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INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH VOL. 123, NO. 18
THE CURIOUS CASE OF WILLIS HAGEN
UWO investigates business professor, remains silent on reason by Alex Nemec nemeca14@uwosh.edu A UW Oshkosh business professor with more than 30 years of teaching experience at UWO is not teaching his classes after being pulled from one of them earlier in the year, multiple sources said. Willis Hagen is both an attorney at law and a certified public accountant who teaches finances and business law in the college of business, according to the university website. A response to a public records request shows he started working at UWO
Sept. 1, 19 8 4 and is still employed at the University. Associate Dean of the Business Department Barbara Rau said she could not provide any information regarding Willis’ situation because it is a personnel manner. “It’s all going to have to go through human resources,” Rau said. “By state law we can’t talk about a personnel matter. I really can’t give you any more information than that.” A student in the class Hagen got pulled out of said they weren’t given details as to why Hagen was removed.
“Basically a guy just came in and told professor Hagen he had to come with him,” the student who asked to remain unnamed said. “Then another guy came in and said the class was cancelled.” Megan Harried, who is now teaching Hagen’s two business law classes, said she does not think he is teaching anymore this semester. “I think all of his classes have been redistributed,” Harried said. The UWO business department website states Hagen’s office is 1473 Sage Hall, but the room no longer has a nameplate on it and packed
boxes were seen inside. When called, Hagen’s office number rings continuously and his email, when attempted to contact, bounces back to the sender, even though he is still listed as faculty on the UWO business website. The Advance-Titan filed a public records request for any police records involving Hagen and his emails since the beginning of the semester, but was not allowed to have them because of an ongoing investigation. “In response to [The Advance-Titan’s] follow-up request for records ( police
and email) relating to Dr. Will Hagen, I’m unable to provide you records at this time,” Public Records Custodian Kate McQ uillan said. “The University has an ongoing investigation involving Dr. Hagen. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. sec 19 .36 ( 10) ( b) , I am prohibited from releasing the requested records.” An A-T reporter talked to Hagen outside his house about his status at the University. “I would rather not say,” Hagen said as he closed the door on the reporter.
Willis Hagen has taught at UWO since 1984. He is currently under investigation, according to the University.
OSA candidate says opponent made anti-gay statements by Laura Dickinson
ALICIA KAHL/ADVANCE-TITAN
TOP: The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh women’s basketball team huddles prior to the start of the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 game. BOTTOM: Sophomore forward Isabella Samuels (No. 44) fights her way to the basket, past Washington University’s Jenn Dynis (No. 23).
Seniors say goodbye as UWO loses in Sweet 16
dickil83@uwosh.edu A statement was released by Oshkosh Student Association presidential nominee Aaron Wojciechowski regarding a situation in which a candidate for OSA vice president allegedly said anti-LG BTQ comments about Wojciechowski during a club meeting. Wojciechowski said he has filed an elections violation report regarding the incident. Wojciechowski said he is not calling out the candidate who made the remarks, but thinks the UW Oshkosh community should be aware of what is happening behind the scenes of the election campaign. “I have not released the name of the individual for many reasons, one being that I think the individual should take responsibility for their actions,” Wojciechowski said. “It’s hard for students to see everything going on during a campaign, so we must be vigilant to speak up when incidents like this occur. It is very frustrating that a candidate can say such negative comments and have no formal action taken against them.” Wojciechowski said all the candidates running platforms claim they are for inclusion and diversity at UWO, but these statements run counter to these platforms. “I think [the matter] is extremely important because students need to know the truth about every candidate,” Wojciechowski said. “It’s easy for someone to say they are an advocate for diversity and inclusivity, but these actions speak louder.” Current OSA President Austyn Boothe said she was surprised to hear about the comments made between the candidates, seeing as the debate had remained respectful, and the candidates spoke on their issues, stances and experiences rather than speaking against the character of other candidates. “I have spoken with Aaron since the posting of his statement,” Boothe said. “I felt it crucial to encourage him to continue to pursue his passion in OSA despite the comments that had been made about his sexuality. If the incident is proved to be true I will be incredibly disappointed in the candidates involved, and I hope students who feel the same way as I [do] will fully express those concerns.” Boothe said the incident has opened up a greater discussion of what it means to be OSA president and to uphold expectations for those involved in OSA. “In my personal opinion, whoever is elected must go beyond simply not discriminating against the students they represent, but make efforts to include students of diverse backgrounds and opinions in all aspects of OSA,” Boothe said. “In addition to this, an OSA Pres-
johrem64@uwosh.edu A normal Division III college basketball season consists of, at minimum, 25 games. By doing the math, it is determined that in one player’s college career, he or she has the ability to play in at least 100 games. Looking at the success the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh women’s basketball team has had, understanding that this graduating class has won 9 8 games in its entirety is nothing short of remarkable. This number speaks not only to the success of the team but of the program itself. The four e ers co prisin the first class of graduates head coach Brad Fischer recruited in his time at UWO are three starters and one valued bench contributor: guards Taylor Schmidt and Morgan Kokta and forwards Alex Richard and Madeline Staples. In their own ways, each of these four players have demonstrated during their illustrious careers what it means to be a Titan. Flashing back to when Fischer was hot on the recruiting trails, he decided these four players had shown what it meant to be a Titan even before they had officially co itted The ti e and ef fort he put into making each and every member of the senior class feel welcomed in Oshkosh is something Staples said was noticed from the beginning. “[During] my conversation with Coach Fischer, he made it clear that he wanted to be competitive enough to reach the Final Four,” Staples said. “In
conversations with other coaches, that really was not a part of the conversations, it was not on the table. So me having the opportunity to be a part of a team that can actually be in the gym and talk about that, it was a big-time goal. It was something that was appealing to me; it was good to have.” Staples’ high school alma mater is Middleton High School, home of the Cardinals, located near Lake Mendota and hosts roughly 2,000 students. Despite only playing in two total games throu hout her first two years of hi h school Staples’ playing career embodies what Titans are built upon: dedication and development. During every year of her career there, the Middleton girls’ team earned a berth in either the se ifinals uarterfinals or the cha pionship game. Staples’ junior year was when the Cardinals took second place in the entire state by losing in the championship contest, which was followed up the next year with a 21-6 season record and a loss in the se ifinal round In her junior year and into her senior year, Staples gained a larger role with the Cardinals, increasing her playing time and game averages. Her statistical splits of 5 .1 points per game almost doubled in her senior year, where she averaged 10.1 points per game. n the se ifinal contest a ainst ilwaukee King, Staples put up a season and career high of 24 points, and put together an outstanding performance by earning 10 defensive rebounds in the defeat.
Town Hall Meeting
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UWO held a town hall meeting to discuss common misconceptions about Muslim culture. Read more on A2
The differences between competing in high school and college basketball are drastic, as the areas of competitiveness and dedication differ on many levels. Making that type of transition is hard for players, but Staples said Fischer was a huge component in that transition. “I felt so at home already before I was even on campus, and I felt like I had support,” Staples said. “I remember when I committed, within the hour everyone on the team was congratulating me, texting me. That all comes from him, and he does such a good job of making sure everyone feels right from the start, like day one you say yes
SENIOR, PAGE A10
Eight local bands featured during WISCO! the Music Fest Thursday night.
Editorial: UWO Shuttle should expand its running times.
Read more on A4
Read more on A6
OSA, PAGE A2
UWO Wrestling made appearence at DIII Wrestling Championship. Read more on A7
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March 16, 2017
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LGBTQ Resource Center Director Liz Cannon leads a round-table discussion regarding current issues facing Muslim members of the UWO campus community. The discussions were a part of Monday night’s Town Hall Meeting.
Town hall gathering addresses Muslim student inclusion at UWO by Collin Goeman goemac32@uwosh.edu Students, faculty and community members came together in the Reeve Union Ballroom to discuss ways to make UW Oshkosh more inclusive of its Muslim students and to better understand their culture, on Monday. G eography professor Mamadou Coulibaly began the discussion by explaining common misconceptions of Islam and what it is like being a Muslim in today’s society. “Many people think of things like J ihad as negative,” Coulibaly said. “The most important part, the true meaning of J ihad, is the struggle for self improvement.” Coulibaly said everyone can relate to the message of true Islam; they just have to know the truth about Islam. Coulibaly shared his own experiences relating to his faith and his wish for UWO Muslim students to feel welcome on campus and in the community. “We are here for the Muslim Titans, and to promote diversity on our campus,” Coulibaly said. “We not only need support from the University but more im-
portantly, support from the students on campus.” Student Tariq Anjum said he was very excited to see his fellow students come and ask about his faith. “I appreciate how tolerant our University is of my culture,” Anjum said. “This is what we need, discussion about who we are. This way we can understand each other.” Anjum said he wants people to learn about Islam through discussion with actual Muslims instead of through secondary sources. “It seems that the media only reports bad things about Muslims, and there’s no secondary form of media to learn the truth about the culture,” Anjum said. “That’s why talks like this are important.” V ice President of Oshkosh Student Association Maria Berge said religion is a tough subject to tackle, but discussion is key to understanding. “You don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it’s important to talk about,” Berge said. Coming from a small town, Berge said she never experienced diverse culture growing up, but now tries to educate her-
OSA
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self and others. “When you remove ignorance, fear usually goes with it,” Berge said. Student Z ijo Z ulic said he thinks it’s important that people are getting together to discuss these issues. “E vents like this need to happen more often; discussing this brings us together and helps us advance as a university,” Z ulic said. Coulibaly and other staff said there are many ways students and community members can further their knowledge of Islam. “We can have understanding right here on campus. We have the resources,” Coulibaly said. “The library, mosques but most importantly, people. Talk to your fellow students to better understand their culture.” Anjum said he hopes students will continue learning about Islam and tell what they have learned to others, so they can further change misconceptions. “We need to be more accepting of each other despite race, religion or ethnicity,” Anjum said. “Diversity is the strength of this world.”
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ident must be aware that there will be students with completely different beliefs than them, and it is their job to make sure those students have a voice at the table.” UWO freshman J acqueline LaHaie said she believes this behavior is not appropriate for college community leaders. These actions are definite ly not cool,” LaHaie said. “I don’t think the person making these remarks should be the one elected. Inclusion is something that is part of being a community.” As Boothe prepares to leave her position as OSA president, she said she is excited for the next president to work
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he wasn’t a fan of Franco’s by Moira Danielson movement, but eventually daniem16@uwosh.edu changed his views to support UW Oshkosh held a lecture Franco. Thursday highlighting actor t first thou ht his ac J ames Franco and how he is tions were kind of mocking creating a new dialogue for queerness, but I just think the queer community with more people need to be aware his work presented by polit- he is just expressing his queerical science professor J erry ness,” Bantle said. “HowevThomas. er, I clearly see his movement The lecture was co-spon- and I hope more people break sored by the Political Science down the scripts that society Department and the LG BTQ follows about sexuality. I beResource Center. Thomas be- lie e se uality is ery uid gan his lecture by explaining and that it’s not something how Franco’s idea of sexuali- that has an e act definition ties differs from those of oth- which was clearly presented er well-known celebrities. in the presentation.” “What people might not Tho as said he first e know is that he is a queerist,” came interested in Franco Thomas said. “Franco sug- after hearing about his work gests that sexualities are best with the fil nterior eath described as social or politi- er Bar.” cal constructions. He chalt was pro a ly this fil lenges popular understanding ‘ Interior. Leather Bar.’ when by putting I began to queer sex look at the into maindialogue that Q ueer theory is also a s t r e a m was happenlittle bit constructivist, which fil s ing,” Thomas T h o m a s means it’s also a little anti said. “It reale x p l a i n e d -identitarian where the focus ly resonated, isn’t on who one is but rather the queer it made me theory to the what one does. go back and audience to start to read — Dr. Jerry Thomas help them some of his understand works, and I how it fits started to beinto Francome educated in his ways.” co’s work. UWO student Danielle “It’s a political ideology, a Smith said the presentation commitment to live outside of taught her Franco was more some social norm or another,” than just an actor and that it Thomas said. “Q ueer theory was nice to see hi confident is also a little bit constructiv- with who he is. ist, which means it’s also a “We as students, I’m sure, little anti-identitarian where are familiar with him as an the focus isn’t on who one is actor, but I never truly realbut rather what one does. I ized all the great points about am heterosexual, or I am bi[- Franco until I had attended sexual], those are sort of the the lecture,” Smith said. “It identitarian view, where you is great to see a well-known are one thing.” actor embrace his inner self Thomas said stars like and feel comfortable showing Lady G aga turn sexuality into that on and off the stage. The something that can be used to fact that Franco isn’t afraid to help appearances, while Fran- let his queerness shine and it co uses constructivist theory motivates him in his work, is to help people understand inspiring to his fans and even queers. other actors/ actresses.” “There are queer things Smith said the thing that in Franco’s work, including stuck out most during the constructivist discourses sur- lecture was the idea of sexurounding sexuality that differ alities and how they are best fro other hi h profile cele conceived as social construcrities, such as Lady G aga who tions. She said she applauds provoke sexualities as an aid Franco on normalizing being and essentialized,” Thomas queer and being openly proud said. of it. UWO student Donnie “One cannot accept things Bantle said he was excited in society until they are aware to attend the lecture because of the new social norms, of how interesting the topic and I feel Franco is trying sounded. to change that,” Smith said. “I was intrigued by learn- “He is setting an example for ing more about how J ames others and for the future, to Franco has added to the queer embrace and accept the new community,” Bantle said. social norms which is wonAfter sitting through the derful and inspiring.” lecture antle said at first
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towards bettering UWO. “While it will be bittersweet to leave OSA after three years of involvement, I look forward to working with whoever is elected by the students to ensure that the work that has been started on this campus gets completed,” Boothe said. Wojciechowski said he is still excited to be campaigning and is looking forward to a new OSA president. “These inappropriate criticis s do not re ect our al ues as an institution of higher learning,” Wojciechowski said. “I am proud of my diversity and I want students to know that they should be proud of their diversity too. OSA elections are not about putting others down, it’s about creating dialog and solutions to make UW Oshkosh a better environment for students.”
Franco lecture talks sexuality and queerness
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The UW Oshkosh Advance-Titan is written and edited by students at UW Oshkosh
who are solely responsible for its content and editorial policy. Any UW Oshkosh student is welcome to work on the newspaper staff. Advertisements printed in the Advance-Titan don’t necessarily represent the opinion of the newspaper staff. Other publications may reprint materials appearing in the Advance-Titan only with written permission from the editor and if proper credit is given. The Advance-Titan is published each academic Thursday. Third class postage paid at Oshkosh, Wis., Postmaster: Send address changes to Advance-Titan, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, Wis., 54901. Readers are permitted one copy per issue. Additional copies may be purchased with prior approval from the editor for 50 cents each. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to prosecution for newspaper theft and fined a minimum of $10,000.
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Students unwind with Spring Break Bash
An inflatable jousting arena, sumo wrestling—complete with sumo suits—and a photo booth were part of the Spring Break Bash held in Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom Wednesday. The equipment was provided by Jump Around Rentals from Appleton. TOP LEFT: Senior Richelle Kasten and freshman Jose Y. Medina collide in a funny sumo battle. TOP RIGHT: A group of friends pose with fun props. The fun event was a way for students to take a break from studying and have fun with their friends. BOTTOM: Morgan Price prepares for a battle against her opponent in the jousting arena. Photo credit: Alicia Kahl
UW Oshkosh student wins Miss Oshkosh pageant by Aaron Tomski tomska69@uwosh.edu UWO sophomore biology-healthcare major Karis Fiedler won the Miss Oshkosh 2017 Scholarship Pageant against seven other contestants on March 4. According to Fiedler, this was her first time competing in a pageant, and was happy to be titled Miss Oshkosh. Oshkosh Area Women’s Association Local Chairperson Michelle Hammett attended the 2017 Miss Oshkosh Pageant and said Fiedler did a wonderful job. “It was her first time in the pageant,” Hammett said. “It was a very good show and very good pageant overall.” For the talent competition Fiedler performed a dance routine. She said she started learning her talent at the age of 13. “I began dance classes in Richard’s School of Dance,” Fiedler said. “I trained in jazz, modern, ballet, lyrical and contemporary [dance].” Fiedler said she gained interest in the pageant industry over the past five years when she started attending the events. “Watching the show and seeing how the program allows for a young woman to make a difference in their community really spawned my interest in competing myself,” Fiedler said. Fiedler said there is a platform of service required for the competition. “The main requirement for being a contestant in the pageant is having a platform for which you will advocate during your year of service,” Fiedler said. “My platform is textile waste: the
environmental impact of clothing. My goal is to promote buying and donating clothing to and from thrift stores, shopping consignment, shopping from companies that use sustainable fabrics and simply buying less.” 2011 Miss Oshkosh winner and UWO Study Away Coordinator Kelsey McDaniels said Fiedler had a very unique service platform. “A lot of times someone can say they support a type of service, but they haven’t done a lot for it,” McDaniels said. “It just shows that Fiedler takes it to heart.” Hammett said Fiedler’s service platform is a different take from what other contestants’ platforms are. “It is not the first thing you think about when you think about textile waste,” Hammett said. “You know a lot of platforms, all worthy platforms, [focus on areas] such as fighting illnesses, literacy or human trafficking.” Hammett said it is an interesting take on the use of textile waste. “And then it makes you stop and think, oh you know you are right. I’m buying clothes just because it is trendy,” Hammett said. “But next year I am just going to throw it away not thinking about recycling or repurposing.” Fiedler said her family has supported her throughout the competition. “My family is incredibly supportive, and I am thankful everyday for all the love and support they have offered me,” Fiedler said. McDaniels said the pageant helps contestants even after the competition. “The scholarship money helps with education, and not only that but a lot
COURTESY OF
MUSS OSHKOSH PAGEANT AND KARIS FIEDLER
TOP: Karis Fiedler poses with her family after winning the 2017 Miss Oshkosh pageant. BOTTOM: Fiedler performs during the talent section of the pageant, this was her first pageant. of girls say that the interview skills they gained from the competition really helped them be successful in their career,” McDaniels said. Fiedler said pageants are important for women because it helps with confidence and service. “I believe the pageants allow for young women to advocate for something in which they believe and to promote self confidence,” Fiedler said. “It takes a lot of courage to step out on stage, and the pageant provides an outlet through which one’s confidence can shine.”
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Alyssa Grove - Campus Connections Editor
March 16, 2017
Q&A with UWO Theatre Crew Interviews conducted by Kellie Wambold
Cassidy Duquaine Stage Manager
Griffyn Albers Costume/ Makeup Design
Anthony Montalvo Sound Board Operator
Daria Chirhart Props
Q: What are your duties as a stage manager? A: Basically, as a stage manager, you are in charge of everything that goes on behind the scenes and you are involved from the start to the end. The stage manager is the go-between person and oversees the cast, the crew and the entire production.
Q: What are your duties as a costume/makeup designer? A: After Kathleen Donnelly ( head costume designer) gives me visible or verbal research for the show, she lets me go forth alone. I basically am Kathleen’s right-hand man and I do whatever she needs to be done for preshow preparation and during the show run.
Q: What’s it like watching rehearsals and then watching the show with an audience? A: Rehearsal week is very long. I see the play four times before it opens and you’d think that I’d hate it by open, but I don’t. It makes it better because you know what’s coming so you get to see what other people’s reactions are.
Q: What are your duties as a prop designer? A: I have plenty but the main four are doing research on the time period, designing the props that aren’t already made, finding props and, lastly, understanding what is needed on stage.
Q: What’s best part about working in theatre design? A: The best part is the versatility I get as a theatre major. I love the behind-the-scenes work because there are so many more moving parts involved that people wouldn’t normally assume.
Q: What’s the hardest part about merging the tech world and the acting world? A: I wouldn’t say that it’s hard. Having knowledge of one makes the other job go a lot easier.
Q: What’s the hardest part about combining the acting and design world together when it comes to tech week? Tech week is definitely the roughest week of any show. There are tons of complications when adding in [tech] to the equation: timing issues, costume changes, making sure the lights go up at the right time, etc. It’s a difficult process and it can certainly be stressful, but after enough rehearsals it ends up running smoothly and coming together for a great opening night. Q: What’s your favorite part of stage managing? A: My favorite part of stage managing is working so closely with the cast and crew. Obviously you spend a lot of time together, so you become like a family. To know you’re all coming together and working hard to put on a show is so much fun.
Q: What’s the hardest part about combining the acting and design world together when it comes to tech week? A: Honestly the hardest part is just making sure the tech crew, actors, designers and director are all on the same page. We have dry tech with just the technical side of everything being put together, but the fun comes in the next day at wet tech when the actors come into play. Q: How does it feel to see your work on stage? A: E xhilarating.
Q: What’s the best part about working crew? A: The best part is the people who are working crew with you, and being on headset with those people. Making jokes, talking about classes, and so on and so forth. The crew works hard but also has a lot of fun. Q: What’s your favorite show that you’ve worked crew on? Why? A: My favorite show would have to be “Laughter on the 23rd Floor”. I saw it eight times total and I laughed at the same jokes every time.
Q: What’s best part about working in theatre design? A: It connects history to the stage. I really like having to know the time period in which the play is in. Q: What’s the hardest part about combining the acting and design world together when it comes to tech week? A: The hardest part comes to hand props because when designing them, I don’t have the actor/ actress when I am working so sometimes it’s an estimate on the size. Q: What has been the most challenging thing you’ve designed? A: E mmy Awards because people know what they look like and so it has to look really close to the real thing.
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Cullen Sampson shows his impressive rap and acoustic skills Thursday night performing songs such as, “Playing with Fire,” “Black Sheep” and “Flashlight.”
WISCO! showcases local music by Lauren Freund freunl37@uwosh.edu On Thursday night, Wisco! The Music Fest was hosted in the Reeve Ballroom and Titan Underground and featured eight local musical groups. Happy to Be Here, The Present Age, Cullen Sampson and Q ueen Hilma performed their sets in the Reeve Ballroom. The band Happy to Be Here consists of two guys who play guitar and keyboard with a poprock sound. They played both covers and originals while taking turns playing their own solo pieces. The Present Age is a two-man indie band with one on drums and one on guitar. They played covers and originals, including a song from their upcoming E P. Cullen Sampson used a variety of instruments including guitar, keyboard, electronic music and vocal effects to provide an interesting switch from the other performances. Sampson had an alternative rap style to his music and did mainly originals, but also performed covers. An indie band, Q ueen Hilma,
consisted of two girls who play bass and acoustic guitar, and used a box drum, cymbal, shaker and tambourine as the drums. The two girls have been best friends since birth and have only been apart once for a year and half which inspired one of their songs. Freshman D’Asia Harvey thought all the bands were good and enjoyed Cullen Sampson the most. “I liked the fact that he was singing and rapping, so it was different,” Harvey said. Downstairs in Titan Underground, Barely Civil, Cold Soda Club, Clear Pioneer and Antics performed their sets. Barely Civil, a band of four boys from Wausau, performed both originals and covers of rock songs. One song was dedicated to a friend that drove all the way from Milwaukee just to see them play that night. Cold Soda Club, a five-man band from Sheboygan, played with a high-energy pop-rock style. They performed both originals and covers including classic songs like “Twist and Shout” by the Top N otes and made famous
by The Beatles and “Come Together,” also by The Beatles. Clear Pioneer is a four-man rock band that featured a synth and lots of energy while performing both covers and original songs. Senior Sarah N eubauer, despite not being at the event from the start, said she enjoyed Clear Pioneer the most. “Can I say Clear Pioneer? ” N eubauer said. “Cause I went to high school with the lead singer actually.” N eubauer said she liked how these music events are always very laid-back and that they are free for all UW Oshkosh students. The last band, Antics, featured two DJ s who used a computer and synth pad to play electronic and trap music. Senior J ocelyn Hart said she also enjoyed Clear Pioneer the most out of all the bands. “I liked the difference in music,” N eubauer said. “There’s a nice range; they all have different sounds so it’s nice to hear the differences between them.” For more information on any of the bands that performed, check out their pages on Facebook.
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Layers were essential in the frigid morning temperatures during Saturday’s annual Shamrock Shuffle 5k walk/run.
UWO shuffles despite cold temperatures by Alyssa Grove grovea09@uwosh.edu
UW Oshkosh hosted the annual Shamrock Shuffle 5 k on Saturday, presented by BioLife Plasma services. Proceeds from the day’s event benefited the Oshkosh area United Way and the UW Oshkosh Student V eterans Association, according to the Its Your Race website. A total of 1,5 8 9 participants came out to join the race Saturday morning and 1,25 3 of those were finishers. Participants were provided with various treats, such as apples, oranges, bagels and sub sandwiches, which were available in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center to gain energy for the race and to refuel after. Sophomore Sydney Krystowiak took part in this
year’s 5 k for the first time. “I did it with some of my sorority sisters,” Krystowiak said. “My favorite part was bonding with them more and just talking.” Krystowiak said she thought the shuffle was a lot of fun and would do it again next year, but she wished it had been a little warmer out for this year’s, as the cold was uncomfortable. Senior Sam Walvort came out to support some friends and all the runners at the event. “I’ve ran in the shuffle before and had so much fun when I did it,” Walvort said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to come this year, but I’m glad I was able to come support my friends.” Walvort said it was hard to stay warm in such cold temperatures, but it was worth it to see everyone.
CAMPUS CONNECTIONS
A5
Advance-Titan
March 16, 2017
Across 1 _ f or the course 4 Proverb 9 Wire fence stickers 14 Winner of the most 2016 O lympic medals 15 P rize founder 16 Accustom ( to) 17 _ Tin Tin 18 “ We’re done here. Please leave” 20 For mature viewers oot prettifier rie y 23 Miss. neighbor 24 G rape-N uts cereal brand 26 B ig Board letters 30 Lone source of local entertainment 33 Pop in a glass 34 Wonder 35 L ongtime name in Syrian leadership 36 P rereq for a lifeguard 37 Fred Flintstone’s boss 40 CBS logo 41 Yoga position onser ationist s prefi 44 Part of 14-Across: Abbr. 45 E schew modern conveniences 49 Worrisome grades 50 M isplace 51 Tennis do-over 52 O pen house offering 54 G reat suffering 57 L ike the child of your first cousin to you 62 G reat Lakes’ _ C anals 63 B aseball legend Satchel 64 D ior skirt style 65 “ _ the President’s Men” 6 D oes’ mates 67 C ares for 68 S ound on Old MacDonald’s farm
25 B runch servings 27 Ill-tempered Looney Tunes character 28 P ersuaded 29 Week or rear add-on 30 “My bad! ” eedlefish 32 Scottish denial 33 N early boil 37 Long March leader in 1930s China 38 Tylenol target 39 O ne may be stubbed 42 Retirement fund 44 Belligerent god 46 C himney part 47 Word processing category involving page dimensions 48 M oves smoothly 53 L odes and lodes 54 P atch up 5 H ershey’s caramel candy 56 M odern-day carpe diem spelled out at the starts of and 57- Across 57 B lack _: covert missions 58 D .C. ballplayer 59 S py novel org. 60 “ ¡ V iva el matador! ” cully od er announcer for 67 s easons
Alyssa Grove - Campus Connections Editor
Spend St. Patrick’s Day the Irish way with these 8 tips
by Kellie Wambold
Bert and Bert run a power plant
Down 1 Sound of a contented kitty 2 G reat Wall setting 3 Deliver a tirade 4 Sometime soon 5 “ Let’s Make a Deal” selection 6_D habi erald e 8 S lip by Te as city of il lion fa iliarly 10 Consecrates with oil 11 It may be unearned 12 Compadre linch with up 19 M ythical Himalayan 21 Singer Fitzgerald 24 Feline feet
Cartoon by Lee Marshall
OPINION Advance-Titan
A6
Nicole Horner - Opinion Editor
March 16, 2017
Get out and travel more
by Mariah Heyden heydem18@uwosh.edu Mariah Heyden is a sophomore public relations major. Her views do not necessarily represent those of the Advance-Titan. We have no choice in where we are born and raised. Sometimes we are stuck in the same place all our lives. If we move, it is usually to the other side of town or the next city over. You can never move forward if you remain in the same spot and refuse to take direction in your life. You can never gain life experiences by staying within the same city limits. We spend our childhood and teenage years being told what to do, when to do it and how to do it. N ow is the time to live your life and experience the world and all it has to offer. Do not stay in your comfort zone. G rowing up, we go on family vacations to destinations parents typically choose to visit. By the time we are adults most of us go to school, work full time to pay for school, graduate and land a career in the real world. Sometimes people fall into the typical stereotype: get married, have a couple kids, take them on the cliché family vacations to Disney, grow old and move to Florida. We should not strive for that, though. There are so many sights to see and things to do in Wisconsin alone, like hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park, cliff diving in Pewit’s N est, jet-skiing on Lake G eneva, waterfall chasing all over the state and so many other things right in our own backyard. Many of these things are day trips, or you can even make a weekend out of it. Many amazing stories start with a road trip that did not go as planned. Some of the best memories of my life
SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: All letters must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesdays. Readers can submit letters via email, mail or in person. Email letters to our University account, atitan@uwosh. edu. This is the preferred
have happened while on vacation. One experience in particular happens every year when I vacation in Arizona: I wake up at 5 a.m. and hike Camelback Mountain. I reach the top as the sun breaks over the valley, and the view never gets old to me. It’s free, too. I do not pay a dime for that experience, and no one can steal those early morning memories from me. In the United States alone there are so many amazing things to witness and experience. Two of the Seven N atural Wonders of the World can be seen in the US: the G rand Canyon and the N orthern Lights, no passport required. Among other adventures, we can see all 5 9 national parks, Route 6 6 , vineyards in California and pure white sand beaches on both oceans. The list of destinations within our own country could go on for ages. There is the rest of the world to explore as well. There are pink sand beaches in the Bahamas, the G reat Barrier Reef in Australia, Cliffs of Moher in Ireland or the pyramids in E gypt. E ach continent and country has something unique to offer. You just have to pick a day, stamp your passport and go. N ature is available to us 24/ 7; it does not shut down, it does not need to be charged and it’s free. The journey to get to these places will be worth the view in the end, and the journey is half of the fun. We constantly share videos on Facebook and tag our friends in them, saying, “We have to go here! ” Stop dreaming and start taking action. When you grow old, you do not want to tell your grandchildren stories about your corner cubicle job. You want to tell them stories about your adventures that are so crazy they will not believe you. All the selfies you take would be more meaningful if they had an extraordinary background and a memory to tag with them. Memories are priceless; once you make them no one can take them from you. The lyrics to country singer Frankie Ballard’s song titled “Young & Crazy” resonate well with the point being made. “How am I ever gonna get to be old and wise if I ain’t ever young and crazy? ” The E arth is so beautiful in all of its majestic glory. N o matter what theory you choose to believe of how E arth was created, one fact remains: the E arth is an independent natural living thing. All the wonders in nature are continuous without aide of humans. E arth puts on a live act every day and night. It would be a shame if we never experienced its performance in the lifetime we inhabit it. Strive for experiences. Strive for memories well-made. Strive to see the Seven N atural Wonders of the World, to step on all seven continents and to be able to say “been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.” Adventure is a game, and you should play it every day of your life.
method. Deliver letters in person to the A-T office in Reeve Union, room 19. Mail letters to: The Advance-Titan, Reeve Union Room 19, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI 54901
Cartoon by Constance Bougie
University shuttle must extend operation hours by the Advance-Titan Staff atitan@uwosh.edu
UW Oshkosh Parking Services offer a free shuttle service to students who need to get from academic buildings, administrative buildings and residence halls in the center of campus to the University’s outer parking lots. The shuttle runs its route on a continuous 20-minute loop from 7:00 a.m. to 5 :00 p.m. on weekdays. In addition to operating on weekdays, the shuttle is on-call during interim, academic breaks and the summer. During these times, students can call the shuttle service and the shuttle driver will come pick them up and take them to their destination. On weekends and holidays, the shuttle does not run at all. This shuttle is eneficial not only to students who need to get to far campus parking lots, including one parking lot that is located across the bridge from campus, but also to all students who need transportation to any destination on campus. UWO student Hannah Huiras said the shuttle is especially useful for students who need to get to lot 39 , which is located across the bridge from campus and therefore a difficult destina tion to reach by foot. “It saves you the time to walk across the bridge and when it’s cold, you don’t freeze,” Huiras said. If the shuttle was better advertised to the UWO community through emails and signs, more students would be able to utili e this efficient for of transportation. In addition to needing better advertisement, the shuttle should also extend its hours of operation into the evening and on weekends. N ot running on weekends, in-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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cluding Fridays after 5 :00 p.m., can lead to con ict for any students, as this is the time in which the shuttle would be most useful to them. Many students whose cars are parked in lots that are far from their residence halls, such as lot 39 across the river, rely on this shuttle to get them to their cars when needed. The UWO shuttle should extend its services to late Fridays around 8 :00 p.m. and weekends from about 10:00 a.m. to 8 :00 p.m. in order to meet the needs of students. If the shuttle were to run later on ridays it would enefit stu dents who leave for home later than 5 :00 p.m. because some students may have classes or other obligations that can keep them from leaving before 5 :00 p.m. If they miss the shuttle, they have to walk all the way to far lots. This can be especially inconvenient when they have an abundance of belongings to haul home, as well as in the winter season when temperatures are low. Student Sydney Kahn said having a scheduled shuttle on evenings and weekends would be more reliable than calling and waiting for a Safewalk, a program provided by the University Police Department where students can be safetly escorted by UWO’s Campus er ice fficers “We have to walk over the bridge in the cold and at night, that’s dangerous,” Kahn said. These students are also out of luck when they come back to campus on Sundays, as the shuttle does not run at all on weekends. Huiras said walking back to campus on Sundays is inconvenient when students have to carry their belongings. The shuttle should run more
often than just weekdays to better suit the needs of students, especially those who come from and go to their homes on the weekends. During the week, students have obligations such as class, homework, studying and jobs that often keep them on campus and prevent them from using their cars for off-campus endeavors. Having cars parked in far campus parking lots is an hassle in both the hot summer and the frigid winter. Students may be more likely to refrain from walking all the way to their cars to drive to off-campus locations, so they are often stuck on campus in their dorms doing homework or binge-watching et i On weekends, not only do students use their cars to travel to and from home, but they may also drive to off-campus destinations in the Oshkosh area, such as stores, restaurants and activity centers. A weekend shuttle service would prevent students from being stuck on campus all weekend and allow them to venture out and explore the city of Oshkosh. Kahn said the shuttle would be more convenient on weekends when students are more likely to use it. “People go places on the weekends because they don’t have class,” Kahn said. “It relieves their stress.” E ven if Parking Services is reluctant to run the shuttle continuously on weekends, one solution to this problem could be for the shuttle to be on-call on weekends as it is during interim, summer and breaks. Having the option of calling for the shuttle on weekends is better than not having the shuttle at all when it is needed the most.
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SPORTS
A7
Advance-Titan
Morgan Van Lanen - Sports Editor Mike Johrendt - Assistant Sports Editor
March 16, 2017
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KENNAN TIMM
ABOVE: Kody Azarian wrestles through a torn LCL in the 2017 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship. He went 1-2. BELOW: Mark Choinski finished in sixith place in the 157-pound weight class to earn him All-American recognition.
Choinski, Azarian represent UWO by Jordan Fremstad fremsj17@uwosh.edu
Sophomores Mark Choinski and Kody Azarian capped off the 2016 -17 season for UW Oshkosh wrestling at the Division III Championship in La Crosse last weekend. Choinski placed sixth at 15 7 pounds, racking up a 2-3 record in his first championship appearance. He defeated a pair of seeded opponents, advancing to the semifinal round of the 18 -wrestler bracket. Choinski fell in the semifinals by a score of 7-1 to second-seeded Logan Thomsen of Wartburg College ( Iowa) . Choinski said he used the big stage as a lesson for greater goals as he enters his upperclassman years at UW Oshkosh. “The experience at La Crosse was one to remember,” Choinski said. “It was also a lesson for the future. I am young, so I still have time to reach my goals. I will keep this in mind while I prepare myself for the next season.” The West Allis native became the 11th Titan wrestler to receive N CAA Division III All-America honors and 20th among all UWO student athletes. Choinski said he is not content with his accomplishments this season, and he will continue to work hard to reach the ultimate goal of winning a national championship. “I always believe in myself so I never lacked confidence when it came to competition,” Choinski said. “Becoming an All-American is really great but I have my eyes set on a national championship. This experience has just given me more fuel to motivate my intentions on becoming the best in the nation.” Head coach E frain Ayala said coaching Choinski this season has been a privilege. “Coaching Mark has been nothing short of an honor,” Ayala said. “He comes to us with a very unconventional background, and he has worked his way through many challenges. He has the work ethic and the drive needed to be a national champion, and that is someone who is very exciting to coach.” Azarian said he enjoyed watching Choinski upset some of the high-seeded athletes in his bracket. “I saw Mark determined to
Upcoming Events
walk away with some hard- to push through his injury. “His win in the first round ware,” Azarian said. “E ven though he didn’t get what he was nothing short of incredwanted, he still out-wrestled ible,” Ayala said. “[After the two people ranked ahead of him takedown] Kody and I spent the and also got revenge. I like to next few hours trying to minisee him compete in a dominant mize the damage, ultimately a decision had to be made. There matter.” Azarian, a first-year transfer was no question about it, Kody student from UW-Platteville, wanted to wrestle. He gave it tore his LCL in a takedown of his all, but ultimately his knee fourth-seeded Tim Ambacher was too damaged and he lost his of Delaware V alley University next two matches.” Choinski talked about ( Pa.) in the opening round of the 141-pound weight class. Azarian’s competitive spirit and said they treat His injury led approaching to him falling to fifth-seeded As a team, and individual- their goals in David Flynn ly, we are on the right track. similar ways. “We want to of Augsburg I look forward to next year C o l l e g e and bringing Mark and Kody be the best,” Choinski said. ( Minn.) in the quarterfinal and as well as others back to the “Kody competes at a high then Brendon national tournament. level and has Seyfried of - Coach Efrain Ayala what it takes Williams to be on top. I C o l l e g e ( Mass.) in the second-round of stood with him through a tough season and know first-hand the consolation section. Azarian said it was an unfor- what he is capable of. You will tunate time to suffer a key inju- see big things from him in the ry, but he said he enjoyed the next season.” The Titans had 28 underclassexperience representing UWO. “Competing on the big stage men on the team’s 31-man roswasn’t anything new,” Azarian ter. E xperience has not been on said. “I’ve wrestled in nation- the Titans’ side recently, but the al tournaments all my life and future remains bright with 9 6 there wasn’t much of difference. percent of the roster returning I enjoyed being there. But I’m next season. Ayala said he is excited for not satisfied. I knew working hard and putting in the time the potential the future brings would get me to where I need and the progress this group has to be. I have the talent and mind made with experience in short set to beat anyone. If it weren’t supply. “As a team, and individually, for tearing my LCL, I would we are right on track,” Ayala have been on the podium.” Ayala said he was in complete said. “I look forward to next awe of how Azarian continued year and bringing Mark and
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Friday
Women’s Gymnastics at WIAC Championship/ NCGA West Regional 5:00 p.m. Baseball vs University of Massachusetts Boston @ Lake Myrtle Park #2 Auburndale, Fla. 11:45 a.m.
Friday Softball vs Amherst College (Mass.) @ Sleepy Hollow #1 Leesburg, Fla. 7:00 a.m. vs Lake Forest College (Ill.) @ Sleepy Hollow #2 Leesburg, Fla. 9:30 a.m.
Kody as well as others back to the national tournament. I am very proud of how far they have come in such a short time.” Azarian said the work ethic of the squad and the talent that comes with it will be a perfect recipe when the experience level catches up to the potential of this team. “UWO wrestling will be put back on the map coming soon,” Azarian said. “The talent is crazy in the wrestling room and there is no means of having a bad team. E veryone just has to put in the time and be positive about the results that come out of it.” Choinski attributed the coaching staff for the success of the program. “We are a young team, and we are still in the building process,” Choinski. “We are more than capable to being a top team in the nation. We have already competed with big teams, but we haven’t put all the pieces together yet. The Oshkosh wrestling staff has some of the best coaches around. They are the reason our program is going to be so successful in the future.” UW Oshkosh says goodbye to the 2016 -17 season and to senior J oe Pelkey who completed his college career with a record of 32-5 7 and four varsity letters. Pelkey was named to the 2015 -16 N CAA Division III Academic All-America Team by the N ational Wrestling Coaches Association. He is also a member of the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015 -16 WIAC Scholastic Honor Rolls.
Saturday
Softball vs Hope College (Mich.) @ Legends Way #5 Clermont, Fla. 1:00 p.m. vs Benedictine University (Ill.) @ Legends Way #3 Clermont, Fla. 3:30 p.m.
e shes se s by Nate Proell proeln91@uwosh.edu The UW Oshkosh men’s and women’s indoor track teams concluded their season this past weekend at the N ational Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship in N aperville, Ill. The women had five athletes representing Oshkosh at the event while the men had nine. There were three AllAmerican runners for the Titans throughout the course of the weekend. Titans head coach Mary Theisen said she is pleased with the performance of the athletes that placed. “We are very proud of our few athletes that finished their season with All-American honors,” Theisen said. “We are hoping they lead the way to a successful outdoor season with many, many more student athletes with the same accolades.” For the women, Titan Athlete of the Week and junior Kristen Linzmeier had a seventh-place finish in the 8 00-meter run with a time of 2:14.77. Linzmeier’s performance was enough to earn her an AllAmerican in her first championship appearance. Titans distance coach E amon McKenna said Linzmeier’s performance at N ationals showed how hard she worked this season. “Kristen Linzmeier easily had the best year of her career,” McKenna said. “Her consistency and improvement throughout the season were vital to her success. Although her final race at N ationals was not her fastest race of the season, her competitiveness throughout the season helped put her in position to earn All-American status.” Linzmeier said she is proud of her performance and her seventh-place finish defied expectations. “I was seeded 10th coming into the meet and was blessed to have walked away with seventh and my first All-American title,” Linzmeier said. “It feels awesome knowing that all my time and hard work finally paid off in my last indoor meet of my collegiate career.” The second All-American finish from the women came from junior E mily Reichenberger. Reichenberger earned her second All-American finish in her indoor career and her third All-American overall with an eighth-place finish in the 6 0-meter dash with a time of 7.75 seconds. She also finished 12th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25 .5 2 seconds. Reichenberger’s first AllAmerican finish came last year after finishing sixth in the 200meter dash with a time of 25 .5 2 seconds. McKenna said he believes Reichenberger had her best season. “E mily Reichenberger had the best and most consistent season overall of her college career,” McKenna said. “E mily finished off an excellent season, one that saw her win a conference championship in the 6 0-meter, as well.” Senior E lizabeth Abhold finished 13th in the 20-pound weight throw with a measurement of 5 5 -1. Sophomore Cheyenne Moore placed 14th in the 5 ,000-meter run with a time of 17:35 .8 3 and sophomore Alyssa Ryan finished 16 th in the pole vault with a height of 11-3 3/ 4.
Saturday Baseball vs Eastern Connecticut State University @ Chain of Lakes Park #1 Winter Haven, Fla. 2:00 p.m.
This was Moore and Ryan’s first championship appearance. The women managed to score three points over the course of the weekend to place 5 6 th among the 70 teams that scored. McKenna said although he is pleased with the athletes that managed to finish AllAmerican, the team did not have a good showing at the national level. “The performance of our women’s track and field team was representative of the season we had overall,” Mckenna said. “We have some very strong talent, especially at the WIAC level, but we do not have the firepower to be a force at the national meet at this point.” The men were able to bring home one All-American finish with a fifth-place finish from junior and Titan Athlete of the Week Roberto Lara in the mile with a time of 4:08 .5 8 . This was Lara’s second AllAmerican finish in the mile run in the past three years. Lara said he came into the weekend with high expectations and although he did not meet all his goals he is pleased with the final results. “My goal was to place topthree and execute well with my teammate, J oe,” Lara said. “I ended up taking fifth in what ended up being an all-time fast mile at the national meet. I couldn’t be too upset running 4:08 when many years, that could have very possibly won.” This was Lara’s third straight championship appearance and his fourth All-American finish overall. Lara said he believes his indoor season has been a success. “Last weekend was a good close to my indoor career, and I have a feeling my teammates and I will come back outdoor more motivated than ever,” Lara said. Also representing the men was junior Devan G ertschen, who had a height of 15 -9 in the pole vault. Sophomore Ryan Powers had a time of 49 .21 seconds in the 400 meter while junior J oe Z ach had a time of 4:10.21 in the mile. E ach of them finished ninth in their respective event which was one place away from the All-American category. The top-eight places earn AllAmerican status and score at the meet. Despite placing ninth, Z ach’s time of 4:10.21 was a new personal record. Z ach’s previous best time was 4:13.71. J unior N ick Freitag and sophomore J ustin Skinkis both ran the 8 00-meter for the Titans. Freitag finished 13th with a time of 1:5 8 .5 6 , while Skinkis finished 15 th with a time of 2:00.5 3. In the 1,6 00-meter relay, the team of Freitag, Powers, junior G arrison G riest and senior Danny Trimmer finished in ninth place with a time of 3:21.13. The men managed to score five points over the weekend to earn them a 42nd place finish among 71 teams. McKenna said the men’s performance was lacking. “The performance of our men’s track and field team was very disappointing overall,” McKenna said. “We had a lot of near-misses, with four ninthplace finishes. We did not compete up to our potential overall on the men’s side, and we have to bring a stronger level of confidence to the future championship meets.”
Sunday Softball vs University of Chicago @ Legends Way #2 Clermont, Fla. 10:30 a.m. vs Bowdoin College (Maine) @ Legends Way #3 Clermont, Fla. 1:00 p.m.
A8
SPORTS Advance-Titan
Morgan Van Lanen - Sports Editor Mike Johrendt - Assistant Sports Editor
March 16, 2017
Titans fall in Sweet 16 matchup against Bears by Mike Johrendt johrem64@uwosh.edu
ST. LOUIS -- University of Wisconsin Oshkosh had another strong season come to an end after its loss to the Washington University Bears in the Sweet Sixteen Friday. By falling 6 8 -5 6 , UWO was unable to make a berth in the E lite E ight round held Saturday. Head coach Brad Fischer said the team knew Friday’s opponent would pose a challenge, but thought the Titans would come out on top. “This one hurts a lot,” Fischer said. “Obviously we have a lot of respect for WashU and we know what kind of program they have, but at the same time we expected to come here and win.” To begin the contest, the Titans faced an offensive onslaught that led to an early 10-0 lead by the Bears. Specifically at the under fi e in ute media timeout, Oshkosh had a dismal 12.5 shooting percentage and two points via a basket from junior guard J aimee Pitt. UWO was able to turn the tides in the opening quarter by going on a 12-0 run to tie the game with 3:15 left in the first n effort play fro senior guard Taylor Schmidt started it off, as her missed basket translated into a quick steal off the defensive rebound, a put back and an andone attempt. Schmidt converted the free throw and brought the game ack to a deficit n as sist from Schmidt led to the first points for senior forward Madeline Staples, and another basket from Pitt, this time a 3-pointer, brought the game to 12-all. Being tied was the closest Oshkosh got to holding an advantage in the game, as WashU held the lead or was tied for the entire a e t the end of the first uarter the Bears held a slight advantage of 17-12, the closest Oshkosh got at the end of a quarter in the entire game. Three players for the Titans scored in the first as ch idt and itt led the tea with fi e points apiece. Pitt went two-
of two fro the field includ ing one from behind the arc, while Schmidt knocked down all three of her shots from the charity stripe to go with her lone field oal of the period Schmidt also chipped in two assists in the quarter, and she said the level of toughness WashU displayed through the entire game was a big factor in the game’s outcome. “They were really tough and they knew where we were going to be,” Schmidt said. “Constant physicality and I think we just hadn’t seen that in a while. J ust having someone in your face constantly, that just stepped up the intensity a little bit.” In the second quarter the offensive distribution again focused on three players, as Schmidt knocked down a 3-pointer at the top of the key for her only points of the quarter, junior forward E liza Campbell knocked down a three as well and Staples converted an inbounds play for a lineup for two points. G oing into halftime, Oshkosh faced a deficit to the Bears. UWO was shooting a dreadful seven-of-25 fro the field to the tune of 28 percent, while grabbing 11 rebounds. Four Titans scored in the first half as ch idt led the scoring with eight points on two-of-four shooting and three made free throws. Other scorin ca e ia itt with fi e points, Staples with four and Campbell contributing three. The third quarter was the highest-scoring period of the game for Oshkosh, as they put up 23 points in 10 minutes. Scoring was much more evenly distributed in this period, as seven Titans scored. Freshman guard Olivia Campbell led the way with fi e points on two of two shooting and one made free throw. Staples, sophomore Isabella Samuels and senior guard Morgan Kokta all chipped in four points, with E liza Campbell, Schmidt and senior forward le ichard contributing two apiece in the quarter. E arly on, the team faced so e foul trou le as ichard earned two quick fouls. Fisch-
er said despite this happening, the team could rely on its strengths to make up for any deficiencies “We have done a good job of staying out of foul trouble this year, partly because we do have a lot of depth,” Fischer said. “Obviously it was not ideal le ichard is important to us, but they had foul trouble too. I do not know that we blinked a lot with that piece, we just got a lot of players that we trust.” G oing into the fourth quarter, Oshkosh faced a 49 -43 deficit n a spin o e and drive, E liza Campbell scored the first points of the fourth quarter for the Titans. UWO put up 13 points in the quarter, which was not enough to complete the comeback in the contest. Schmidt, li a a p ell ichard and Staples all contributed to the cause. Schmidt helped with four points in the quarter, as her tough defense and constant offensive focus led to successful possessions for the Titans. On separate possessions, Schmidt converted two of four free throw attempts and added another layup in the process. E liza Campbell added two points on one-of-three shooting and secured a defensive re ound in the process ich ard had her highest scoring quarter of the contest, as her four points on a perfect showin fro the field in two shots was coupled with three total rebounds. Off the bench, Staples provided the other offensive support in the quarter with three points. She was fouled on a shot attempt, earned an andone attempt and converted the free throw. Staples echoed the thoughts of Schmidt in regards to the tenacity the Bears showed, as she said WashU’s gameplan had success against Oshkosh. Their physicality was definitely different than so e thing we have felt the last couple games,” Staples said. “Offensively, they did a good job knowing where we were going to be.” In a season where a minimum of 25 games are promised, a 26 -4 record is some-
EMILY FREDRICK/ADVANCE TITAN
Guard Taylor Schmidt takes a jump shot in the Sweet Sixteen contest on Saturday. thing UWO can only be proud of. In terms of it being successful even though it ended sooner than wanted, Schmidt said there are aspects outside of basketball that have shaped her to be who she is today. “Being a Titan has given us everything, it has given us a second family,” Schmidt said. “Teammates and the other family members have become family as well, and it is very hard for us to move on because of that.” This family mentality is an aspect the team has believed in for a while now, and Staples said it is something the team is built on and will greatly miss. “This team is like my second family,” Staples said. “I have best friends on this team that will stand up in my weddin ll year we were a
family and like I said in the locker room, I did not want this to be over because I am going to miss seeing them everyday, and that is a huge credit to what the culture of Oshkosh basketball is. It is a family built around toughness and determination and those lessons, and it is going to lead us seniors in the rest of our lives.” This team has experience earning berths in the tournament, and it can be tied back to the beginning of Fischer’s time at Oshkosh. He said the history of this program only supports the present teams and that team has that something special about it. “This is the fourth consecutive year we have won a tournament game,” Fischer said. “The list of teams has gotten shorter and shorter of teams
that have done that. It hurts a lot, because we are built in a way that the way our team is built, relationships go back fi e years ur tea is our team every year. They went right from the word ‘ go’ to the tournament. I am glad it hurts, because that means it means a lot to us.” Through the leadership of the senior class, the Titans were able to improve upon the result of last year by making the Sweet Sixteen. Schmidt said that while the entire team comes from different backgrounds, there are factors that make them gel together. “We all have different personalities,” Schmidt said. “I think we all lead differently and that is good because we are not very strong-willed in one area, we can see all areas, so I think that helps us.”
Q&A with the UWO women’s basketball freshmen Kylie Moe #20, G
Olivia Campbell #12, G S eason points: 44
S eason points: 168
S eason points: 8
S eason rebounds: 52
S eason rebounds: 48
S eason rebounds: 4
S hooting percentage: 36.1
S hooting percentage: 47.7
S hooting percentage: 60.0
B est performance: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 6- 8 FT
B est performance: 14 points, 1 rebound, 80.0% shooting
B est performance: 4 points, 1 rebound, 100.0% shooting
Did you think the team would make it this far in your freshman year? Olivia Campbell - I feel like I knew a lot about the team before I came here because I have an older sister on the team, so I got to see Oshkosh play before I got to play here myself, and I knew coming in that there was a lot of talent and I thought for sure that we could get really far with the team that we have.
ning of the season? O.C. - I definitely feel a lot more comfortable than I did in the beginning of the season. Throughout the season it’s been a lot easier to understand what your role is because when you first come in, you’re not really sure how you’re going to fit in, but with the leadership and the experience of every game and practice, you get the feel of what you’re supposed to do.
Who do you look up to most on the team? O.C. - It’s hard for me to just pick one person to look up to on the team because there are so many great leaders. I always look up to E liza because she has been a leader for me my whole life. I also look up to Morgan Kokta because she’s the same position as me so I try to play like her and a lot of times I think “what would she do? ”
What is the team atmosphere like at U W O shkosh versus high school? O.C. - You can tell our team spends a lot of time together both on and off the court and I think that shows. Something that’s different for me when I was in high school is that I feel like I’m with the team all the time and I really don’t know what I’m going to do once the season ends. You spend so much time with all of these people, so I think there’s a lot more togetherness in college basketball than I felt in high school.
Do you feel more comfortable with your role on the team now than at the begin-
Emily Miller #30, F
Did you think the team would make it this far in your freshman year? Kylie Moe - We’ve set really high standards for our team this year, so it’s not really surprising to us that we’ve made it this far. I think we’re really proud of ourselves and we’re happy to be in the moment, so we’re just going to enjoy it.
because we knew we could really make it far this year.
What was it like coming into such a prestigious program? K.M. - It was definitely a little bit intimidating. I think I can speak for the three of us who have come into a program that has had such high standards for the last se eral years oach rad Fischer is an awesome coach and we’re surrounded by upperclassmen who are really good role models, and they have set standards for us as freshman. They didn’t let us come in and play the role of a freshman. I think they expected a little more from all of us
What is the team atmosphere like at U W O shkosh versus high school? K.M. - I feel like most of us came from a high school where we did the majority of the work that had to be done in games and practices. N ow it’s really nice to come into practices and games and rely on our teammates. Coach Fischer always says that not one person always has to have an outstanding performance every single night. If we can all do our own little part, it will all add up and we’ll be really successful.
Who do you look up to most on the team? K.M. - I would pick Taylor Schmidt because I’m a guard like her and I think she has set very good examples as both a player and leader, and she is a really easy person to follow.
Did you think the team would make it this far in your freshman year? E mily Miller - When Coach Fischer was recruiting us, he talked about how successful his teams were, always getting into the Tourna ent and said how our freshman year would be would be a big one because we had so much talent from the senior class all the way down to our class. Who do you look up to most on the team? E .M. - I look up to the people in my position, so E liza Campbell and Madeline Staples. They both are a great influences on us, especially me in the forward position because they really push me to be a better person than I already am. What is the team atmosphere like at U W O shkosh versus high school? E .M. - I would say it’s a lot ore intense in colle e Practices for me are a lot more
intense. We’re always expected to do so well and drills are a lot different than what we did in high school.
Interviews conducted by Emily Fredrick
For more information about the women’s basketball season, visit
advancetitan. com
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Advance-Titan
Morgan Van Lanen - Sports Editor Mike Johrendt - Assistant Sports Editor
March 16, 2017
A-T photographer shares story of trip by Alicia Kahl kahla98@uwosh.edu
ST. LOUIS -- As a photographer, it is my goal to tell a story through pictures. It is my duty to freeze time and capture a still image of an exact moment. Whether that moment is happy or sad, every picture is an essential puzzle piece to every story. This weekend I, the assistant photo editor, helped tell the story of the UW Oshkosh women’s basketball team, along with three other editors from the Advance-Titan: Morgan V an Lanen, the sports editor; Mike J ohrendt, the assistant sports editor; and E mily Fredrick, the photo editor. After winning their second round game in the N CAA Division III basketball tournament, the Titans advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. I was secretly hoping the editors would want to travel to St. Louis, Miss. to cover the game. It happened. We quickly conjured up a plan to rent a car, reserve hotel rooms and were soon in our mini-van en route to St. Louis. All four of us had never really talked a whole lot before the trip, so this almost-seven-hour car ride was a great way for us to get to know each other a little bit. I think the biggest thing we all learned was Morgan is the only one who likes country music. Mike and Morgan told me and E mily the story of their hotel when they traveled to V irginia for the football team’s trip to the national championship game. Apparently, our hotel was top-notch compared to their previous hotel. We were staying at the same hotel as the basketball teams, so we knew we were in good hands. As soon as we arrived at roughly 11:30 p.m. Thursday, we went straight to bed. I mean straight to bed— we all had our pajamas on within five minutes of opening the door to our rooms. We were exhausted, but we were looking forward to the morning.
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From left to right: No. 10 Taylor Schmidt, head coach Brad Fischer and No. 32 Madeline Staples share a laugh after competing in the Sweet 16 round. After breakfast on Friday, we were preparing for the interviews we planned to have with the basketball team. E ach editor was tasked with a specific subject and everything went extremely well. Mike interviewed the seniors on their bittersweet journey as a team throughout their careers as Titans and the successes they’ve shared, including their ride through the N CAA tournament. E mily conducted her very first interview and talked with the freshmen. She asked them about their transitions from high school basketball to college basketball, their views on being a Titan and if they looked up to anyone else on the team. Morgan spoke with a few other key players about what they did so far on their trip to St. Louis. Lastly, I was in charge of taking pictures of the interviews. The girls gave everyone
really great quotes and I got some good shots, including one of the team’s good luck charm, Sammy the Squirrel. Being the one behind the camera and kind of listening to the interviews, it was interesting to hear what the girls had to say. It reminded me of my time in high school sports. E ach editor asked engaging questions and the girls responded with heartfelt answers. After the interviews, we had a few hours before we could pick up our media passes. We went to Starbucks like the studious college kids we are and did some work for a few hours. Once we all got annoyed with the in-and-out Wi-Fi, we decided to grab some lunch and roam around the city for a little bit. The next thing on our agenda was picking up our media passes. This was another journey in itself. It took us a little bit to understand the Washington University cam-
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Sammy the Squirrel enjoyed visiting UW Madison and going to the Arch this weekend.
pus; at one point it seemed like we were driving on a walking path rather than a road. N onetheless, we finally found the parking garage and made the trek up to the top of the garage and across the campus that seemed to sit atop a hill. We got our passes and went back to the hotel to rest up for the biggest part of the trip. Then we geared up and were on our way to the game. Mike and Morgan made their way to the upper level of the gym and set up camp for live- tweeting and gathering statistics for their recap and articles. E mily and I positioned ourselves to take pictures throughout the game. The gym was interesting for taking pictures. I had too big of a lens and was not able to get full bodies in my frame. The lighting was very yellow and the green walls did not do much to help that lighting. I have to admit that
I was really worried my work was going to be lackluster and low-quality. I was worried I was going to become uninspired. I strive to take good photos at every event I attend. This was an event where I had to figure out the right balance of camera settings and be really strategic with my photo taking. It was a learning experience and I am proud of myself for not giving up. I knew I had to tell that story. The journey home felt like it took longer than it did to get there. I think we were all ready to get home after a tiring weekend. But, all-inall, I think we realized how appreciative we are to have opportunities like that and how important it is to show your gratitude. N ot every sports and photo editor for a campus newspaper gets to travel hours to cover a sporting event. We are very lucky at the A-T. We worked great as a team
and I think that was the beauty in the entire trip. N o, we did not really know much about each other right away, but we were still willing to help with ideas for articles, photos, interview questions and more. I think opportunities like these are essential in strengthening the bond between a campus newspaper staff. As a photographer, I live life through a lens. The simple click of a button is all it takes to capture a compelling moment. Some moments, though, do not require a snapshot. All they need is the realization that you are a part of something big and great. I had a few revelations throughout the trip that really validated that I love what I do for the A-T. It has been a remarkable first year with them. It was a trip that I will remember forever and I am super proud of the work we all accomplished.
by Morgan Van Lanen vanlam57@uwosh.edu ST. LOUIS -- E liza Campbell said there is one thing she wants to remember about traveling to St. Louis with the UW Oshkosh women’s basketball team to play in the third round of the N CAA Tournament this past weekend. “That we’re in the Sweet Sixteen,” Campbell said. “Win or lose, this is a big deal.” Although the Titans fell to Washington University of St. Louis Friday night, junior J aimee Pitt said the experience of being able to travel somewhere else to play is what she will remember most. “I feel like this has more hype because it feels like a bigger deal,” Pitt said. “Obviously, last weekend was a big deal and it was a lot of fun. But here, it just feels like the next level.” Campbell added on to what Pitt said and gave her own point of view. “I think it’s kind of cool because we get to experience this a little bit more,” Campbell said. “We kind of get to experience this now: skipping school, coming and playing at a different place. We didn’t really get to do that last week because we were still in school while the other teams were enjoying Oshkosh.” About an hour and a half into their trek to St. Louis on
Wednesday, head coach Brad Fischer announced they would be stopping at the UW Madison Kohl Center. The team practiced there for about two hours, junior Kendell Truttman said. “We were told we were going to stop at E dgewood to practice, but coach surprised us with the practice at the Kohl Center,” Pitt said. “That was really exciting. It was a fun way to start off the trip for sure.” Campbell said players from UW Madison’s men’s basketball team, like N igel Hayes and E than Happ, watched the Titans practice. On Thursday, the women’s team explored St. Louis by checking out the Arch and seeing the Cardinals’ baseball stadium. However, the players were unable to go up into the Arch because it is under construction, Pitt said. Truttman said the memories the team made off the court this season are some of the most important ones. “It has been a lot of fun,” Truttman said. “You make a lot of memories that you’ll look back and you won’t ever get those back. You never get sick of the team. As much as people are like ‘ you spend so much time with them’ it’s normal for us.” The team was sure to bring along Sammy the Squirrel so he could also enjoy the experience
with the team. The good-luck charm could be seen sporting an N CAA credential card around his neck. According to Pitt, the team used him to ‘ ding-dongditch’ guests’ rooms. The team even played some pranks on its coaches. “One of our teammates left Sammy in one of the coaches’ bathroom, so in the middle of the night they found him,” Campbell said. Sammy is not the only one who is proud of what the team accomplished this season. Prior to Friday’s game, Pitt said Fischer has been supportive of the team all year. “He’s really proud of how far we’ve come and all of the accomplishments we’ve had and to just keep building off of it,” Pitt said. “E ven if this is the last game, we’ve made it. We did a huge run and it was a successful year. He’s proud of us either way.” As for Truttman, she said she will never forget the times she spent with her teams here at UWO thus far. “When I was a freshman being in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time, this team is way different from that team,” Truttman said. “I think that’s what makes it so cool. E very year your team is way different than the one before. It’s special to enjoy it with the team that you’re with.”
Sammy goes to St. Louis
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SPORTS Advance-Titan
Morgan Van Lanen - Sports Editor Mike Johrendt - Assistant Sports Editor
March 16, 2017
Fischer’s first class changes culture at UWO SENIOR
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to Oshkosh, you have a family right away. Feeling that support was huge.” As another member of the senior class, Taylor Schmidt has been through it all with her fellow Titans, and that bond is something that brought her to Oshkosh in the beginning. “Coach Fischer put a lot of time into me, and he made sure that he had assistant coaches at every one of my games,” Schmidt said. “J ust knowing that the team I was going to play for was going to be there from the lows to the highs is kind of what brought me here.” Schmidt’s high school playing career speaks volumes to the type of player she has been during her four years at UWO. In her career at Algoma, she played on many highly successful Wolves teams. In her first year, she earned playing time in 16 games and averaged just under five points a game, respectable numbers for a freshman coming in and playing at the varsity level. As a sophomore, she became one of the scoring leaders for the Wolves, putting up 13.3 points per game. Schmidt’s sophomore season brought her the first taste of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association semifinal playoffs as she helped lead Algoma to the championship contest, where they eventually fell and earned second place in the state. Schmidt’s junior campaign was a success, as the Wolves earned a 23-1 regular season record and earned the top seed in the second sectional region of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Algoma did not make it out of the first round of sectionals, ending the Wolves’ season and pushing on to the final year of Schmidt’s high school career. In the 2012-13 season, Schmidt was finally able to bring home the gold, as Algoma defeated Colfax 46 -30. Schmidt went for seven points in the game, playing a gamehigh 31 minutes in the victory. Her game averages dipped a bit, as she averaged 9 .4 points per contest while only playing in 18 games. In her entire career, Schmidt came close to eclipsing the 1,000-point mark for Algoma, putting up 9 5 0. The idea of the team being another family is an aspect that was evident to Schmidt from the beginning, and it helped make the decision to come to Oshkosh easier. “J ust having that sense of family, knowing that you would have a team supporting you,” Schmidt said. “I come from a small school and being closeknit together is an important part of my life.” A member of the family that also had played her last game with UWO is Morgan Kokta, who said the transition from high school to Oshkosh was made easier by the environment
she became a part of. “Being able to transition from being a senior in high school to a freshman in college, I felt good coming in freshman year,” Kokta said. “I wanted to put in the work and play some minutes.” Kokta came to Oshkosh from Oak Creek, where her threeyear playing career stood out to Fischer. Throughout Kokta’s career the Knights enjoyed consistent success. The sophomore year campaign for Kokta, her first year playing for Oak Creek, was consistent. She averaged six points a game, shot 35 percent from the field and totaled 149 points. The Knights earned a 19 -6 record in Kokta’s first year, and Oak Creek earned a two seed and made it to the sectional finals before falling by eleven points. Kokta had four points on two-of-five shooting and an assist in the loss. J unior year, the Knights went 18 -7, and Kokta improved her scoring average to 7.9 points per game. Her game-high of 19 points helped start her first 200point season. Oak Creek made it to the sectional final in Kokta’s junior year but was unable to advance to become one of the final four teams remaining, losing to Milwaukee King. In her senior year, Kokta was again consistent, averaging 7.4 points per contest. The Knights went on a 23-game winning streak that stretched into the playoffs, with the run eventually ending at the hands of Franklin in the first round of sectionals. The squad finished with a 23-2 record on the season, and Kokta put an exclamation point on the year by scoring 18 6 points in 25 games. To round out the high school careers of the graduating players, Alex Richard was a fellow Packerland conference member with Taylor Schmidt. Richard attended Kewaunee High School and was a teammate of a former Titan women’s basketball player, Marissa Selner. In Richard’s freshman year, she played a considerable amount of minutes for the Storm. She averaged 5 .5 points per game and put up 111 in the season, fourth-highest on the team. The Storm earned a berth in the WIAA tournament in Richard’s first year, but Kewaunee only won one game before being ousted. However, in her sophomore year, the improvements were drastic across the board. The team went 24-4 on the season and lost in the State Championship game against Altoona at the Kohl Center in Madison. Richard had a solid game, going three-of-six from the field for seven points and bringing in six rebounds in the defeat. On the season, Richard averaged a healthy 6 .5 points, putting up 16 3 points during the season. Richard’s junior season was
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Taylor Schmidt looks to cross over a WashU Bears player Friday. Schmidt scored 14 points in 32 minutes in the contest. the year the team was able to finally get over the hump and give two incoming Titans a high school state championship. The Storm went 24-4 on its way to securing a championship, with Richard putting up an average of 9 .2 points per game during the year. Her season-high of 19 tied for second highest on the team, as her scoring average per game placed her fourth on a balanced squad. Richard’s senior year was a repeat of her junior season, as the team was once again state champion. The Storm’s 23-game winning streak after its only loss on the season was testament to the development of Richard in her final year, as she became the second-leading scorer on the season with 341 points in her final season. Her season average of 13.1 placed her second highest for points per game, and her season high of 22 also tied for second on the team. The Storm was able to replicate its success two seasons in a row, and a big part of that consistency was due to the development of Richard’s career. Unlike Staples, Schmidt and Kokta, Richard went through a different kind of recruiting process. Her three fellow graduating members maintained a high level of communication with the coaching staff throughout their recruitment, but Richard said it was important that the process was done in a way that worked for her. “From the minute I walked onto campus, I knew I wanted to go there,” Richard said. “But with the recruiting process, I think Fischer could tell I needed my space to make my decision, so I did not talk to him that much, and that really helped that I had my space to
Kolf workers describe role by Frankie Rabas
rabasf17@uwosh.edu Students who work in Kolf Sports Center as building managers and supervisors gain leadership, teamwork and communication skills while finishing their homework and getting paid. According to Leanne Monroe, Senior Administrative Assistant of Athletics, the athletics department has jobs including event management, set up, office help, PA announcer and Student Titan E mployment Program positions. Monroe said these jobs are necessary because there is not enough staff to run athletic events properly and complete the office tasks without help from students. “The Kolf building manager and supervisor are to assist with the management of the athletic and recreation facilities in Kolf,” Monroe said. “They serve as weekend and evening supervisors for all athletic and recreation facilities and special events.” N ick Massoth, a Kolf building manager, said he typically does maintenance work in the gymnastics room. “[I] mop mats, I do rounds within the building in order to ensure safety, I lock the doors at night and give instruction to those who need assistance in getting around the building,” Massoth said. “You can say that I act as a man-
ager or security representative in the building.” J ordan Crass, another Kolf building manager, said he asks coaches specifically what they need or what needs to be cleaned to ensure everything is ready to go for the athletes. Crass said overall, the job is laid back, and he is able to do homework when he isn’t busy with cleaning or setting up or taking down equipment. “It’s kind of like you spend half the time working and the other half is like a study hall,” Crass said. “It’s really convenient. Our bosses actually encourage us to do that in our downtime instead of just sitting here and doing nothing.” Massoth said he enjoys his job because he gets to be in charge. “I run a building as the lead person in charge for two nights a week as a freshman,” Massoth said. “How awesome is that? ” Monroe said students who work in Kolf gain valuable skills and are actively involved in diverse communities. “They serve as a first point of contact to visitors in the building,” Monroe said. Massoth said his position has taught him how to take initiative and be responsible for his actions. “I’ve learned how to make decisions on my own a lot better because I am, essentially, my own boss,” Massoth said.
think.” This class has enjoyed consistent success since arriving on campus, which is something Richard said they cannot take full credit for. “I don’t know if we can take that much credit for the team effort,” Richard said. “I guess I will say that our leadership has been a part of it being so experienced in this process, but I think everyone has come in with a great mindset and a winning mentality.” Something the team has taken to heart recently has been the emphasis placed on defense, tempo and toughness, and both Schmidt and Staples echo each other in regards to the team’s fundamentals. “We take a lot of pride in our defense,” Schmidt said. “I know at least at the beginning of the year, we were one of the top defenses in the nation, so I think that is very important when we come into face these new teams that really have not faced the defenses that we play.” “I would say toughness; it has always been our number one thing that we talk about in pre-game talk,” Staples said. “I think that especially this year, we have done a good job of not just talking tough but proving that we are tough.” E ven with each player coming from a different background and school and experiencing different playing careers, Staples said the seniors work well together because they have understood the expectations since the beginning. “I think that us being together for so long, and, especially with Coach Fischer, we understand what the goals are and what the expectations are,” Staples said. “We all do have different
personalities, we all do have different angles and perspectives that we bring to the table, and I think that is what makes us unique and different.” The team understood that with last season ending in the second round of the N ational Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, improvements needed to be made. Staples said the seniors came together and knew the team was capable of making the necessary changes. “In our first meeting, it was us discussing in August about [how] we needed to make different changes for preseason,” Staples said. “We amped up our conditioning, we amped up our lifting, we just took everything to a higher level because we were disappointed in how it ended. We just made that known, and we communicated to the girls, and everyone was on board and that was kind of the start of it.” E ach graduating member has had moments in their career that stand out over everything. Schmidt said her moment involved another team on campus, and the atmosphere of that game had a unique nature. “Another one that sticks out to me is the whiteout against Stevens Point,” Schmidt said. “I think the whole football team was there, and it was just cool to be playing in that entire atmosphere, and we won in double overtime, so that was pretty cool.” N inety-eight wins and four consecutive N CAA tournament appearances is not enough for this class to be remembered by, an outlook Schmidt said goes back to why she became a Titan. “I would like to be remembered for being the team that brought back Oshkosh basket-
ball,” Schmidt said. “Being Fischer’s first recruited class, he wanted to turn our program around, and we just got to be along for the ride. I think that in ten years, people will realize, ‘ Oh, I want to go to Oshkosh because it is a basketball school.’ So I think having that imprint on us as seniors is pretty cool.” Sitting down with the team on game day before the Sweet Sixteen against Washington University this past Friday was an eye-opening experience. The basic fundamentals that the team echoed throughout the interview spoke volumes about the culture that has been created by Fischer for his players. To wrap up the interview, each of the four graduating members were asked to sum up their playing careers in a sentence. As hard as they assumed it to be when they heard the question, Schmidt summed up their life-changing experiences at Oshkosh in a unique way. “It was some of the best days of my life,” Schmidt said. “We got to create friendships that will last a lifetime and make memories that will also last a lifetime.” All four of these players were fighting back tears when the interview began winding down, but the true character of this team was embodied by this class. E verything they have accomplished as a group will always be cherished, and the tears were shed in remembrance of all the great moments they have experienced as a group. E verything was left on the court by this group, and Kokta summed up the experiences in the best way possible. “It has been one hell of a ride,” Kokta said.