A September 29, 2024 article in the Royal Purple includes the following news regarding the installation of lights onthe UW-Whitewater softball field. The complete article may be found here.

“The sun set over Van Steenderen Softball Complex while a cotton candy September sky graced the background. Excitement filled the brisk Thursday evening air while players wrapped up their final warm-ups before taking the field – this time under a new circumstance.

The Warhawks played under the lights for the first time at home.

UW-Whitewater softball unveiled their new lighting system in the team’s Sept. 26 purple and black scrimmage. The lighting system allows Warhawk softball to host night games, eliminating previous issues where games were called due to player safety.

“It opens up so many more opportunities for our program,” head coach Brenda Volk said. “Our goal is always to provide the best experience possible for our student-athletes and I think this is just one more thing that can do just that.”

The lighting system provides an added flexibility when softball hosts WIAC or NCAA tournament games, as previous games needed proper scheduling times to avoid calling games short.

“We have had a handful of games over the years that have been called due to darkness,” Volk said. “It’s just a relief to know that won’t ever have to happen again.”