Women's Gymnastics

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Madison Vanderpool, UW-La Crosse

Each week during the 2022-23 academic year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver's.


Name:  Madison Vanderpool
Hometown (High School):  Lenexa, Kan. (Shawnee Mission West)
Year in School:  Senior
Sport:  Women’s Gymnastics
Major:  Biology
Minor:  Spanish


Why did you choose UW-La Crosse?
I chose UWL because the campus is beautiful, the pre-health department is top-tier, and everyone I met on my visit was so welcoming. I instantly felt like I was a part of a family.
 
What other clubs/organizations on campus are you involved in?
I am a student assistant for the professors at the Health Science Center on Campus. I am also a Junior Eagle gymnastics coach.
 
What causes do you care about?
I care about a lot of causes, but especially mental health awareness, medical research, childhood safety, helping the homeless, and in general, simply spreading positivity into our world.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
I like how the WIAC is extremely competitive, and I love being a NCAA Division III athlete because we don’t do it for the money or the rewards, but we do it because we love our sports. I think this pure passion truly shines in each and every Division III athlete.
 
What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Cheese Curds
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Crazy for Cookie Dough
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  Centennial Hall
Movie?  The Blind Side
Holiday?  4th of July
Food?  Ice Cream and Crab Rangoons
Musical Group/Artist?  Morgan Wallen
Professional Sports Athlete/Team?  Kansas City Chiefs!
Vacation Spot?  Maui, Hawaii
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
Setting the facility record for the highest team score in Mitchell Hall this year!
 
What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
 Playing beach volleyball with all of my teammates.
 
One word that describes your team?
Family.
 
One word that describes you?
Optimistic.
 
What is your dream job? 
My dream job is being an Emergency Medicine Doctor.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Skydiving.
---African Safari.
---Hot air balloon ride.
 
A non-athletic talent that you have is?
I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
Not really anything! But I do love eating Nerds Gummy Clusters on meet days.
 
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