Western Michigan University Athletics

In her 12th season, head coach Terry Karwoski continues to take the Western Michigan University gymnastics program to new heights. A former Bronco student-athlete, Karwoski has been involved in the gymnastics community as a competitor, coach and judge for over 32 years.
 
A two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year (2000, 2006), Karwoski  has 73 total wins, 26 conference victories, a MAC regular season championship and MAC Tournament Championship to her credit. Seven of her gymnasts have competed in nine NCAA Regionals and the Broncos have produced back-to-back MAC Gymnast and Senior of the Year recipients in Cherisse Marier (2006) and Jennifer Sturgis (2007), as well as one MAC Freshman of the Year in Andrea Ruhe (1998). WMU has captured four individual MAC championships under Karwoski, and has been honored on All-MAC teams on seven occasions.

Western Michigan’s success has not been limited to just the gym, as the Broncos have also excelled in the classroom. The 2007 team was named Academic All-America, boasting a 3.442 team grade-point average, ranking 13th best in the nation, while the 2008 team GPA 3.34 ranked 26th best in the country. Additionally, two student-athletes have been named Academic All-Americans under Karwoski and WMU has produced seven Academic All-MAC awards.

Karwoski and the Broncos had a banner year in 2006, as the team captured the Mid-American Conference regular season, as well as tournament championship. The remarkable feat marked the third championship in school history and the first title since 1987, under the leadership of current WMU Athletics Director Kathy Beauregard.

After finishing the season with a 5-1 dual record in MAC competition, the Broncos put on their best performance of the year at the championship meet, taking first in every event except the floor exercise. For her success Karwoski was named MAC Coach of the Year, accepting the honor for the second time in her career, after being recognized in 2000 as well.

From Karwoski’s first season in 1998 to the present, Western Michigan continues to establish new records on an annual basis.  All of the individual and team records were set by athletes on the current roster or have competed for Karwoski.
 
In 2000, the Bronco troops shattered nearly every team and individual record in the book. WMU posted a 10-6 dual meet slate, 4-2 in the MAC. The squad’s overall win total was the highest since 1988 and four league victories matched the total for the previous five campaigns.

Serving as interim head coach in 1998, Karwoski officially took the reins in 1999. That season, the Broncos either broke or tied five individual school records. WMU’s team score of 191.075 against Iowa and Winona State was the second-highest total in school history.

From 1994-97, Karwoski acted as the women’s competitive team coach for the Greater Kalamazoo World of Gymnastics Club, where she developed Levels 5-10 competitors to state top-10 rankings.
Karwoski earned a varsity letter as a gymnast (1986-88) at Western Michigan under Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard and received a degree in exercise science and physiology in 1990. She was an all-arounder on WMU’s 1987 MAC championship team and finished third on the balance beam at the 1985 MAC meet. Transferring to WMU after her freshman year, Karwoski also earned a letter while performing for Northern Illinois University in 1985.
 
Outside of the collegiate realm, Karwoski served as the competitive team coach for the Northern Michigan Gymnastics Club in Traverse City (1990-94) and the Kalamazoo Gymnastics Center (1986-90), and was an instructor at the WMU Gym School and Gymnastics Camp (1986-88).

Involved in USA Gymnastics judging from 1989-2001, Karwoski became a Level 10 judge in 1996.  Formerly a member of the state judging board, she served as education coordinator for the organization.

A native of Doylestown, Pa., Karwoski competed in club gymnastics at Central Buck Gymnastics and the Berks Gymnastics Academy and qualified for the Class I (Level 10) state and regional championships.
 
Terry is married to Chris Karwoski, and together they have four children, three girls and one boy - Corry (16), Kelly (14), Kathryn (4) and Jack (2).