwig.
"Being able to compete at home this year makes this whole event really special," Helwig said. "Our families and friends are able to be there to cheer us on."
"This is an exciting weekend to have the alumni back and to have them support us," Karnitz said. "Our team is talented and incredibly capable of qualifying for nationals this year."
For more information about that weekend's events, email marenol@uwosh.edu.