Huge Crowd Gathers for W Club Annual Banquet

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Over 300 people attended this year’s National W Club Annual Banquet on November 13, 2009. The Annual Banquet was held at the Madison Monona Terrace. The evening began with cocktails and a silent auction full of collector’s items and W Club gear. Following dinner, Master of Ceremonies, Matt Lepay, began a program that included many team honors and special recognitions.

The UW Fencing program had over twenty-five former fencers present to celebrate the fencing legacy. Tom Barnum (Fencing, 1961) spoke on behalf of fencers in attendance. The 1949 UW Football team had a dozen former players in attendance to honor the team’s 60th anniversary.

In conjunction with their reunion weekend, members of the 1959 Big Ten Champions and the 1960 Rose Bowl team, celebrating their 50th anniversary, along with members of the 10 year anniversary of the 1999 Big Ten and 2000 Rose Bowl Champions reunion attended the Annual Banquet.

The National W Club also welcomed its 9th Honorary member, Wade Fetzer and saluted former UW Football Coach Mario Russo with the W Club ‘Good Guy’ award.

The National W Club Board of Directors also welcomed a new class to serve a three year term on the board. Class members include: Suzy Favor-Hamilton (Track and Cross Country, 1990), Mark LaPorte (Soccer, 1982), Eric Reno (Golf, 2002), Barry Richter (Hockey, 1993), Matt Unertl (Football, 2000), Julie Van Cleave (Rowing, 1981), and Jim Wimpress (Football, 1974). Rob Andringa (Baseball and Hockey, 1991) was also sworn in as President of the National W Club.

The 2009 Annual Banquet marked the first time that Paul Pohle (Swimming, 1942) was unable to attend. In keeping with the tradition Paul started, the banquet concluded with the singing of ‘Varsity.’

On Saturday, November 14, the 9th Annual Letterwinners Tunnel took place at Camp Randal. Over 500 former letterwinners wore their letter jackets and letter sweaters to form a tunnel for the 2009 UW Football team to run through.

The 2010 National W Club Annual Banquet will be held on November 12, 2010. Please mark your calendars. The 2010 letterwinners tunnel will still take place at the last home football game on November 27, 2010.

Posted: November 18, 2009