Wildcat athletic icons cap careers by through wall of fame induction

The Wildcat logo shines bright as the inductees of the West Athletic Wall of Fame stand in front of the court some of them once called home. The Wall of Fame award ceremony took place before the varsity boys’ basketball game on January 2 as a celebration of the outstanding individuals who contributed to the promotion and growth of athletics at West.

Coach Savannah Pohly, one of the inductees who competed for West in softball, golf, and basketball, expressed her emotions regarding her induction into the Wall of Fame. She mainly competed in basketball where she was nominated for 1st Team All-Conference in 2003 and 2004 and won two State Championships with while also winning the Dr. Stanley J. Graiewski Athletic Award in 2004.

“I feel honored to have had a great experience. Athletically, with great coaches, great teachers, and good leaders that taught us foundational skills that really got us to go to the next level,” she said. “That set me up for life and helped me succeed in college.”

After her high school career, she carried on with her basketball career at Marquette University and Concordia University in Irvine, California. 

John Dewitt, who competed for West in cross country, wrestling, and track and field, appreciated the moment. He mainly competed in cross country where he won 1st Team All-Conference in 2008 and qualified for State in both 2007 and 2008. 

“I think it’s really special. Just to be part of this whole process, when you start running as a 15-year-old kid, you don’t realize the cool journey you will take on,” he said. “And with all the miles and all the hard work, it’s cool to get it recognized in this type of way.”

He continued his running career at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he won NCAA Elite 90 Award in 2011 and 2012 while also qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in 2016, 2020, and 2024. 

Bryan Schwebke, an inductee who competed in football, wrestling, and baseball for West, emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment. While competing, he had 114 career wins and qualified for state in 2003 in wrestling while also winning unanimous 1st Team All-Conference in 2002 and 2003, FV Player of the Year in 2003, and won the FV 2001 Championship for baseball.

“My first recommendation would be just to slow down and take a break and realize what a cool experience you are having because you always think about where you are tomorrow,” he said. “Within the structured hours that are recommended by the coaches, it’s the people that eat and breathe it outside of that time and really become passionate about it and make it part of their lives that find success with it and keep it fun and not a burden on them.”

He continued his baseball career at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he won the WIAC 2007 Championship and was All-WIAC 1st Team in 2006 and 2007.

Sam Penzenstadler, another inductee who competed in cross country and track and field for West, also appreciated the importance of having fun. In his running career, he qualified for WIAA State in 2008, 2009, and 2010 placing fourth in Division 1 for cross country while also qualifying for WIAA State in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and placing sixth in Division 1 mile race in 2011 for track and field.

“You have to make sure that you’re having fun and enjoying it because you’re young, it’s your high school years,” he said. “It should be fun and it shouldn’t be that stressful. You can still put 100% in, but still have fun and enjoy.”

After his high school career, he went on to compete in Loyola University, where he qualified for the NCAA National Cross Country Meet in 2014 and was nominated for NCAA Division 1 All American team three times.

Additionally, Pohly also highlighted her passion in athletics and encouraged others to do the same within their chosen interests.

“Find something that motivates you and gets you to be the best at whatever it is. If singing is your passion, find the best way that you can be the best at your trait. Keep working on your traits because success just doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. “Every day, putting in practice and effort, there’s no timeline for when success has to happen. Enjoy it because you’re not going to win them all.”

However, in order to achieve those moments of enjoyment, Dewitt stressed the significance of consistency and the mindset to keep showing up everyday for athletes who are willing to compete at a higher level. 

“There are no short cuts to success. The middle school way is not going to cut it where you just show up a little bit. You have to show up consistently and you have to show up just about everyday,” he said. “For in terms of running, you have to be running 5-7 miles a day, or months on months. There’s no shortcuts to success and the journey is the reward, appreciate the moments because they’re special and they go by quickly.”

Inductee Andy Polka, who competed in football and basketball, also prioritized the effects of consistency and hard work. While at West, he won FVA player of the year in 2006, 2006 WIAA State Championship with an undefeated record, FV Conference Championship in 2004, 2005, and 2006, Wisconsin Mr. Basketball in 2006, and was nominated in Associated Press 1st Team All State in 2006.

“I would say a lot of people focus on the games and the stats and the accolades. It’s more about the practice and what you do outside of the normal hours to get that competitive edge,” he said. “So everyone knows about work ethic, and if you can stick to that day after day and stack days on top of each other, you’re probably going to have a chance and it doesn’t matter if you're D1, D2, or D3.”

Polka then competed at Loyola University and was nominated in the 2000 Loyola All Decade Team and the Global Games USA Team, winning a bronze medal.

Pohly noticed changes that took place at West over the past years, and praised the environment that the school gives for athletes to succeed in.

“I would say making sure that there is the funding for good practice facilities, athletic training, and good coaching. That is such a fundamental and important thing for our youth and our future athletes,” she said. “I feel like we’re losing that in translation in today’s world. It is fundamental for success to allow good equipment and weight rooms, allowing the good coaches to come in and hire good staff.” 

Dewitt acknowledges the situations that the coaches set up for players in order for them to succeed. 

“I wouldn’t say a whole lot’s changed,” he said. “The people that are here are so caring and loving and they just care about you as a person and help put you in a situation to be successful.” 

For athletes, they will face hardship that will make them reconsider, but Schwebke believes in the ability to find the success that athletes strive for no matter what.

“On a day of victory no fatigue is felt and that always stuck with me because you work hard, you burn yourself out with practice with all that other stuff and you feel like it’s running you into the ground,” he said. “But when you get to that point where you find success, all that stuff feels worth it.”

by Mark Jung

Published February 9, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue IV