Posted 2/16/06
UW-Platteville's Carrie Morschauser is an all-conference and national qualifier in track and field and was a starter on the Pioneer conference championship volleyball team. The elementary education major from Deerfield has also earned academic honors and has a 3.6 grade-point average. She will compete for the last time in Williams Fieldhouse this Saturday in the UWP Open, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
You have quite an impressive resume, making it to the NCAA volleyball tournament and winning the WIAC Tournament Championship, and in track and field, you've been to nationals twice already. You're the senior co-chair of the student-athlete advisory committee. Did you ever think, coming into college, that your career would be so successful?
"No, I had no idea. I didn't even think I was going to play volleyball this year but I stuck it out and learned a new position (outside hitter). And in track I had no idea the high jump would go so well. In high school I was better in the triple jump and won state in the triple jump, but now I'm basically only doing the high jump. It's been kind of crazy."
You're not the tallest (5-7) high jumper out there, but you have been to nationals twice. What kinds of things did you do to improve yourself?
"Spider (Fromader) is an amazing coach, and he did pay me to say that (said with a laugh). He really breaks things down, and we work plyos and individual segments instead of everything at once, and he broke down the techniques. There are some things I wish I could be working on now, but I've been injured."
What kinds of goals do you have for yourself?
"My goals for this year in the high jump are to tie the school record (of 5-6) or break it, go to nationals and be an all-American. Then in outdoor, the same things. I'd like our team to be in the top four at conference."
Has it been nice to see your team so improved?
"We have come so far. In my freshmen year, we had about 10 of us go to conference, and this year, I think everyone (about 45) will go. We have a really good team this year. Everyone stepped it up."
What would you consider your career highlights?
"Volleyball this year was amazing. To win the conference tournament and to beat Whitewater are some things I'll never forget. In track, my conference honors, going to nationals--not being an all-American, but still going--are good things. I hope my goals this year will be highlights."
What is PSAAC and what are your roles?
"It is the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and we do community service projects as a whole athletic department. We also bring up any issues and take them to the conference level and we also bring back new legislations to our teams. Right now, we're working on a big blood drive at the end of the month."
What is your future after UW-Platteville?
"I will graduate in December, and after that I will work in my sister's day-care center in Madison as a pre-kindergarten teacher. I'm getting married in June (to fellow track and field student-athlete Matt Ammerman), and I'm so excited. I'd like to coach, but it all depends on what area we are in. Right now, we'd like to be maybe in Waunakee. That's near our families."
Your parents have been to a lot of your events, haven't they?
"My parents have been amazing. The only thing they have ever missed is a track meet in St. Louis. They've been to New York, and they've been to Texas. I love them. They're going to be bored without these trips."
Interview by SID Paul Erickson