Today is Monday, April 7, 2025
(UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Kacie Carollo named Regional Player of the Year for UW-Whitewater women’s basketball
Kacie Carollo, a Integrated Science-Business major from Whitewater, WI, and senior guard on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team, has been named the Region 9 Player of the Year by D3hoops.com.
Carollo, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, was recently named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy – the prestigious honor awarded to the top player in Division III. Additionally, she garnered First Team All-Region honors for the third consecutive season. An All-WIAC pick for the fourth time, Carollo was also selected to the All-Defensive Team for the third straight season.
Carollo’s 635 points this season is ranked fifth nationally. She also ranks among the top 2 in Division III in assists, field goals, free throws, points per game, rebounds and three-pointers. Over the course of the 2024-25 campaign, Carollo broke the league record for three-pointers made. She also broke the UWW program record for career rebounds, career double-doubles, points in a season, season scoring average and three-pointers made in a season.
This is the third consecutive season the Region 9 Player of the Year has been a Warhawk – joining Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) from the two previous seasons.
Photos courtesy of Andy Ognenoff
Saint Peter, Minn. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finished second at the 2025 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships Saturday as Paige Magel (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and Tegan Haberstock (Alberta, Canada/National Sport School) shared the individual national title on the balance beam. The Warhawk coaching staff was also recognized with a number of honors.
UW-Whitewater finished as the national runner-up behind the second-highest team total in program history, 194.025. That score was bolstered by a program record on the balance beam – 48.875 – where three Warhawks finished among the top eight including two that shared gold. Magel and Haberstock registered phenomenal routines scoring 9.85 to share gold on the beam in a six-way tie for first place. The pair are the fifth and sixth Warhawks in program history to secure an individual national title on the balance beam. Chloe Hammond (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) added All-America honors in the event with a seventh-place score of 9.825. Sofia Spadafora (Windsor, Ontario, Canada/Saint Thomas of Villanova) and Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) each registered 9.675s to help UWW break the program record on the apparatus.
The Warhawks’ first event of the 2025 championships saw the second-highest team total in program history recorded – a 49.025 on the floor exercise. Elaine Copeland (Arlington, Texas/University Prep) and Carleigh Moore (Oregon, Wis./Oregon) led the way with 9.825s to share sixth and claim their first career All-America honors. Zoe Jenks-Recker (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) and Kollhoff posted 9.8s while Ariana Goodwin (Elgin, Ill./The Einstein Academy) registered a 9.775 to round out UWW’s scoring five.
On the vault, Ava Pesch (Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) paced UW-Whitewater with a 9.675. Moore added a 9.65 followed by Alayna Fern (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville) (9.625), Hammond (9.625) and Copeland (9.575).
Kollhoff secured her fourth career All-America honor on the uneven bars. The senior’s impressive routine scored a 9.75 to share bronze in the event. Pesch posted a 9.625 while Carley Scott (Oak Grove, Mo./Grain Valley) and Magel each registered scores of 9.55. Copeland added a 9.5 on the event.
Following competition, Head Coach Jennifer Regan was named the NCGA Coach of the Year for the third time in her tenure at UWW (2009, 2017). Coach Regan was also honored as the NCGA West Region Coach of the Year this season – the fourth time she’s been recognized with the regional award. Additionally, Chloe Edgren and Acacia Fossum were named the NCGA West Region Assistant Coaches of the Year – the seventh time the honor has been bestowed upon the Warhawk staff since 2008.
The NCGA also recognized the 2025 All-Americans in Academics that include Warhawks Carley Scott (Oak Grove, Mo./Grain Valley), Fern, Jenks-Recker and Gracie Talley (Collierville, Tenn./Briarcrest Christian).
This season marks the 13th time since 2007 the Warhawks have finished among the top three nationally as a team.
As is tradition at the national championship, after all of the scores are announced, awards handed out and honors recognized, the seniors gather in a circle on the floor – coming together one last time – as all of their teammates surround them in a larger circle while music is played. This season, that circle was missing an important piece of the Warhawk family. The 2025 team has persevered through incredible adversity this season to achieve exceptional levels of success. The team has leaned on each other, supported each other and competed for each other, but above all, they did it For Her – for Kara. So as the seniors gathered in the circle with a photo of Kara firmly planted at their side, they stood together, surrounded by their teammates and the gymnastics community, a fitting end to a remarkable season.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater Athletics.
Photos courtesy of Kodiak Creative
Providence, RI — Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) and Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) claimed All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships after finishing fourth and fifth respectively Saturday.
Peet opened Saturday with a semifinal matchup against third-seeded Cooper Willis of Augsburg. The 165-pounder bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Willis with a 6-0 win over Springfield’s Jake Deguire in the consolation semifinal. In the battle for third, Peet fell to second-seeded Tanner Gerber of UW-La Crosse by 15-6 major decision. Peet claimed his first All-America honor in his first NCAA Championship appearance with the fourth-place finish.
Mallinder had a tough battle against top-ranked Chase Randall (Coast Guard) in his semifinal bout at 133 pounds. After the 7-2 loss, Mallinder dropped into the fifth-place match following a close 3-2 loss to fifth-seeded Jaden Hinton (Baldwin Wallace). In his final bout of the 2025 championships, Mallinder pinned third-seeded Garrett Totten (TCNJ) in just 1:54. With the fifth-place finish, Mallinder earns his second All-America honor in as many seasons – he was sixth at 133 pounds a year ago.
Team scores are not available as the championship bouts are scheduled for 7 PM ET Saturday evening.
Friday Recap
Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) and Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) advance to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.
Jalen Dunson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) represented the Warhawks in the 125-pound weight class. Dunson opened the day with a major decision win over Connor Fiser from Loras. The junior faced conference opponent Quinten Wolbert from UWL in the second round. Dunson lost by in a close 7-5 decision. In the wrestle-back rounds, Dunson won his first by a major decision & advanced again with a take down in the overtime period against Kaden Majcher from Lycoming. His run came to an end in round in the consolation bracket to the sixth seeded Jake Craig from Southern Maine.
Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) went 3-0 in the 133 weight class to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. Mallinder secured a major decision followed by a technical fall on riding time in the first two rounds. The junior won his quarterfinal match over Connor Kidd from Luther. Mallinder will wrestle top-seeded Chase Randall from USCGA on Saturday.
Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) Joins Mallinder in the semifinal round. Peet recorded three straight decisions at the 165-pound weight class. The sophmore will face third-seeded Cooper Willis from Augsburg on Saturday.
Gavin Kohel (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) represented the Warhawks in the 184-pound weight class. Kohel seventh-seeded Tyler Winthers from Merchant Marine in the first round. In the second round of the sophmore battled but fell in a major decision.
Full Results
125 pounds – Jalen Dunson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest)
R1: won by MD over Connor Fiser (Loras), 11-2
R2: lost by DEC to Quinten Wolbert (UWL), 7-5
Cons R2: won by MD over Wyatt Kaczrowski (Augsburg), 13-4
Cons. R3: won in SV-1 over Kaden Majcher (Lycoming), 12-9
Cons. R4: lost by DEC to #6 Jake Craig (Southern Maine), 4-1
133 pounds – Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park)
R1: won by MD over Daniel Haws (Centenary), 12-2
R2: won by TF over Wyatt Magolski (UWL), 17-2 (7:00)
QF: won by DEC over Connor Kidd (Luther), 10-5
SF: lost by DEC to #1 Chase Randall (USCGA), 7-2
Cons. Semi: lost by DEC to #5 Jaden Hinton (Baldwin Wallace), 3-2
5th Place Match: won by FALL over #3 Garrett Totten (TCNJ) 1:54
165 pounds – Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore)
R1: won by DEC over Konrad Parker (Ithaca), 8-2
R2: won by DEC over Mark Troni (Wash. & Lee), 8-2
QF: won by DEC over Christophe Stathopoulos (Stevens), 7-3
SF: lost by DEC to #3 Cooper Willis (Augsburg), 5-0
Cons. Semi: won by DEC over Jake Deguire (Springfield), 6-0
3rd Place Match: lost by MD to #2 Tanner Gerber (UWL), 15-6
184 pounds – Gavin Kohel (River Falls, Wis./River Falls)
R1: lost by FALL to #7 Tyler Winthers (Merchant Marine), 3:32
Cons. R1: BYE
Cons R2: lost by MD to #8 Blake Williams (Adrian), 17-4
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior guard Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) has been named a finalist for the 2025 Jostens Trophy, a national honor recognizing the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. Sponsored by Jostens, Inc. and created by the Rotary Club of Salem, the Jostens Trophy celebrates student-athletes who exemplify excellence in basketball, academics, and community service.
Carollo, a four-time All-American, has etched her name into the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball record book in numerous categories throughout her career. During her remarkable career, Carollo has become one of the most accomplished players in program history. She was named the 2024-25 WIAC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team for the third consecutive year. This season, Carollo set several program records, including career rebounds (a record that had stood for 41 years), career double-doubles, points in a season, season scoring average and three-pointers in a season. Additionally, she broke the conference record for career three-pointers.
Carollo is arguably the best all-around player in UW-Whitewater history as the only Warhawk to record at least 1,500 points, 800 rebounds, 300 assists, 200 steals, and 50 blocks. Her all-around dominance on the court has solidified her as one of the top players in Division III women’s basketball. Carollo’s career numbers are nothing short of astonishing with 1,828 points, 902 rebounds, 371 assists, 226 steals, and 58 blocks.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Carollo excels in the classroom. She holds a 3.9 cumulative GPA as an integrated business and science major, was named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators last season and earned WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete for women’s basketball honors this season. A Chancellor Scholar Athlete, she has appeared on the Dean’s List every semester and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll throughout her four years at UW-Whitewater.
Beyond basketball and academics, Carollo’s connection to the Whitewater community is deep-rooted. A Whitewater native, she has volunteered throughout her college career, contributing her time to Fairhaven Senior Services, organizing and participating in Hoops 4 Hunger events, and helping run youth basketball camps and clinics. Carollo is also a four-year member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has completed two internships—one with UW Health Ambulatory Service Department and the other with Qualtrics Insurance Company. Moreover, she is a product of Warhawk women’s basketball, growing up the program with her mother, Keri, who serves and the head coach and her father, Joe, who is an assistant.
A leader through and through, Carollo is a vocal and positive force on the court and was integral to the Warhawks’ success the last four seasons. She was voted a team captain the last three seasons – an honor and testament to the trust and respect her peers have for her as a player and a person.
Carollo is the second Warhawk in as many seasons to be named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) was the recipient of the award last season.
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