Incoming UW-Stevens Point student Connor Schaefer (above) says he fell in love with the game of golf as a way to pass time during the COVID-19 pandemic, as golf courses were among the few places open.
The Hortonville native began playing for his high school team, serving as captain his senior year when the team was named All-Conference. He also works at a golf store and practices on a golf simulator during the winter months. When it came time to choose a university, he was looking for a school where he could play collegiate golf as well as study business.
He found that at UW-Stevens Point, which announced earlier this year that men’s golf would be added this fall for the first time since 1995. Katie Kreuser will serve as head coach of both the women’s and men’s teams, succeeding Diane Gilbert who is now the assistant athletic director. Gilbert helped put the men’s program together.
“Coach Katie and Diane Gilbert made me feel like UW-Stevens Point would be a great home for me, and the academics also fit my needs,” said Schaefer, who will major in business administration. “The campus looked amazing, and business is a broad major with several options. I’m excited to start at UW-Stevens Point.”
Incoming first-year student David Fry will play on the men’s tennis team this fall.
Schaefer will be one of about 20 students on the new men’s golf team, and 13 students will join the new men’s tennis team, back this fall for the first time since 1990. In addition, the growing women’s wrestling program will start its fourth year with 20 members.
“Adding new programs is an exciting opportunity for UW-Stevens Point to offer even more students the life-changing athletic and academic experiences all of our Pointers encounter,” said Athletic Director Brad Duckworth. “With the successful launch of women’s wrestling we have been looking for additional ways to increase enrollment through athletics. I am confident both men’s golf and tennis will recruit new, high-level players, who are also great students.”
David Fry, Suamico, said he chose to attend UW-Stevens Point beginning this fall because he could also play tennis. He will major in computer information systems with minors in computer networking and cyber security while working with Philip Kuenzi, the new coach of the men’s and women’s teams.
“I didn’t have any plans of going to college right away until I got this opportunity,” Fry said. “I liked the chance for new friends, a better education in a path I enjoy. I have friends at UW-Stevens Point already who shared good words about it.”
Amor Tuttle, North St. Paul, Minn., chose UW-Stevens Point last fall after looking at women’s wrestling programs in the Midwest then visiting the campus, meeting team members and speaking with Coach Johnny Johnson. Tuttle wrestled on the boy’s team in high school, where she earned All-Conference Honors and participated in the state tournament. In high school competition against girls she was a three-time All American, 2020 Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association State Champion at 138 pounds and ranked 10th nationally. “I wanted to see how far I could take my skills on the college level,” she said.
Amor Tuttle chose UWSP to join the women’s wrestling team.
As a nursing major, Tuttle enjoys taking classes at both Mid-State Technical College and UW-Stevens Point and getting to know more about the Stevens Point community. She hopes to stay in the area after graduation.
“UW-Stevens Point offers the best of both worlds,” said Tuttle. “Athletes here have great success in the classroom, and there is so much team support and coach support. The athletic trainers are awesome.”
Schaefer said he is excited to begin his college journey this fall.
“I’m looking forward to working with committed coaches and new teammates and being in a program that is just starting,” he said. “I can already tell that my coaches put a big focus on academics. Golf helps me clear my mind, which in turn helps me do well with my homework and class projects. It’s a mental game as well as physical.”
