Eagle River’s Amy Winczura went to Texas Woman’s University for gymnastics but she left with much more.
She graduated in the spring with a double major in Bilogy and Kinesiology, and a minor in Nutrition and is headed to medical school this fall at Saint James School of Medicine.
She also left with a 2013 USAG national championship and six All-American certificates.
“It takes a lot to be a collegiate athlete. A lot of hard work and perseverance, time management, commitment to your academics and team, as well as love for the sport or game you are playing,” she told me. “It was a long hard journey but it has helped shape me into the person I am today. I am forever grateful for my collegiate career and will have memories that will last a lifetime in addition to carrying with me the many lessons I have learned.”
Winczura, of East High fame, was part of two historic moments at TWU.
The first in 2010 when she helped the school win the Midwest Independent Conference championship, only the second gymnastics title in school history.
The second was in 2013 when she tied two teammates for the national championship on the vault.
“I can still remember standing in the back hallway before walking back out on to the floor and being announced as the champions,” she said. “We knew we had won and knew that all three of us had tied. We screamed, gave each other huge hugs and started crying.”
Winczura’s goal is to become an orthopedic or pediatric surgeon.
“I’ve wanted to pursue a job in the medical field since I was a young child. My parents are both in the medical field as my mom is a nurse and dad is a PA,” she said. “I love helping others and felt that being a doctor I could have the best of both worlds where I can help others and be involved with medicine.”