WIAA state softball tournament headed to UW-Green Bay | WTAQ

“We are both thrilled and appreciative to be hosting the WIAA State Softball Tournament this summer,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “This event will welcome fans from throughout the state of Wisconsin, showcasing our beautiful campus and the brand-new King Park.”

The event will welcome fans and communities from across the state of Wisconsin to the UW-Green Bay campus. Each day is expected to draw over 500 fans. Ticketing information will be released later.

Source: WIAA state softball tournament headed to UW-Green Bay | WTAQ

UW-Green Bay to Serve as Host of 2021 WIAA State Softball Tournament, June 28-30 

GREEN BAY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS | NEWS RELEASE |May 10, 2021

GREEN BAY, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will host the 2021 WIAA State Softball Tournament at newly-constructed King Park, the University and WIAA announced on Monday. UW-Green Bay and Green Bay Athletics will host 15 total games on June 28-30, including all five state championship games.

The single elimination tournament features five divisions. Eight teams qualify in Division 1 and four each in Divisions 2, 3, 4 and 5. All teams are seeded in each of the divisional brackets.

“We are both thrilled and appreciative to be hosting the WIAA State Softball Tournament this summer,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “This event will welcome fans from throughout the state of Wisconsin, showcasing our beautiful campus and the brand-new King Park.”

The event will welcome fans and communities from across the state of Wisconsin to the UW-Green Bay campus. Each day is expected to draw over 500 fans. Ticketing information will be released later.

“The WIAA is so appreciative of the UW-Green Bay staff and leadership,” Assistant Director Stephanie Hauser said. “They have been welcoming and accommodating in helping us plan and host this event on campus.

“The beautiful, new collegiate venue will provide the perfect setting for the culmination of the 2021 WIAA softball season,” she continued. “Green Bay as a host city for the volleyball and girls basketball State Tournaments has welcomed our teams and communities, and we look forward to those same experiences with the State Softball Tournament this year.”

Completed in 2021, King Park includes a full synthetic turf field, LED lights, state of the art sound system, batting cages, bullpen and press box. It serves as the only full turf field in the Horizon League and with a state-of-the-art drainage system allows for quick resumption of play.

For more information on the WIAA State Softball Tournament and its history, click here.

Bay Port High School will also host four games on Monday, June 28.

2021 State Softball Tournament
Monday-Wednesday, June 28-30
UW-Green Bay & Bay Port High School

Monday, June 28 @ Bay Port High School
8 a.m      Division 1 Quarterfinal (Seed #2 vs. Seed #7) or (Seed #3 vs. Seed #6)*
10 a.m.   Division 1 Quarterfinal (Seed #2 vs. Seed #7) or (Seed #3 vs. Seed #6)*
Noon      Division 1 Quarterfinal (Seed #1 vs. Seed #8) or (Seed #4 vs. Seed #5)*
2 p.m.     Division 1 Quarterfinal (Seed #1 vs. Seed #8) or (Seed #4 vs. Seed #5)*

Monday, June 28 @ UW-Green Bay
9 a.m.     Division 5 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
11 a.m.   Division 5 Semi-final  (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
2 p.m.     Division 1 Semi-final – Winners 8 a.m./10 a.m.
4 p.m.     Division 5 Championship
7 p.m.     Division 1 Semi-final – Winners Noon./2 p.m.

Tuesday, June 29 – all games @ UW-Green Bay (Bay Port if needed)
8 a.m.         Division 4 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
10 a.m.      Division 4 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
Noon          Division 3 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
2 p.m.         Division 3 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
4:30 p.m.   Division 4 Championship
7 p.m.         Division 3 Championship

Wednesday, June 30 – all games @ UW-Green Bay (Bay Port H.S. if needed)
10 a.m.    Division 2 Semi-final  (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
Noon        Division 2 Semi-final (Seed #1 vs. Seed #4) or (Seed #2 vs. Seed #3)*
3 p.m.      Division 1 Championship
6 p.m.      Division 2 Championship

* Based upon geography and determined at State Seed Meeting on June 24, 2021

About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 79,604 continuing education enrollees each year across all campus locations. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2020, UW-Green Bay was the fastest growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.

About the WIAA
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, as defined by its Constitution, is a voluntary, unincorporated, and nonprofit organization. The Association membership has a diversified membership of public high schools, nonpublic high schools, public middle schools, and nonpublic middle schools.

The purpose of the Association is…
… to organize, develop and control an interscholastic athletic program that will promote the ideals of its membership and the opportunities for member schools’ participation.
…to emphasize interscholastic athletics as a partner with other school activities in the total education process, and to formulate and maintain policies that will cultivate the high ideals of good citizenship and sportsmanship.
…to promote uniformity of standards in interscholastic athletic competition, and prevent exploitation by special interest groups of the school program and the individual’s ability.

UWGB athletic director Charles Guthrie expected to take Akron opening

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay suddenly is looking for a new athletic director. According to sources, Charles Guthrie is expected to be named AD at Akron University, an NCAA Division I school in Ohio, as soon as Tuesday.

Source: UWGB athletic director Charles Guthrie expected to take Akron opening

More coverage, here:

UWGB committed to ‘sustainable, competitive Division I athletic program’ after Guthrie departure, Press-Gazette, May 4

UW-Green Bay’s Charles Guthrie named Akron University’s Athletic Director, WFRV, May 4

UWGB athletic director Guthrie leaving, Fox 11, May 4

UW-Green Bay’s Guthrie Named Athletic Director at Akron University

National Search for Successor Underway

Green Bay, Wis. – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander confirmed today that Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie has accepted the athletic director role at Akron University in Akron, Ohio and will be leaving his role with Green Bay Athletics. Deputy Director of Athletics Jermaine Rolle will serve as interim athletic director until Guthrie’s successor is named. A national search for Green Bay Athletics 10th athletic director begins immediately.

“Charles Guthrie is a true joy to work with and is gifted at bringing out the best in people,” said Alexander. “He always puts the student athlete first. Our athletes, coaches, donors and fans have the utmost respect for what Charles has done for Green Bay Athletics over the last four years. I am sorry to see him leave UW-Green Bay, but only wish him the best in this next exciting chapter of his career.”

Guthrie’s move to Akron puts him closer to family and his hometown of Albany, NY. His new contract with Akron begins July 1, 2021.

“I am beyond grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to partner and collaborate with Chancellor Alexander, the leadership team and the campus community,” said Guthrie. “Green Bay is steadfast in its commitment to academic and competitive excellence as evidenced by the department’s 42 consecutive semesters above a 3.0 GPA. I will miss this tremendous community of student-athletes, coaches, staff and faculty. I’d like to thank all of the Phoenix fans near and far for embracing our program and supporting our exceptional student-athletes—your support is the driving force behind Green Bay Athletics.”

Guthrie served as athletic director at UW-Green Bay since October of 2017 when he became the ninth person to hold supervisory responsibility for intercollegiate athletics in the history of the Green Bay program. He replaced Mary Ellen Gillespie who left the Green Bay program for a position at Hartford University in Connecticut.

According to Alexander, Guthrie is leaving the program on solid ground. “We will begin immediately to recruit a leader to build on his success and continue toward our goal of building the Athletic Department as a fundamental piece of how the region interacts with UW-Green Bay,” he said.

In his time as the leader of Green Bay Athletics, the athletics program has seen tremendous success in the classroom, in competition and in the community. Green Bay student-athletes achieved the highest-ever combined grade point average during any semester in Spring 2020, recording a department-wide GPA of 3.57. Competitively, Green Bay Athletics earned postseason berths on the Horizon League and NCAA tournament play for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, volleyball and Nordic ski during his tenure. Additionally, Guthrie helped raise over $1.2 million annually via the Phoenix Fund and special events. Guthrie oversaw enhancements to the Kress Events Center, completion of the University’s softball complex, King Park, which was completed in Spring 2020 and the opening of the new Aldo Santaga Soccer Stadium in 2019. Guthrie was instrumental in hiring men’s basketball coach Will Ryan in 2020 and helped the Division I athletics department navigate the Covid-19 pandemic.

About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Established in 1965, UW-Green Bay is a public institution serving 8,970 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and 79,604 continuing education enrollees each year across all campus locations. We educate students from pre-college through retirement and offer 200+ degrees, programs and certificates. UW-Green Bay graduates are resilient, inclusive, sustaining and engaged members of their communities, ready to rise to fearlessly face challenges, solve problems and embrace diverse ideas and people. With four campus locations, the University welcomes students from every corner of the world. In 2020, UW-Green Bay was the fastest growing UW school in Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.

 –43-21

 

UW-Green Bay women finish program-best third in Horizon League with 913 total that smashes previous best | Wisconsin Golf

If there was pressure on the UW-Green Bay women’s golf team Tuesday, Katie Warpinski and her Phoenix teammates tried not to show it.

“We went into the round to just play golf and enjoy it, and I’d say we had a lot of fun,” the UWGB senior wrote in a text message to Wisconsin.Golf of the final round of the Horizon League Championship where COVID-19 protocols required that each of the nine teams play together in groups of five golfers on the Ackerman-Allen Course at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Source: UW-Green Bay women finish program-best third in Horizon League with 913 total that smashes previous best | Wisconsin Golf

Marinette Campus Field House basketball gym

UW-Green Bay Campuses in Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan bring back sports in 2021

Green Bay, Wis.—Turn on the lights, fire-up the loud speakers, polish the hardwood. Sports are coming back to UW-Green Bay’s Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Campuses.

UW-Oshkosh, UW-Green Bay and UW-Stevens Point made a joint announcement last week to provide opportunities for competitive play at Sheboygan, Manitowoc and Marinette; Fond du Lac and Fox Cities (UW-Oshkosh) and Marshfield and Wausau (UW-Stevens Point).

(Note to media: UW-Green Bay DOES NOT refer to its campuses as “two-year” as there are four-year bachelor’s degree programs on all of UW-Green Bay’s campuses.)

Together these schools make up the newly formed WCSL, the Wisconsin Competitive Sports League. The league membership schools will compete against each other in a conference format and also have flexibility to schedule contests against other comparable programs both in and out of state.

“The return of competitive sports to our Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan campuses fulfills a commitment and trend that all of our UW-Green Bay campuses will emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever,” said Sheboygan and Manitowoc Campus’ Executive Officer (CEO) Jamie Schramm. “Our dedication to our students and connection with our communities is unwavering.  Our competitive sports league and the opportunities it provides our students and communities to come together is an important piece of our shared success.  I look forward to cheering on our sports teams as they compete in a program that is robust and focuses on the wholistic success of our student athletes.”

Initial sport offerings according to Penny Maletzke, program manager for competitive sports at Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan campuses, will be women’s volleyball in fall of 2021; men’s basketball in winter 21-22 and men’s and women’s tennis in spring of 2022. The athletics programs took a pause during the pandemic. Maletzke said the campuses are starting out with fewer offerings as they return from the pandemic, but with anticipation of adding more offerings in the future.

“Athletics has played a tremendous role by enhancing student life and involvement, but it also brings opportunity to the greater Marinette/Menominee Community to come out and see a terrific game,” said Marinette Campus CEO Cindy Bailey. “For years the Marinette Campus has produced quality athletic programs where our athletes have learned valuable and practical skills on and off of the court, enriching their entire collegiate experience. Our Fall 2019 our women’s volleyball team won the WCC State Championship and our men’s basketball team earned the state title in 2015 and has produced all-conference honors for many of the players over the years. We are excited to return with Dan Porath as our women’s volleyball coach and Bryan Wickstrom will head up our men’s basketball team. Having the two veteran coaches leading us into our new league will help poise our campus for success in the coming year.”

According to a press release issued last week, a special committee tasked with creating the WCSL anticipates sport offerings increasing in the future, including league expansion to other UW institutions. The success of the league requires extensive planning to provide for the health, safety, and well-being of the student-athletes and coaches, which remains a top priority.

The WCSL is built on well-established relationships between the named campuses.  Administration and student leadership support will provide meaningful and vibrant campus environments. Hosting sporting events will showcase their outstanding county-owned facilities.

“The opportunity to continue to provide a pathway for students to engage in competitive sports is exciting,” noted UW-Green Bay’s Vice Chancellor for University Inclusivity and Student Affairs Corey King. “This partnership between the three universities is a definitive example of our collective desire to create the best student experience possible!”

–35-21–

UW Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Points and UW-Green Bay announce athletics’ return on access campuses

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WSAW) – Some () campuses in the University of Wisconsin system will see the return of athletics this fall. After taking a break from sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, UW-Stevens Point’s Wausau and Marshfield campuses will be offering women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, and men’s and women’s tennis in the fall of 2021. Other two-year UW campuses bringing back athletics include UW-Green Bay (Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan Campuses) and UW Oshkosh – Fond du Lac and Fox Cities. Together these schools will make up the newly formed Wisconsin Competitive Sports League.

League membership schools will compete against each other in a conference format and have the flexibility to schedule contests against other comparable programs both in and out of state.“The opportunity to continue to provide a pathway for students to engage in competitive sports is exciting,” said Corey King, vice chancellor for University Inclusivity and Student Affairs for UW-Green Bay. “This partnership between the three universities is a definitive example of our collective desire to create the best student experience possible.”

Source: Athletics return to UW two-year campuses

Reminder: Green Bay Athletics hosting Steak Fry in June

On Tuesday, June 8, 2021 Green Bay Athletics and the Green Bay Packers will partner again to host the 2021 Phoenix Packers Steak Fry presented by Prevea Health at the Lambeau Field Atrium beginning at 5 p.m.

The annual joint venture between Green Bay’s most legendary teams – the Green Bay Packers and the Green Bay Phoenix – supports the Phoenix Fund, the principal fund for student-athlete scholarships and program support at UW-Green Bay. Our 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however the annual event has generated over $1.8 million in support of Phoenix student-athletes over the past 20 years!

The doors will open at 5 p.m. with the traditional steak fry buffet at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program celebrating the success of our nearly 250 student-athletes. Attendees will enjoy highlight videos, a live auction and many Green Bay Phoenix game-day experiences such as the parachute toss, t-shirt giveaways and much more. Live auction item descriptions will be released prior to the event, so stay tuned for details!

Individual tickets are on sale for $100 per person. Reserved corporate tables are available for $1,500 as well as other sponsorship opportunities (PDF). Tickets are also available for purchase online here or via phone at 920.465.2053 or by visiting the Green Bay Athletics offices from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

*event is subject to change based on CDC, State and Local guidelines regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

Green Bay men win two; women split in weekend games

The Green Bay men’s basketball team secured its fourth-straight win at home on Saturday, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne, 87-72, behind four double-digit scorers which included career highs from Japannah Kellogg III and Lucas Stieber. Emmanuel Ansong led Green Bay with 18 points as the Phoenix snapped Purdue Fort Wayne’s four-game winning streak on Friday night at the Kress Center, 77-59. Green Bay improves to 4-11 on the season and 4-7 in Horizon League play, while the visiting ‘Dons fall to 6-6 on the year and 5-6 in conference action. GB heads to Cleveland State next weekend for matchups with the Vikings on Friday, Saturday at the Wolstein Center. Tip-off of both games will be at 6 p.m. and streamed live on ESPN3.

The Phoenix women had their first loss of the new year at Cleveland State, but managed to split games with the Vikings. The loss ended a seven-game winning streak. Green Bay is 7-3 in Horizon League play, and 8-5 overall. The team returns home this weekend to face defending regular-season and tournament champion, IUPUI.

Also, a long-awaited volleyball season has begun. See more at the Green Bay Athletics website.

 

Campus mourns passing of one-time team physician and lifetime supporter, Dr. Jeremy Green

Campus mourns the passing of Dr. Jeremy Green, who passed away on January 10, 2021 just weeks shy of his 89th birthday. Dr. Green was a physician in the Green Bay Area, and served as a team physician for UW-Green Bay athletics. He and his wife Elizabeth, have been longtime supporters of UW-Green Bay.

According to his obituary, “Throughout his life, he was passionate about giving back to the profession and community that had been ‘so good to him and his family.’ He was an active volunteer with the Medical Societies of Brown County and the State of Wisconsin, the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and Botanical Gardens, the N.E.W. Community Clinic, and Scholarships Inc. He was a strong believer in the importance of higher education, and so he dedicated much time and energy to helping the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay become more vibrant and successful. He helped establish UWGB Health Services and served as an advisor for both health services and the College of Human Biology for many years. He even served as a team physician for the men’s basketball and soccer teams.

“He received numerous awards for service to his community and profession, from the UWGB Chancellor’s Award for Lifetime Service, to the State Medical Society’s Physician-Citizen of the Year Award, and countless honors in between.”

“At the time of his retirement from active practice in May 2017, he was Wisconsin’s longest serving physician, and had mentored countless doctors and nurses who hoped to emulate the extraordinary sense of compassion that was at the heart of his approach to health care.”

Funeral services for Jeremy Green will be private and limited to family due to COVID restrictions. Later this year, the Greens plan to celebrate his life with a ceremony that will be open to all friends and family, including his family and relatives around the world.

See the full obituary.