Brent Boettcher has produced some lofty accomplishments for the University of Wisconsin. In two years, he has earned two Big Ten titles. Oddly enough, they have not been in the same sport.
After arriving on campus as a heralded high jumper in 2002, Boettcher made the decision to take a redshirt with the UW track team and walk on to the Badger basketball team.
“Ah, that was kind of a tough one,” Boettcher said. “A big part of it was that I knew that if I did track, I would redshirt no matter what. And the opportunity just kind of came up to play basketball, and that’s something that’s tough to pass up…my dad played college ball. I’ve been around basketball my entire life. It’s always been something I’ve enjoyed doing, and it’s kind of a once-in-the-lifetime opportunity. I had to take it.”
While Boettcher played just one minute in two games that year, the next year, when it came time for him to focus on track, the Green Bay native says he brought some valuable lessons from the hardcourt with him.
“[I learned] a lot of stuff. You know, the basketball program had always been definitely a winning program, but I had never been a part of it,” he said. “And just getting there, winning a Big Ten title, seeing what it’s all about, that was huge. Seeing just the kind of dedication it takes to be a Division I athlete. It’s a lot, and just seeing how other older guys handled it, how they helped me out. That kind of stuff was great.”
In 2003, Boettcher took that winning experience and brought it to the Badger track program. It should be no surprise that he excelled, capturing the high jump title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships with a mark of 7-foot-1 3/4, which also happened to be his highest jump ever. Boettcher next competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships, jumping 6-foot-10 1/4 to place 16th. Also, at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, the Bayport High graduate jumped 6-foot-11, placing ninth.
After his impressive showing a year ago, Boettcher is eager to stay on top and once again win the high jump at the Big Ten Indoor Meet on Feb. 28 and 29 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Despite the fact that he has not performed well in competition thus far, Boettcher feels that he is ready to defend his title.
“I personally feel like I am,” Boettcher said. “I haven’t had a lot of great meets yet this year but I’ve never gone into any competition thinking I’m not going to win. So, just go out there and know that if I do what I can, I can win it again.”
Boettcher also isn’t worried that, as the defending champion, he will be on everyone’s minds.
“Everyone’s got a target on their back,” Boettcher said. “I’m sure a lot of people are gunning for me because of that, but I look at all the other guys I’ve got to go against, and I know every one of them, what they do. Pretty much everyone who’s competing, is always, they’re gunning for each other.”
Another huge asset to Boettcher personally has been teammate Zach McCollum. McCollum, who placed eighth at the Big Ten Indoor Championships a year ago, has provided Boettcher with formidable competition during practice, as well as tying him for the top jump posted by a Badger in competition this season (6-foot-9 3/4).
“It’s nice when you have a couple of good high jumpers who can work together,” Boettcher said. “We help each other out a lot because, you know, we have three coaches for 50 guys, and a lot of it is us coaching each other, and we’ve gotten to the point where we know each other’s jumping and we can help each other out a lot.”
For the rest of the track season, Boettcher is taking a team-wise approach, but he has his own goals as well, and everything starts in Ann Arbor.
“Well, first of all, it’s a team championship,” Boettcher said. “I mean, that’s the one that matters, both indoors and outdoors, but after that I want to win high jump, both indoor and outdoor at Big Ten’s, and be all-American in indoor and outdoor.”