Titan standout Kayce Vaile reflects on UWO journey, exciting next chapter blending teaching and basketball

On May 17, Kayce Vaile will cross the stage at UW-Oshkosh's 151st Spring Commencement, celebrating a college journey marked by excellence both in the classroom and on the basketball court.

For the first-generation college student from Greendale, the moment will be filled with pride, reflection and excitement about the next chapter-one that may include playing professional basketball overseas.

During her five years at UWO, Vaile, who graduated in December but continued to take classes this spring, emerged as a standout on the Titans women's basketball team. She earned multiple All-American honors and helped lead the team to a Final Four appearance in the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship-the program's first since 1996. The Titans' historic run included a 60-53 victory over Baldwin Wallace in the Elite 8 round. Vaile herself was recognized with the prestigious John Taylor Female Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, highlighting her stellar academic and athletic career.

Now a long-term substitute, teaching seventh-graders at Greenville Middle School in the Hortonville Area School District, Vaile is already putting her UWO education into action. She says the classroom management skills and emphasis on community-building she learned at Oshkosh have been crucial in connecting with her students. Even while teaching, her passion for basketball continues to shine: she's actively working with a sports agent to secure a spot playing professionally abroad.

In this interview, Vaile talks about her journey to UWO, the people and experiences that shaped her college years, and how she's preparing for a future that blends teaching and basketball.

Why did you choose UW-Oshkosh?
It came down to basketball and education. UWO had a strong basketball program and a great reputation for producing excellent teachers. I've always wanted to be a teacher and I had only heard good things about how well-prepared Oshkosh graduates are.

What was it like being a first-generation college student?
My parents didn't go to four-year universities. My mom went to tech school and my dad served in the Marines. Seeing my older brother graduate made me want to do the same and make them proud. College was always in the cards for me. I wanted to be a college athlete.

Tell us about your academic experience at UWO. Were there professors who made an impact?
Courtney Bauder was my Honors professor for a senior seminar on multicultural learning and global citizenship. It really opened my eyes to education around the world. My capstone project focused on female education in the Middle East. Kim Oamek was my adviser and one of my education professors. She was new to UWO when I got here, and she really got to know me as a person, not just as a student. She helped me navigate the logistics of playing basketball while student teaching. Another one of my education professors, Katrina Leininger, also made a huge impact. She helped me prepare for the Foundations of Reading test and showed me all the different directions a teaching career can take, like becoming a reading or math coach, or working in curriculum design.

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?
I've wanted to be a teacher since I was little. Growing up in Greendale, I had so many amazing teachers, but my fourth-grade teacher at College Park Elementary really stood out. Her name is Leah Wycklendt, and she took the time to help me with math when I was struggling. I used to come in early just to work with her. Because of that support, I ended up loving math, so much so that I minored in it. She now teaches English at Greendale Middle in my home district and we're hoping to be on the same teaching team one day.

You're now teaching seventh-graders. How have the lessons you've learned at UWO helped?
Classroom management has been huge. Seventh-graders definitely have attitude and energy and the tools I learned at UWO about creating a classroom community have helped a lot. We do things like "question of the day" on Fridays, and I try to give students space to be themselves. It's been really rewarding to see how those relationships impact their learning.

How do you approach teaching math to your seventh-graders?
Right now, we're working on surface area and volume and I always try to break things down conceptually, just like I learned in my college math classes. I try to explain what surface area really means, like how it's the amount of space that covers the outside of a shape with no overlaps or gaps. I also stress that making mistakes is OK. One of my favorite parts is working with small groups at my whiteboard table. I set up a few chairs there so students can rotate in and work through problems together with me. We talk through the process step by step, and I'll ask them questions like, "What do you think we should do next?" or "Can you explain why that works?"

My math professor Jason Belknap always emphasized understanding the "why" behind the math. He would always say,"No mistake is a bad mistake" and he never made us feel bad for getting something wrong. I tell my students that too. If we make a mistake, we're going to go back and look at it, find it and fix it. We learn by figuring out where it went wrong and why. It's cool to see students go from totally confused to saying, "Oh! That makes sense now." I enjoy those moments when students get excited about understanding something they didn't think they could do.

Do your students know about your basketball career?
Oh yes. They've looked me up. Some of my students have even been to my games because some of my teammates coach their AAU teams. It means a lot when I see signs in the stands that say "We love you, Miss Vaile!" It's heartwarming and I love that I can be a role model for them.

What did you love most about playing basketball at UWO?
Definitely my teammates. They pushed me to be better every single day. Coming in as a freshman, I looked up to players like Leah Porath and Nikki Arneson, who were great leaders. I wanted to become that kind of leader as I got older. Our team was very player-led, and I really embraced that role. Seeing the younger players step into those leadership roles now is really fulfilling.

You reached the 1,000-point milestone this season and helped your team reach the Final Four. What did that feel like?
It was incredible. I've always set high expectations for myself, and with the support of Coach Fisher and Coach Staples, I kept pushing to reach new goals. We had a historic season and to go that far with this group of women was something I'll never forget.

How did you balance academics and basketball?
Time management. I lived by my phone's Notes app, where I tracked every assignment and schedule. On bus rides, more than half the team would be doing homework. It was about finding the time to get things done, even if it meant working in unusual places. We all knew that to play, you had to keep your grades up. The WIAC has a GPA requirement that's even higher than the NCAA's, so academics were always a priority.

You're working with a sports agent to continue your basketball career. What does that look like?
Coach Fisher helped me connect with a sports agent who's now advocating for me, sending my highlight reels and game film to teams overseas. I'm getting weekly updates and hope to have something lined up between June and September, depending on the country and their league schedule. It takes a lot of patience, but I'm excited to see where this leads.

What lessons has basketball taught you about yourself?
That I'm stronger than I think I am. Playing sports helped build my confidence and showed me that I can overcome challenges. The discipline and dedication it takes to succeed in athletics carry over into everything else I do.

What would you say to a prospective student considering UW-Oshkosh?
The people here will support you no matter what, whether it's professors, staff or friends, everyone is welcoming and invested in your success. There are so many ways to get involved and make connections, whether you're an athlete or not. Oshkosh is the perfect size and truly feels like home.

Learn more:

Study elementary education at UWO
Study math at UWO
Athletics at UWO
Women's Basketball at UWO