The Passing of Gymnast Kara Welsh Leaves Coaches and Teammates in Mourning
The college sports community is mourning the loss of gymnast Kara Welsh.
Following the announcement by local police that the 21-year-old was fatally shot in an off-campus apartment by a man she knew, members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater athletic department expressed sorrow over her tragic death.
“It is impossible to put into words the impact Kara had on the Warhawk community,” said Coach Jen Regan in a statement from the team on Sept. 1. “A formidable athlete, devoted teammate, and a beacon of light in everyone’s darkest moments, Kara truly uplifted each and every one of us during her time as a Warhawk gymnast.”
She continued, “There are no words to capture the void in our hearts, but Kara’s legacy will endure through Warhawk gymnastics indefinitely.”
UW-Whitewater’s Athletic Director and Assistant Chancellor Ryan Callahan also spoke about Kara’s passing.
“Kara was an extraordinary young woman,” he told WKOW on Sept. 1, expressing that the entire community is shattered and in disbelief. “It was immediately apparent how many people were touched by Kara’s character, leadership, and her qualities as a teammate.”