Hall of Fame
Russ Winger’s competitive spirit didn’t come to a halt after his career at Idaho. After graduating in 2008, Winger established himself as one of the top combination discus/shot put throwers in the country.
“Not only did my time in the dome prepare me for professional athletics,” Winger said. “I came away with an engineering degree that I hope to put to good use as soon as I retire from throwing.”
During his time at Idaho, Winger was a six-time All-American, a 10-time NCAA Championship Qualifier and the eighth all-time Performer in NCAA Indoor Track and Field history for his mark of 69-10.75 (21.29m) in the shot put.
Winger was a three-time NCAA runner-up in the indoor shot put and a six-time top-five finisher at the NCAA Championships. In addition, Winger was the 2005 Big West Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, the 2007 Western Athletic Conference Men’s Indoor Performer of the Year, and the 2008 Western Athletic Conference Men’s Outstanding Field Performer. He is a three-time Western Athletic Conference Indoor and Outdoor Champion and a two-time Big West Conference Champion.
He holds the school record in the indoor and outdoor discus throw. He was also a nine-time Western Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week – the most in Idaho history.
He currently trains at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he has racked up more honorable accomplishments.
He earned six top-10 final U.S. rankings in the men’s shot put, earned top-five U.S. rankings in the men’s discus throw and represented the U.S. at the 2011 Pan American Games finishing 10th in the shot put.
“Being a part of the team and sharing those experiences with teammates and coaches meant the most to me,” Winger said of his time at Idaho. “I’m a professional athlete now and until I left the college system, I never realized how much I was helped along by teams and coaches.”
Today, Winger volunteers as a coach at the Air Force Academy. This fall he plans to marry his fiancée; Kara Patterson who he says is an amazing athlete and an equally amazing person.
Winger added that he used to really enjoy the team aspect of competing, but recently has become very fond of the individuality of competition.
“You alone are responsible for how you choose to prepare and execute.” Winger said of competing. “Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn’t – it’s a lot like life, just with less serious consequences.”
