Pioneers ready for an outdoor season that will end with an NCAA Championship meet

Platteville, Wis.- When the NCAA cancelled the 2021 indoor track and field National Championships, members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Track and Field programs were disappointed. Instead of dwelling on the lost championship, they used the indoor season as preparation for the outdoor season.

"The indoor season was a great opportunity for our athletes to find out where they were at, and there wasn't a lot of stress involved because, unfortunately, there was no WIAC or NCAA championship," Head Coach Chris Rotzenberg said. "A lot of athletes got to find out slowly where they were at. It really turned into a great opportunity."

The Pioneers did not have a home dual meet during the indoor season. They will open the outdoor season with the first of three home meets at the UW-Platteville Track and Field Complex on Saturday, March 27. With restrictions and COVID-19 safety protocols in place, Rotzenberg and the Pioneers are ready to host.

"We are excited and nervous at the same time," he said. "This will be our first event with organizing everything and making sure the safety measures meet WIAC, Grant County Health Department and UW-Platteville's safety standards. Though it is scary at times, I have no worries, as we are well in tune with what we have to do to make this work."

The Pioneers will travel to UW-Whitewater on Friday, April 2, for their second meet before returning home for the UW-Platteville Invitational on Saturday, April 10. The final home meet and the UW-Platteville Border Battle will take place on Friday, April 30.

National qualifier senior Charlie Gifford, from Menasha, Wisconsin, was prepared to finish his career in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all sports. He had a very big decision to make, either graduate or return for his final season in 2021. 

"Once everything was cancelled last year, it immediately crossed my mind to return," Gifford said. "It took a lot of thinking and discussing the options with my parents. The biggest factor was getting the redemption that was cut short due to COVID-19 and possibly have a chance at All-American and conference champion."

The women's team will return senior Gwen Orr, from DeForest, Wisconsin, who, like Gifford, has her sights on bigger things in her final season.

"My personal goal this year is to break the school record in the 100-meter and 200-meter," she said. "I want to get good personal records early in the season and work on my 200-meter technique and get longer strides for the outdoor meets."

Whatever the Pioneers goals are, one thing is true for them all. "I know the athletes are excited to be competing at home for the first time in over two years," Rotzenberg said.

UW-Platteville's Sports Medicine continues to develop safety measures for fans, which will be released when finished. For away meets, visit the host school's web page for information on fans.

To follow the Pioneer Track and Field programs, please visit letsgopioneers.com.