R.I.P. Amy Cayemberg (12-8-10)
Former UW-Oshkosh athlete Amy Cayemberg died on Monday (Dec. 6) from head injuries she suffered in a car accident on Saturday (Dec. 4) at the intersection of U.S. 10 and Wisconsin 57, according to Calumet County Medical Examiner Mike Klaeser.
Klaeser said Cayemberg was pronounced brain dead at 1 a.m. on Monday when she was removed from life support, according to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah, where she was flown after the crash.
Cayemberg, 40, was a passenger in a car going westbound on U.S. 10 driven by her husband, Mark Steeber, when it collided with a car, according to the Calumet County Sheriff's Department. Captain Paul Rusch of the department said the drivers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Cayemberg, who was inducted into the UW-Oshkosh Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, was an All-America performer in both volleyball and track and field.
Following graduation from Manitowoc Lincoln High School in 1988, Cayemberg was coaxed into enrolling at UW-Oshkosh through the recruiting efforts of former head women's volleyball coach Marty Petersen. Cayemberg went on to play volleyball for Petersen from 1988-1991 and participate in track and field for head coach Deb Vercauteren in 1989 and from 1991 to 1993.
In volleyball, Cayemberg gained All-America mention in three of her four seasons, including the 1991 campaign when she helped the Titans to a 42-8 record, the WIAC championship and a visit to the NCAA Division III Final Four. Cayemberg become the school's first three-time All-America selection in women's volleyball that season.
Cayemberg helped UW-Oshkosh to a 41-20 record in 1988 and a third-place finish in the NAIA District 14 Playoffs. In 1989, Cayemberg helped the Titans to a 39-16 record and the NAIA District 14 title. Cayemberg was named as a second team selection on the 1989 NAIA All-America squad for her accomplishments during the year.
In 1990, UW-Oshkosh posted a 44-5 record, captured the WIAC title and finished ninth in the NCAA Division III Championship. Cayemberg received All-America accolades that year leading the Titans to their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship.
"Amy was probably one of the best middle blockers in NCAA Division III history," said Petersen. "She had a big heart and loved her family, friends and animals. She was never serious and always had a smile on her face. It was infectious to be around her."
Cayemberg's track and field accomplishments were also impressive.
Indoors, Cayemberg was a four-time NCAA Division III All-American in the high jump, a three-time WIAC high jump champion and a member of four WIAC championship teams. Outdoors, she was a four-time NCAA Division III All-American in the high jump, a WIAC champion in the high jump and triple jump, a member of one NCAA Division III championship team and a member of two WIAC championship squads.
From 2002-2005, Cayemberg served as Manitowoc Roncalli High School varsity volleyball coach with Mark as her assistant. "She had a very good coaching relationship with the players," said Dave Mueller, athletic director at Roncalli. "She was very competitive and had an ability to explain what the players needed to do."
"Amy had a lot of pride in what she accomplished at UW-Oshkosh," said current UW-Oshkosh head coach Brian Schaefer. "Our relationship grew during our summer volleyball camps and at alumni events. Amy always made every effort to be around friends and she will be missed by so many that make up the Oshkosh volleyball family."
Family and friends can celebrate Amy's life from 3-8 p.m. on Friday (December 10) at Saint Andrew Catholic Church (1418 Grand Avenue) in Manitowoc. Complete funeral arrangements will be announced on Thursday by the Reinbold & Pfeffer Family Funeral Home of Manitowoc. For further information please call (920) 682-0118 or Brian Schaefer at (920) 424-1392 or (920) 216-2550.
UW-Oshkosh will be celebrating its annual Alumni Weekend on January 7-8, 2011 with a Sheepshead Tournament on Friday and a luck of the draw volleyball tournament on Saturday. Both will be played at The Bar of Oshkosh. Promotional prizes will be given out to the winners with all money raised going to the Marty Petersen and Amy Cayemberg Endowment Fund.
Amy's Hall of Fame Achievements
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