WINONA, Minn. - After a two-year hiatus, the Winona State University legendary 'Warriors Got Talent' fundraiser returned to campus - and specifically McCown Gymnasium home of WNB Financial Court - on Monday evening. 

And, return it did.  

The Winona State Athletic Department Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) orchestrated WGT as a fundraising event, with all donations collected on the day going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Central to the proceedings was a heartfelt story from Winona State baseball standout Derek Baumgartner, who shared the personal journey of the impact that the Make-A-Wish Foundation had on his family after his sister, Olivia Baumgartner, was diagnosed with cancer as a child. 

Now cancer free and set to enroll at Winona State next fall, Olivia and the Baumgartner's were able to receive support and assistance from the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a family trip to Hawaii. Hearing firsthand the impact that the Make-A-Wish Foundation had on the  Baumgartner family, the Winona State SAAC sought to help other families in the future as well. 

On Monday, each of the 15 Winona State athletic teams put together a slew of lip-synch songs to present, with themes ranging from hip-hop to classic rock to country hits.  Judged by a celebrity panel of talent assessors - led by athletic director Eric Schoh - each team danced, pranced, contorted, and offered their best rendition of several hits spanning three decades, with artists ranging from Justin Bieber to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. 

Aptly led by co-emcees Rina Niehoff (women's tennis) and Corrie King (football), the proceedings were a great time had by all in attendance. 

However, once men's golf took the stage, it became evident that everyone else was playing for second place.  The Warrior duffers delivered multiple rousing performances and quickly became a crowd favorite.  In the end, the final lip-synch battle saw the men's golf team and women's volleyball square off for Warriors Got Talent bragging rights, with men's golf defeating volleyball 238 - 55, as voted on by all those in attendance. 

While the Winona State men's golf team impressed, the real winner on the day was the Make-a-Wish Foundation, as the WSU SAAC raised over $1,200 in under two hours for the cause.  The event was the seventh annual rendition of the department wide competition, with the first ever Warriors Got Talent occurring in 2015.

Head to this link to learn more about the Make-A-Wish foundation, including an opportunity to contribute.