Athletic Boosters
CWC administrators (from left) Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Dane Graham, Vice President for Academics J.D. Rottweiler, President Jo
Anne McFarland, accept a pledge from CWC Board Chair Scott Phister and
his Fremont Therapy partner Brent Kaufman, directed toward the
expansion of men's and women's basketball at CWC. At right is CWC
Volleyball Coach Serol Stauffenberg.
The return of intercollegiate men's and women's basketball to Central Wyoming College is likely to occur in the 2008-09 academic year if the CWC board approves a budget in April 2007 that includes the hiring of a men's coach.
Vice President J.D. Rottweiler indicated in his monthly report on athletics expansion during the board's March 2007 meeting that it is likely the reintroduction of the sport will be included in next year's budget, which goes before the board at its April meeting.
Board Chair Scott Phister asked at the board's December meeting to include a discussion of the "advancement of athletic programs" at CWC on the board's January agenda. CWC trustees in 1990 voted to eliminate round ball athletics at CWC when huge budget cuts resulted from a problematic state funding formula. Vice President for Academics J.D. Rottweiler, who also served as athletic director during CWC's inaugural volleyball season this past fall, prepared some research and analysis of college athletics.
Riverton educator Lars Flanagan, holding his old Rustler basketball jersey, fondly recalled his days as a CWC basketball athlete during the January meeting. "I thought I had a true college experience at CWC," he said. "I enjoyed my time from 8 to 3 and I enjoyed my time from 8 until 2." He talked of the lifelong bonds he's developed with fellow athletes, like Scott and Dick Quayle, who were also at the board meeting to show support. Flanagan said he iis anxious to bring his young son to Rustler gym to watch college basketball as his father did when he was a youngster.
"We did something right," Rottweiler proclaimed of this year's reintroduction of women's intercollegiate volleyball. The team was recently named to the National Junior College Athletic Association's Academic Team of the Year.
Volleyball Coach Serol Stauffenberg is busy generating donations for CWC athletic programs, developing a booster club and drafting a job description for the men's basketball coach/fitness center supervisor. The first donor to step up was Scott Phister and his Fremont Therapy partner Brent Kaufman, who have pledged a $20,000 gift ($5,000 over four years) that will be matched by the state Endowment Challenge Match. The donation is specific to the development of the program and for scholarships. (see picture above)
"Once we get the endowment running, we'll have scholarship money forever," Rottweiler said of this and other donations the college is hopeful to generate with the return of athletics.