History of Oshkosh Sports

NATIONAL O CLUB
On the Thursday, of June 11, 1923 a new society was born known as the "O" men's club organizwas borne. Only lettering men were eligible to be members, even though women were had been receiving letters since 1918 until at that current time. However, mMen had been receiving letters since at least 1903.The women's "O" was initially smaller than the mens initially because it was felt believed by some that women did not put as much effort into athletics and also thought that women were still in a period of proving themselves and not well standardized. However, men had been receiving letters since at least 1903. In November of 1923, former "O" men, among others, gathered with the Oshkosh Normal School football team champions of Wisconsin in the all-normal Wisconsin conference for a celebration. During 1923, the "O" club was rated as one of the strongest clubs in school for a period of time. The original roster of the "O" club had forty-four names on it, which was first organized in the days ofincluding Robert "Bob" Kolf, Milt Wilson, and others. The National O Club has a long history of being rebooted on numerous occasions after it had become inactive for a few years. June of 1928 was a one such time of reorganization forof the "O" club. The organization had lagged until this year when Richard "Eck" Erdlitz, one of the charter members who returned to school, became motivated to revive the organization. It was then stated that the purpose of the "O" club organization wais to promote good, clean athletics; to encourage good fellowship; and to boost the Oshkosh College in every way possible. In March of 1954, the "O" club was reorganized again after being inactive since WWII. It was comprised of Oshkosh State College athletes who had won major or minor monograms. Kolf was the group's advisor. Official "O" from Women's Basketball, 1919. In December of 1959, Oshkosh State College once again reorganized the "O" club. It The club was open to athletes who had earned major letters in the various sports offered at Oshkosh State. Kolf, who was the athletic director, aided thise reorganization. The club promoted Ron Dibelius, a member of the basketball team, as a candidate for the "ugly man" contest, conducted annually by OSC to raise funds for charitable purposes. In 1962, the "O" Club was comprised of athletes who had earned major monograms for participation in football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis, and golf. On May 15, 1962, an announcement was made that the OSC "O" Club was to host a bratwurst festival with a contest where a queen would receive a crown.

Comment [A1]: contestfor what? And why is it important that an announcement was made on a specific date, if this was an annual event?

This was an event that they had been doing since 1960. January 14, 1963 the "O" Club participated in the Winter Carnival. In a letter addressed to Robert Kolf on August 19, 1970, the National "O" Club, Inc. was officially established. Attorney James J. Williamson wrote the bylaws, filed them with the Sstate of Wisconsin, and did the registration without charge. At this time, there was an inauguration of an athletic Hall of Fame for Wisconsin State University - Oshkosh by the National "O" Club. It was also decided at this time to begin getting names and addresses of past "O" men. In June of 1996, the bylaws were revised and this seemsthese seem to be provide the most current information on the National "O" Club, Inc. To be a member, one has to have earned an athletic award (or equivalent) at UW-Oshkosh and be interested in promotion of ng the purposes of the corporationorganization. A 1998 National "O" Club brochure states that the club assists with the intercollegiate athletic program and National Championship Awards, has created and sponsors the Hall of Fame, co-sponsors the Senior Awards banquet, and supports many other projects. The evolution of the National "O" Club seems to be a continuing process and an outstanding accomplishment for UW Oshkosh. The newspaper clippings of 1962 began to write the name as the "O" Club. When did women officially become accepted to the "O" club? National "O" Club? What happened during the periods between reorganizing? Who decided to call it the National "O" Club, Inc.? Why was it called the National "O" Club, Inc.?

Comment [A2]: so what?

Comment [A3]: Is this important for any reason? What did the newspapers call it before 1962?

Comment [A4]: what are all these questions, and why are they here?

1871 MENS GYMNASTICS

WIn 1871, when the Oshkosh Normal School first began in 1871, so did the gymnastics program. Physical eEducation, as we know it today, was termed "gymnastics.". The Normal school gymnastics program was modeled after the Dio Lewis system. This , whichsystem included the use of beanbags, wands, dumbbells, clubs, and hand rings. Social games, dance routines, and music were also emphasized within the Dio Lewis system.

In 1882 the students made an appeal and it was decidedthat led the school to employ a well-trained teacher of the German Turners. The teacher who was hired worked throughout the entire department teaching both men and women. For five years the students and faculty paid his salary. In 1888, the first gymnasium of the system was built. The room was spacious and convenient. With the

gymnasium, the Board of Regents assumed the responsibility of supporting the first teacher in the Wisconsin cCollege system.

Students demonstrating 1800s-style gymnastics 1800s-style. 1896-1897 In 1966 the mMen's gGymnastics was named an official team sport at UW -Oshkosh. John Schaeffer, first coached this fledgling team consisting of 19 young men. UW -Oshkosh quickly established a stateof-the-art facility including rings, straight bar, floor, and pommel horse equipment. As the young team grew, they enjoyed success. Schaeffer stayed with the team for three years.

Men's gymnastics team. 1966-1967 In 1969 Ken Allen was named the new head coach. The coaching change brought a new gymnastics era to the team. Allen coached men's gymnastics for the next 23 years. In 1971 he built a gymnastics pit. This pit was the only one of its kind in the area and one of three in the nation. In 1973 the men's gymnastics team won the NAIA National Championship, the first national championship for UWOshkosh in any sport! Throughout the years the team went on to win eight NAIA and two NCAA II national championships. The retirement of Allen in 1992 gave way for to the teams removal to be removed from UW-O. By this time, UW Oshkosh had the last men's gymnastics team in Wisconsin and one of forty left in the nation. Progressive women's sports, along with lack of competition, removed funding for the Mmen's gGymnastics team in 1993. By this time UW-Oshkosh had the last Men's Gymnastics team in Wisconsin and one of forty left in the nation. In 1993 that year, the team was reduced to being a club sport and even though Allen had thought the team would still flourish, it quickly ended. In 1994 all the Men's men's Ggymnastics equipment was sold to various buyers. This was the marked of the end of the team at UW -Oshkosh. During itsthe 28 total years of competition, the team amassed a total of 10 Nnational titles making it one of the most successful sports ever in UW -Oshkosh history.