A first baseman/pitcher for the University of Wisconsin club baseball team, Newburg chose to join his teammates at the Great Lakes Regional in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The event the former Madison Memorial athlete chose to skip that Saturday? His commencement ceremony at Camp Randall Stadium.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Newburg, who graduated with a degree in accounting and will pursue a Master’s degree at UW. “I didn’t even think twice about it.”
Newburg, whose father Mark was a center for the UW men's basketball team from 1976 to '80, wasn’t alone. His teammate, Austin Mullins, also chose spikes and stirrups over a cap and gown.