Laura Masbruch

Ferradermis Heads to Houston

Members of Whitewater High School Ferradermis FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition Team #6574 will be heading to Houston, Texas for the April 17-20 FIRST Championship, a culminating, international event for the youth robotics competition season and a celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This year’s championship will include slightly over 600 teams, including 9 teams from Wisconsin.  Last year’s Championship included teams from 50 countries. The full list of qualifying teams can be found at https://frc-events.firstinspires.org/2024/CMPTX.

Members of Ferradermis pose for a photo with Chief Lee the Tangerine before their Whippet Walk on Friday.

The teams will play on 8 fields in Houston, each named after a famous scientist; Ferradermis will play on the Hopper Field, named for computer science pioneer Grace Hopper. The 75 teams assigned to Hopper hail from 28 states and 7 other countries including Australia, China, the Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Turkey, and Mexico. Once qualification and playoff matches are complete on each field, the winning alliance from each field will come together on the Einstein field for a new set of playoffs to determine the world champion.

Emerson Dunham remakes a set of robot bumpers
Programmers Ace Hudec and Margaret Brown make changes to the autonomous code.
Andrew O’Toole makes a mechanical adjustment to the robot.
The drive team practices scoring a note in the “amp.”
The drive team practices scoring notes in the “speaker.”
Preparations for Houston

Ferradermis’ current membership includes 28 students and about 20 adult mentors. Twenty-one students and 9 adults will be making the trip to Houston.

The Ferradermis ticket to the FIRST Championship was punched at Northern Lights Regional Competition in Duluth when it was the Impact Award Winner from among 55 teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa. The Impact Team will present again in Houston for the chance to become a member of the FIRST Hall of Fame.

This season, the robots have been put to the test in a music-themed challenge that requires retrieving round, orange “notes” from the floor, depositing them in an “amplifier” or launching them into a “speaker” while running on a prepared program or under the control of a student “driver.” The Ferradermis robot is named “Chief Lee the Tangerine,” inspired by the prominence of orange in his components.

WHS Celebrates the Team with a “Whippet Walk” on Friday, April 12

The qualification matches for the competition will be livestreamed on Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm at https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires_hopper. Playoff matches will take place beginning at 8:30 am on Saturday, April 20. You can also follow the team’s journey to Texas on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ferradermis/.

Ferradermis would like to thank the nearly 75 sponsors who stepped forward in the last 6 weeks to help the team fund their trip to the FIRST Championships. Every donation, whether it was $15 or $15,000, helped the team make this journey possible. Thank you, Whitewater!

Go Team, go!

Article and Photos by Tom Ganser, Supplemented by Laura Masbruch
Whitewater High School Robotics Advisor
lmasbruch@wwusd.org

New Outdoor Record Board on Display

Whitewater Track and Field is not only proud of its long history but also of the incredible meets that have been hosted on the campus of Whitewater High School. Numerous WIAA tournament events were also hosted which provided track and field fans with some amazing memories. Those memories are now on display in the form of facility records alongside the impressive WHS school records.

Through the generous financial support of the Whippet Booster Club, the school and facility record board has come to life for all who visit in the years to come. A special thank you to district employee Josh Enerson who built the frame and put the final touches on mounting it this week.

Come check it out at the two home meets remaining on the team’s schedule. On April 22nd WHS will host Monroe and East Troy. On May 10th, the team will host the Rock Valley Conference Meet. Go, Whippets!

Article and Photo Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org

Soccer Defeats Clinton 11-0

Whitewater Girls’ Soccer hosted Clinton for a Rock Valley Conference game on Thursday, April 11.

The Whippets won 11-0 with goals from Carley Boudreau, Mayte Navejas, Belle Peterson (2), Isabella Aranda, Payton Brautigam, Karlee Villegas-Korbel, Ayden Clark (2), and Sami Van Daele (2).

Belle Peterson kicks one of her two goals
Sami Van Daele scores one of her two goals with the Clinton goalie looking on from behind.

The Clinton keeper played a tremendous game, and made 29 saves. Marina Linos and Calli Hartzheim played in goal for Whitewater. 

Article Submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka

FBLA Members Attend State Conference, Three Advance to National Level

Whitewater’s chapter of FBLA traveled to Green Bay this past weekend to compete at the state competition. Members participated in leadership seminars as well as rounds of competition in various events. While there, they were also able to tour Lambeau Field and other local businesses.

Three members were able to advance to the national level. These members were Jared Apgar in Word Processing, and Ghati Binagi and Alexandra Meyer in Broadcast Journalism.

Article and Photos Submitted by Alex Meyer
Whitewater High School FBLA Member
bwest@wwusd.org

Baseball Falls to Evansville

The Whippet Baseball Team competed against Evansville on Tuesday, April 9, and unfortunately came out on the losing end by a score of 6-4. 

Owen Hicks

The Whippets fell behind 4-0 in the middle innings but cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the 6th. The tying run was on 2nd base when the final out was recorded.

Leading the offense was Owen Hicks and Emmett Spear who went 2×4 and 1×2 respectively.

Owen Hicks handled the starting pitching duties and went 4⅔ innings. Mike Pope came in relief to finish the game.

The Whippets will be in action again on Friday, April 12, against Big Foot at home. Game time is set for 4:45 pm.

Article Submitted by Michael Hookstead
Whitewater High School Head Baseball Coach
mhookstead@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Softball Defeats Delavan After Huge First Inning

On April 9th, the Whitewater Whippet Softball Team defeated the Delavan-Darien Comets 21-3 thanks in part to 14 runs in the first inning. Falyn Krahn homered to left field, scoring three runs. Gaby Kubicz doubled, scoring three runs. Paige Kollwelter doubled, scoring two runs. Sydney Schilt singled, scoring one run. Taiya Kolb singled, scoring two runs. Savannah O’Neal doubled, scoring one run. Marianna Kubicz doubled, scoring one run.

Savannah O’Neal

The Whippets added to their early lead after the top of the second inning when Schilt tripled, Gosh singled, and O’Neal singled each scoring a run. A single by Lauren Buehler, and a walk by Kubicz extended their early lead in the third.

O’Neal earned the win for the Whitewater Whippets. The left-handed pitcher surrendered two hits and one run (unearned). Kollwelter appeared as the relief pitcher. The Whippets had seven stolen bases in the game. 

Article Submitted by Krista Sbarra
Whitewater High School Head Softball Coach
sbakr01@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Soccer Plays to 1-1 Draw

Whitewater Soccer played Janesville Craig in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 9. It was an exciting game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Craig’s goal came from freshman Nevaeh Johnson, and Whitewater’s goal was scored by senior Sophia Garcia off a corner kick by Mayte Navejas.

CJ Braker had two saves in goal for Janesville, and Marina Linos had 12 saves in goal for Whitewater.

Article Submitted by Madeleine Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org

Majors Named Assistant Coach of the Year for Division 6

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Paul Majors! Majors was named the 2024 Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association District 6 Wrestling Assistant Coach of the Year. This is an award voted on by the WWCA Coaches in District 6 which includes the area from Clinton, north to Markesan, to Fond Du Lac, to Mukwonago, and to Lake Geneva.

Mr. Majors has been involved in the wrestling program as a volunteer or paid coach for over 20 years and is very deserving of this award. The student-athletes love how well he connects with them and the advice about not only wrestling but more importantly life that he provides. Congratulations, Coach Majors. Job well done!

Article and Photos Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org

WHS Forensics Team wins Rock Valley Conference Tournament

Whitewater High School Forensics competed at the RVC Tournament on Saturday, led by outstanding performances from seniors Emerson Ellenwood (1st place in Expository Speaking), Emilia Houwers (2nd place in Expository Speaking), Emmanuella Mbifi (1st place in Extemporaneous Speaking), Lauren Rollette (1st place in Solo Serious Acting), and junior Carley Boudreau (1st place in Informative Speaking). 

An Edgerton student, Carley Boudreau, Emmanuella Mbifi, Lauren Rollette, and Emerson Ellenwood

Ellenwood, Houwers, Rollette, Boudreau, and senior Marina Linos will finish out the season at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association (WISDAA) State Tournament at DeForest High School on Saturday, April 20th.

Article and Photo Submitted by Elizabeth Miller
Whitewater High School Forensics Coach
emiller@wwusd.org

Families of Class of ’24 Whippet Grads Invited to Purchase Yard Signs

Purchase a Yard Sign for Your Graduating Senior!

¡Compre un cartel de jardín para su graduado!

The cost is $20 if paying by cash/check; $20.66 if paying online. Orders may be submitted using the link at the top of this post. They must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. Payment is not due now, but must be made before signs can be picked up or delivered.

For Questions, Contact Elizabeth Miller
emiller@wwusd.org