Student athletes at UW-Whitewater carry the school's name with them to every sporting event they go to wherever it may be. Along with pride for one's own achievements, there is pride for the school that helped make them possible. Runners for the UW-Whitewater men's track team have adopted a new tradition to carry their school pride with them outside of sporting events.
Sophomore varsity runner Kyle Oberstadt took his trip to the tattoo and piercing parlor Fink Ink this year after competing with former varsity runners in the team's alumni race. Many of the former runners have a Warhawk tattoo. Oberstadt took his school pride with him beyond the track.
It started with a student on the men's team about six or seven years ago senior Brian Butzler, a member of the track team, said. Brian Zawleski had the old Willy Warhawk tattooed on his chest. The old symbol shows Willy standing, tattoo set looking over at one flexed arm. This left an impression on other members of the team and schmetterling tattoo soon the tradition to get a Warhawk tattoo was started.
Members of the team set individual goals that they must achieve before getting the tattoo. Butzler decided not to get the tattoo until he became an All American in his respective event. An All-American athlete has achieved a top eight status out of all the athletes in his or her division for a specific event. Once Butzler had achieved his goal, he got the Warhawk head tattooed on his calf.
Butzler went to a tattoo parlor that has since gone out of business in downtown Whitewater, but most students now go to Fink Ink on Main Street. Butzler said the team currently has about seven runners with the Warhawk tattoo on their calves.
'I saw it as kind of a way to give back,' Butzler said on his reason for getting the tattoo.
Senior James Koceja's trip to Fink Ink was in the fall of '05. Like many of the guys on the team this year, Koceja got his tattoo on his right thigh.
'A lot of the varsity guys went that year,I had wanted to go for awhile,' Koceja said.
The goals set by members of the team are uniquebut the general principle behind each decision is the same.
Runners who had the gumption to get the tattoo will be able to carry their school pride with them long after they have stopped wearing any type of uniform.
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