BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — P.J. Rosowski and Aaron Moesch represent different sports and skill sets. But they've shared similar challenges academically as double-majors and athletically as walk-ons.
Make that former walk-ons.
Although neither saw it coming, and it was presented in different ways, Rosowski, 21, and Moesch, 22, had the same reaction to finally going on scholarship. They both got emotional.
Rosowski, a kickoff specialist and back-up punter, found out in a more conventional manner during a team meeting at the conclusion of Wisconsin's preseason training camp.
"At the end of the meeting, Coach (Paul) Chryst said, 'We have one more thing to announce … P.J. Rosowski is on scholarship,'" recounted Rosowski, a redshirt junior from Stoughton.
"It was very casual but it was definitely Coach Chryst's style. Every player was there (at the meeting) so that made it really special. I don't think there's a better way to do it honestly."
P.J. Rosowski and Rafael Gaglianone hold the 2017 Cotton Bowl trophy.
Rosowski had played out in his mind the potential for such a moment. "I kind of thought how I would react if it would ever happen," he admitted. "Even thinking about it, I started crying."
But it was even more stupefying than anticipated.
"It was so surreal," he said. "There was so much adrenaline going at that point, I just kind of looked around (the room) — everyone was going crazy — and I really didn't know what to do.
"It was probably one point in my life where I literally felt like I wasn't even there. Then after the fact, it hit me just because I knew how proud my mom and dad would be.
"When I got to tell them, I broke down a little bit."
Moesch's reaction was caught on video. Prior to the UW basketball squad's August trip to New Zealand and Australia, he joined teammates in reading select lines with their best Aussie accents.
"I had zero clue," said Moesch, a fifth-year senior forward from Green Bay Southwest High School. "The way it was set-up was absolutely perfect."
Exposing himself as a below-average Crocodile Dundee impersonator on the first two things that he was asked to recite, an unsuspecting Moesch was handed a third line; the punchline.
"No worries, mum, I'm on scholarship this season," he read haltingly in front of the camera.
Once those words began to sink in, he confessed, "That was true, shocking disbelief on my face. I put my head down because I didn't want people to see me crying."
The first person that he found to hug was, fittingly, UW head coach Greg Gard. If he could have, he would have also hugged his mom and dad for their support and encouragement.
"People in the airport probably didn't know what the heck was going on," Moesch said, "because it was a group of 17 guys jumping up and down and screaming. I never expected it."
Moesch and Rosowski had modest expectations for continuing their athletic careers beyond high school. Both had options from in-state programs and some Division II schools.
Rosowski, a three-sport captain, considered playing football and baseball at UW-La Crosse or UW-Whitewater. But he grew up watching games at Camp Randall and dreamed of kicking for the Badgers.
"You always heard about the walk-on tradition here," he said, "and how those guys were major contributors and if they got to that point, they earned that scholarship. A lot of guys have that goal."
Moesch, a 1,000-point career scorer as a prep, was first sold on the UW from an academic standpoint. "I wanted to go here to be a student anyway, so why not as a walk-on?" he posed.
On his visit, he heard what he wanted to hear from former head coach Bo Ryan and Gard. It was their assurances that convinced him to accept a preferred walk-on invitation.
"They said, 'Walk-on or not, it doesn't matter because you're a part of the team and we don't treat any player differently from any other player, scholarship or not,'" he remembered.
There has been a long list of successful football walk-ons, including defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard. Rosowski singled out former teammates Joel Stave, Alex Erickson and Joe Schobert.
"The list goes on and on," he said, noting his roommate, linebacker Ryan Connelly, was a fellow former walk-on. "I can't thank them all enough for what they've done and the path they've led for guys like me."
Moesch feels the same way about the unsung trailblazers in basketball. "One of the guys that you kind of look up to is Brett Valentyn, the Holy Grail of walk-ons," he said.
Valentyn, a Verona native, poured his heart and soul into being the best scout team player that he could be until finally earning some playing time and a scholarship his final season.
"That's one guy who did it the right way," said Moesch, also putting Dan Fahey and Jordan Smith into that category. They've created a legacy, he added, "That gets passed on from one to another."
Valentyn, in fact, advised Moesch, "Keep working and working and good things will happen."
They have for Moesch and Rosowski. Especially academically. Moesch will graduate in May with two degrees in Finance and Investment Banking and Risk Management and Insurance.
Rosowski has a double major in Geological Engineering and Geology and Geophysics. Over the summer, he had an internship with Alliant Energy. He wants to work someday with renewable energy.
Last spring, Moesch was a globe-hopper. Along with a Green Bay buddy, he went backpacking through Europe. "It was quick, it was fun, it was tiring, it was one helluva experience," he said.
After getting home from the exhibition swing through New Zealand and Australia, Moesch said, "I was talking with my mom and I realized that I was in 10 countries this summer."
Moesch now has set his sights on getting a toehold in the rotation. Rosowski just wants to get healthy after missing the last two games with a quad injury.
Both have positive outlooks through the lens of walk-ons.
Former walk-ons, mate.
