**Launch courtesy of UW-Whitewater Athletics
WHITEWATER, Wis.
–College of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior gymnast Kara Welsh, a nationwide champion and two-time All-American, handed away tragically on August 30, 2024. Flags on the UW-Whitewater campus will fly at half-staff on Tuesday, September 3 in Welsh’s reminiscence.
“To place into phrases the affect Kara had on the Warhawk group is inconceivable,” stated Coach Jen Regan. “A robust athlete, devoted teammate, and the sunshine in everybody’s darkish days, Kara actually lifted each one in every of us up in her time as a Warhawk gymnast. There are not any phrases to explain the void all of us really feel in our hearts, however Kara’s legacy will reside on by Warhawk gymnastics without end.”
A phenom on the vault, Welsh holds 4 of the highest eight scores recorded by a Warhawk gymnast in program historical past on the equipment.
Along with her high-caliber gymnastics, Welsh was a devoted and supportive teammate. Her massive persona and fervour for motivating these round her helped her teammates succeed.
“Kara was a real Warhawk – a tremendous particular person, scholar and athlete,” stated Athletic Director Ryan Callahan. “We’re all fortunate to have frolicked along with her over the previous three years. She was selfless and made everybody round her higher. Our hearts exit to her mother, Nancy, and the remainder of her household and pals.”
Welsh, a 21-year-old Plainfield, Illinois native majoring in enterprise administration, had an instantaneous affect on the UW-Whitewater gymnastics program the second she set foot on campus. As a freshman, she was the anchor on the vault and the leadoff on the ground train. Welsh excelled within the high-pressure conditions main the Warhawks to a second-place end within the WIAC Championship after tying for second on the vault. In her first Nationwide Collegiate Gymnastics Affiliation Championship look, Welsh tied for third on the vault to earn All-America honors.
In 2023, Welsh received the vault title on the WIAC Championship meet and certified for nationals as a person. She went on to win the nationwide title within the occasion with a rating of 9.825.
In 2024, Welsh battled again from an sickness to compete within the WIAC Championship meet – her first competitors of the season. She caught her vault in the most effective moments in Warhawk gymnastics historical past. Welsh tied this system file within the occasion, 9.875, and claimed the vault title for the second consecutive season. She went on to assist the Warhawks to a runner-up end within the NCGA Championship.
A GoFundMe web page has been established with contributions supporting the Welsh household. For extra info click on right here.
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