UW-Platteville track and field recognizes seniors

Platteville, Wis. – On Saturday, February 15 the University of Wisconsin – Platteville track and field team honored its seniors at the UW-Platteville Invitational. Little did the Pioneers know how unique of a treasured celebration that day would be. In light of the track and field season coming to an abrupt, early end, we will continue to highlight the senior class throughout the spring semester. In this final edition, we honor track and field athletes Matt Hokanson, Brett Schommer, Cole Gore, and Alex Wright.

Matt Hokanson

Hokanson arrived at UW-Platteville from his hometown of Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Concentrating on the hurdle events, Hokanson began to realize his potential in the 400-meter hurdles and he became an All-American at the 2019 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Recently, Hokanson was named the 2020 recipient of the WIAC Max Sparger Men's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete Award. Hokanson served as co-president of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, an organization committed to supporting issues related to athletics and community service. A few of Hokanson's favorite memories of the track and field team are the bus rides home from meets and stopping at Qdoba. He will be graduating with a degree in industrial engineering with a minor in business administration.

Brett Schommer

Transferring into UW-Platteville as a junior, Schommer finished out his final two years with the Pioneers. Schommer specialized in the 60-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles, qualifying to two WIAC Championships. One of his favorite track and field memories is going to Washinton University's outdoor track and field meet in St. Louis and being able to explore St. Louis and Chicago on team travels. Schommer is from Freedom, Wisconsin and will be completing his degree in Forensic Science this spring.

Cole Gore

A Platteville native, Gore is graduating with a degree in industrial technology management and building construction management. One of Gore's favorite memories of past track and field seasons was medaling in the 400-meter hurdles at the WIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2018. He took fifth place that year with a lifetime best time of 56.03. Gore, Schommer, Hokanson, along with teammate Charlie Gifford made up a remarkable hurdle crew at UW-Platteville, a squad that joked around as much as they worked hard to accomplish their goals on the track.

Alex Wright

Specializing in the pole vault, Wright saw a lifetime best pole vault in his final season with the Pioneers. Wright cleared 4.31m (14-1.75) at the UW-Platteville Invitational. Originally from Benton, Wisconsin, Wright came to UW-Platteville to study biology with the hopes to go on to medical school and become a rural physician.

The seniors invested in themselves by attending the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. Student-athletes with such determination and passion to succeed have a rich impact on a team. It's hard to predict the impact a college experience can have; it's even harder to communicate in words that same impact in the aftermath. Matt, Brett, Cole, Alex, you are through and through Pioneers. With much gratitude, we send you off and welcome you into the elite club of Pioneer Alumni.