There’s Elise Besonen, the music education major at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Then there’s Besonen, the 5-foot-3 guard for the Yellowjacket women’s basketball team. And the Besonen who plays trumpet with the UW-Superior Symphonic Band. Not to mention the one who sings alto with both the UWS Chorale and Singers. Oh – and she also teaches voice and trumpet lessons back in her hometown of Ewen, Michigan.

Many would say Besonen has made the most of her four years at UW-Superior. Others might simply be astonished she’s been able to participate – and excel – in so many activities.

For Besonen, who is set to graduate in December, the nearly constant state of activity and achievement is nothing new. It’s something she grew up with.

“Honestly, I never thought anything of it because for us that was just normal,” she said.

Family Inspiration

A supportive home environment meant Besonen was never forced to choose between music and athletics. Her father is a K-12 music teacher and boys’ basketball coach at Ewen-Trout Creek High School in Michigan. Her mother teaches elementary school and coaches the girls’ basketball team. Both parents also played college basketball.

That foundation became the driving force behind her ability to thrive in two demanding arenas.

“That’s just what we always did,” she said. “Go practice basketball, practice your instruments. Our schedule was set up nicely in middle and high school, where you could do everything. I could be in band and choir and all my regular classes, and then athletics would be after school.”

In high school, Besonen also played volleyball and ran track and cross country – but it was on the basketball court where she truly stood out. She earned multiple conference and state honors, all while graduating as class valedictorian.

Choosing UW-Superior

When it came time to choose a college, Besonen sought a school where she could continue pursuing both passions.

“UW-Superior just checked all my boxes,” she said. “It’s close to home – I wanted somewhere within driving distance, but not so close that I’d be home every weekend. A few hours away felt just right.

“The university had what I wanted to pursue academically. I knew I wanted to go into education, and I was set on doing music. And with basketball, I wanted to play somewhere I could potentially be successful. This was a good fit for everything I wanted.”

A Hoops Hero

Whether it was in UW-Superior’s Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium or any arena in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), Besonen was often the best athlete on the court.

“Elise has been our leading scorer two years in a row,” said Emily Carpenter, head women’s basketball coach at UW-Superior. “She brings a strong offensive presence to our team. Anyone practicing with or against Elise naturally gets better.”

Besonen’s impact went beyond the stat sheet. A two-year captain and consistent team leader, she helped shape the program’s identity and set high expectations for her teammates.

“She has contributed more than she knows,” said Carpenter. “Elise always puts her teammates first and leads by example with her hard work. She brings a positive, warm presence to our team every day.”

Besonen finishes her Yellowjackets career among the all-time program greats. She ranks tenth in points (1,145), ninth in both assists (203) and field goals made (408), and sixth in games played (104). She is fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.416) and made 154 shots from beyond the arc. Most impressively, she holds the program record for free throw percentage at .893.

Besonen has been named UMAC Player of the Year in 2023-24, All-UMAC First Team in 2023-24 and 2024-25 and is a four-time selection to the UMAC Academic All-Conference Team. She also received UW-Superior’s Lydia Thering Award as the university’s top female athlete for 2023–24.

“It has been an honor to coach Elise,” Carpenter said. “Her growth as a player and individual has been inspiring. She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve coached – always putting in extra time when no one’s watching. She shows up every day eager to improve.”

A Tailored Path in Music Education

From the moment she arrived on campus, Besonen was certain of her future – she wanted to become a music teacher, a dream she’d held since high school.

At UW-Superior, Besonen was able to tailor her degree to suit her specific goals. While most music education majors choose between choral or instrumental tracks, she opted to do both.

“In the program, you’re usually asked to choose,” she said. “But I didn’t, because I want to teach at a small K–12 school where I’d be responsible for both elementary band and choir. They let me do both – music education: K-12 choral and music education: K-12 instrumental – so I take lessons for trumpet and voice, and I’m enrolled in all the required classes for both instrumental and vocal training.”

Mentors and Musical Growth

Much of Besonen’s development came from the close mentorship she received from the faculty in the UW-Superior Music Department.

“My two professors, Dr. Steven Siegel and Dr. Vicki Fingalson, have been great,” she said. “We get a lot of one-on-one time. We have weekly lessons, so I’ve spent hours learning from them. That individual attention has helped me grow as a musician, a teacher, and a person.”

She also credits Dr. David Potter and Dr. Michael Fuchs for pushing her to think critically and take ownership of her learning.

“Dr. Potter really challenges us. He asks questions that make us reflect and take responsibility for our growth. And I’ve spent so many hours with Dr. Fuchs in choir rehearsals and classes – he’s always pushing us to do our best. They all are.”

That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by her instructors.

“Elise has always been driven and organized,” said Fingalson. “How else could one accomplish what she has done? Because of her work ethic, she has made consistent progress as a singer and earned high marks in her classes. She always comes in with a positive attitude and a plan for the next week. She’s one of those students who you trust will be ‘ready’ no matter what. Elise has been such a joy with which to work for the last four years. She will be missed.”

Making It All Work

Balancing academics, athletics, and the arts isn’t easy. But Besonen’s time-management skills and determination have paid off – she’s been named to the UMAC Academic All-Conference team every year she’s been at UW-Superior.

“Honestly, I didn’t realize how much of a deal-breaker it would have been for me if I couldn’t do all the things I wanted,” she said. “I’ve just been so fortunate that everyone here has been flexible and willing to help when I needed it. It’s been really nice.”