Wahl’s decision affects team and community atmosphere.

After four amazing years on the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Team, Forward Tyler Wahl chose to use his remaining year of eligibility to stay on the team and represent the Badgers for a fifth year. 

After speaking with Wahl himself, basketball team manager Owen Jennings, and local sports bar owner and former Badger athlete and alum, Jay “Wando” Wanserski, explained the positive impact of Wahl’s decision for the future of the team and community are clear. 

Wando himself testifies to the amazing spirit and atmosphere offered by the Badger sports community as he still has a close, fun relationship with his former football teammates.

He shared that just “two weeks ago I spent all weekend with former players I played with in 1988 because they came to support the current Badger football team.” He clarified that it’s players like Wahl that can and will keep the Badger spirit alive and are essential in making Badger Athletics as wonderful as they are. 

Wando is also excited for the impact Wahl’s decision will have on local businesses like his own, as he “makes the team better which will help businesses downtown” and “people that go out like to see well-known athletes.”

Some of the most successful and fun days at Wando’s Bar & Grill are when the Badger Basketball Team plays well, and local fans and alumni swarm the streets and bars to celebrate. 

Not only does Wahl’s decision positively impact the community and Badger Athletics as a whole, it makes a world of difference for the team itself. Jennings came to school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison all the way from San Francisco, California. He found his own sense of community being a part of the team for all four years of his undergraduate studies.

Jennings has formed close relationships with players like Wahl and has seen the highs and lows of Wahl’s entire career. It is evident in the tone of Jenning’s voice when he talks about Wahl that he views him as a great person and team player. 

 “Gosh, what a great kid Tyler is,” said Jennings. “He pushes positions 1-5 to perform beyond their capabilities, works closely with Coach Gard and provides his insight on how our team is playing, . . . they can both support each other in practice. Great kid, really friendly to everyone top to bottom in the program.”

As such a great leader and friend Wahl clearly is, Jennings feels that the team dynamic will change a lot with Wahl staying for a fifth year because “with a young core coming in of freshman forwards, Tyler’s experience and starting role will give the young players so much time to grow.” He added that Wahl’s chemistry with Chucky and Steve will help the Badger’s offense to improve. 

Aside from Wahl’s veteran leadership likely aiding in the team’s success in the next season, many fans had unclear predictions about if Wahl would decide to utilize his extra year of eligibility. 

Tyler Wahl comes from Lakeville, Minnesota, and like his friend Jennings, has also found his sense of community within his team. 

“The main reasons why I came back was because of my teammates and how close I am with them, along with leaving the program in a better spot,” Wahl said. 

On top of enjoying a fifth year of playing with his friends and teammates, Wahl has also expressed some goals he has regarding the outcome of his final season in the NCAA. Some of his larger goals include winning the B1G and making the final four as a team, which he feels they “can only do that by taking the season one game at a time.” As a personal goal, he wants to “come back from [his] injury last year and show the world how good [he] and this team can really be.”

The team truly has potential to succeed in the next season with Wahl staying on to lead the team.

Some of the qualities Wahl feels he offers to the team to aid in their future accomplishments are that he’s “someone who has a lot of experience and knowledge of what the college basketball season is like and [he’s] looked at as a mentor and leader for the guys.”

Jennings agrees that Wahl has these great leadership traits and added that “his veteran leadership will pair well with Steve, and also help Gus and Nolan to develop into the molds of classic Wisconsin bigs.”