Washington Co., WI – The UWM at Washington County men’s basketball team is trying to pack the field house on February 8 for its final conference game against UWO at Marinette. Saturday’s match up will also bring to a close 60 years of athletics at UWWC.
A decision to cut competitive athletics at UWM at Washington County was made in April 2019. The announcement came from interim dean Stephen Schmid.
The move to sunset competitive conference athletics at the end of the 2019-20 academic year is driven by several factors. Declining enrollments have resulted in declining segregated fee revenues, leaving less funding for non-athletics student life activities and personnel.
Former UWWC Dean and Athletic Director Tom Brigham spoke passionately last April about starting the athletic program at the local university in 1968.
“Nobody even approached me for a conference, even out of decency to ask about what my thoughts were about it,” he said.
Current Athletic Director Deb Butschlick has been with the local university since the mid-1980s. She said her future at the school has yet to be determined.
In 2019 school officials said they would work with the student governance associations to create a 2020-21 plan for club sports and wellness programs that we hope will result in a healthier student population. So far there’s been no update on how that plan is moving forward.
Saturday’s men’s basketball game tips off at 1 p.m.
The public is encouraged to turn out and support the Wildcats and pay tribute to UWM at Washington County athletics.
