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Get to know Annie Guerrero

Capping off a historic five-year career, Annie Guerrero will go down as one of the greatest high jumpers in Milwaukee track & field history.

The West Bend, Wisconsinnative was a two-time NCAA preliminary qualifier, and is also co-owner of the Milwaukee indoor high jump record while finishing her career second alltime on the outdoor high jump list.

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With a decorated career filled with athletic, academic, and weekly honors on her resume, Guerrero was recently selected as the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor Recipient by the Horizon League on June 28. An award reserved for one female and one male athlete that is issued annually to studentathletes that demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities.

The Roar Report chatted with Guerrero to look back on her road to Milwaukee, her time with the track & field program, and what’s next for the recent graduate.

Roar Report: How did your athletic career begin, and what sports were you involved in during your time before high school?

Annie Guerrero: Since I was little, my parents were adamant about throwing me into sports to keep me busy, so I can’t remember an official time of how my athletic career began, but my primary sport growing up and going into high school was gymnastics. I also always liked running, so I joined the cross country team my last two years of high school, and I did track all four years.

RR: During your time with your high school track & field team, when did you know that becoming a collegiate track & field athlete in college was a reality?

AG: I came to this realization late in my high school career. Initially, I was going to attend a community college in West Bend and didn’t plan to pursue athletics, because I wasn’t aware that was an option for me. However, after winning a state championship my senior year, I did some research and decided to take the chance by reaching out to some UWM Track and Field staff. It wasn’t until late June of my senior year when I officially committed to UW-Milwaukee. That’s when I officially thought, “oh wow, I am actually going to be a Division I collegiate athlete.” I remember my life totally taking a 180 after that June. I learned to always strive for high goals no matter the obstacles.

RR: What made you decide to stay in the state of Wisconsin for college? Why was UWMilwaukee the right fit for you?

AG: I love UW-Milwaukee! My original plan was to transfer there after community college. I wanted to stay in Wisconsin because I get to stay close to my family and I didn’t have the finances to look at out of state colleges. The main variable, however, was the diverse community. Seeing people from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities on my tour was so beautiful. Growing up in a large town, I didn’t see many people of different ethnicities. I wanted to get in touch with my Latina roots as I transitioned into a new chapter in my life, and I knew UWM offered that.

RR: You arrived at Milwaukee at the same time as Coach Basler, how was that transition to college, and working with a

AG: Going to college was a difficult transition. I’m a first-generation student, so I learned to navigate higher education on my own by using the resources around me. It was especially difficult juggling this as student-athlete. The student-athlete experience is drastically different from the average college student, so I often felt alone my first year because I didn’t know many people that were encountering the same thing. I found out over time that my teammates were the greatest support I could ever have. I made lifelong friends through this experience, and I wouldn’t take back anything. The transition of switching coaches at the beginning of my college career was something I didn’t know I was going to experience, but as an incoming freshman, adapting to change and new experiences is part of the journey, so I acclimated fast. Nevertheless, I am so happy to have had such an amazing coach like Coach Basler during my five years. His coaching style suited me as an athlete which was valuable to my positive experience as a Panther overall.

RR: Qualifying for the NCAA West regionals in 2021, talk about that experience of going to Texas and what you learned from competing on the national stage?

AG: It was awesome being surrounded by such talented student-athletes. It was an honor just being in their presence! It was an amazing experience that I will never forget. Although I didn’t perform the way I wanted, I learned to enjoy the amazing experience and to feel blessed regardless of the outcome.

RR: Fast forward to your most recent season, you had the chance to return to the NCAA West Preliminaries in California, what did you learn the first time that was able to take with you to California?

AG: I brought a sense of focus to my performance. High jump is more mental than anything else. Sometimes distractions or mental blocks can arise in times of stress and it’s important to just take in the present moment. More importantly, to loosen up and just have fun!

RR: You were able to set and then tie your own program record for outdoor track & field, and you finished your career second on the high jump list for indoor track & field. Can you put into words the feeling that you get when you know you’ve cleared the bar on a record-setting jump?

AG: It is so difficult to describe because it is just a flow of emotions! It’s like a big hurrah! I think what feels best is the actual jump itself. There’s no better feeling than the sensation of everything coming together to a perfect T within a matter of milliseconds for those jumps to happen! It validates that all my hard work has been paying off.

RR: You were recently selected as the recipient of the recipient of the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor, an award given annually to just two student-athletes out of the more than 3,000 student-athletes in the Horizon. What was your thought when Coach Basler gave you the news?

AG: I honestly thought he was joking at first! There are so many amazing student athletes that are just as rewarding, so I was in shock when he told me. I felt so honored, and I still do!

RR: In addition to your Coleman Medal of Honor, you were recognized as the Milwaukee Senior Student-Athlete by the Milwaukee Athletic Administrative team for your impact on the department throughout your career? Talk about what it meant to you to receive that honor representing the student-athletes at Milwaukee?

AG: It is such an honor to be recognized as someone who sets an example for other Panthers. I couldn’t have done it with all the support from UWM Athletics. I am so happy I could impact a community that I hold so dearly and helped me grow into the individual I am now.

RR: What will you miss most about UWM now that you’ve graduated?

AG: I am going to miss seeing all my friends every day in practice. It’s those moments of silliness and laughter that made all the difficult times so manageable. Knowing that you can walk into practice and have that support system is great. I am going to miss them all!

RR: What advice would you give to new studentathletes starting at UWM?

AG: Life is too short to wait for the right time, if you want to see change, initiate the change.

RR: Now that you have graduated, what is next in your professional career?

AG: I am currently working as a Radiologic Technologist at Froedtert. I hope to continue impacting people in my community in a positive way through this position!

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