UW-W’s Gracie Holland Finishes as National Runner-Up on Pole Vault

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
May 23, 2024

Myrtle Beach, SC – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s and women’s track and field programs opened competition in the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Thursday, May 23. 

Gracie Holland competing in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship (Credit: Olivia Zinanni)

Gracie Holland led the way with a runner-up finish in the pole vault competition. Holland cleared the bar on her second attempt at 4.01 meters (13-1.75) to break the program record in the event. She is now a two-time national runner-up (2022) and three-time All-American (2023, fourth) outdoors. Adding in her national title indoors (2023) along with another All-America finish in 2022 (5th), Holland is now a five-time All-American in her signature event. 

Two Warhawks advanced to the finals in their events Thursday. Christian Patzka won his heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:03.96 to qualify for the finals scheduled for tomorrow evening. Justin Krause posted a time of 3:52.90 to finish sixth and qualify for the finals in the 1,500-meter run. That final is slated for Saturday afternoon. 

Tina Shelton competed in a pair of events Thursday. She registered a career-best time of 24.37 to finish 15th in the prelims in the 200-meter dash. That mark is sixth-fastest in program history. Shelton joined teammates Hannah Bilodeau, Jacqueline Kornowski and Danielle Pouska in the 4×100 meter relay. The squad crossed the line in 46.94, just .08 away from qualifying for the finals in the event. 

In the final event of the evening, Gunner Schlender gave it his all in a tough 10,000-meter run. The heat and humidity created an interesting race as Schlender held fifth for over half of the race. A couple of big moves from a few athletes stretched the group and Schlender crossed the line 14th with a time of 31:28.27. 

On the docket for Friday, Shelton will be back in action for the prelims of the 100-meter dash and Patzka will go for a defense of his 2023 national title in the steeplechase. Saturday’s slate features both Patzka and Schlender competing in the 5,000 while Shelvin Garrett II and Jordan Hall will compete in the triple jump. Kenni Czarnecki will also represent UWW in the hammer throw. 

NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Preview

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team [D3baseball.com end of regular season #5] is headed to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship this week. The eight-team championship is slated to run Friday, May 31 through Thursday, June 6. The North Coast Athletic Conference in combination with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Lake County Captains are hosting the championship at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio. 

LOCATION – CLASSIC AUTO GROUP PARK (35300 Vine St., Eastlake, OH)
Classic Auto Group Park is home of the Lake County Captains, the High A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The stadium features 6,500 seats and an upper level of suites. 

TICKETS (Purchase Here)
Tickets will be available at the entrance to the stadium on the day of the game or in advance here. Tickets can be purchased on a per-game basis or via an all-session package. Per game ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (62+). All-session packages for students and seniors are $25 and $40 for adults. 

PARKING/TAILGATING
Parking will be available in lots around the stadium. Tailgating is allowed as space permits. 

LODGING/AREA INFORMATION
Please visit the tournament page for more information on the Eastlake area including lodging, the stadium, attractions and food. 

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT (Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket)
The championship is split into two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket advance to the Championship Series, a best-of-three series set to begin Wednesday. The Warhawks’ four-team pod includes their first round opponent Randolph-Macon, Salve Regina and Birmingham Southern. The other bracket includes Pomona-Pitzer, Misericordia, Endicott and Lynchburg. 

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
UW-Whitewater (40-9) will open the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship against Randolph-Macon (33-14). The matchup will be the first between the two squads in program history.

The Warhawks claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles to punch their ticket in the NCAA tournament. Cruising through regional action, UWW won a three-game series over UW-La Crosse in Super Regionals to secure their spot in the DIII College World Series. 

RMC received an at-large bid into the 2024 postseason tournament. The regular season Old Dominion Athletic Conference champions won a NCAA Regional hosted at Penn State Harrisburg before defeating Adrian College in a three-game secures to punch their ticket into the final eight. 

The Warhawks have the most championship experience of any team competing in Ohio this week. UW-Whitewater has seven DIII College World Series appearances in program history including national titles in 2005 and 2014. 

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National Weather Service Confirms Three Tornadoes in Area on Sunday

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office (NWS) has completed its preliminary assessment of the volatile weather in areas near Whitewater in the early evening of Sunday, May 26. Highlights from their report are shown below. NWS determined that there were three EF-0 (the weakest level) tornadoes, including one that ended “in the vicinity of Hwy 12 between Whitewater and Fort Atkinson.” Peak winds were estimated between 65-80 mph. No injuries or major damage were reported in any of the cases.

Tornado – West of Janesville (5 ENE Footville) to Milton
COUNTY NAME: Rock

Date5/26/24
Time (Local)5:00 – 5:21 pm
EF RatingEF-0
Est. Peak Winds80 MPH
Path Length12.23 miles
Max Width50 yards
Injuries/Deaths0
Summary:Tornado began west of Janesville and tracked northeast toward Milton where it went through the High School area and the north central part of town. Mainly tree damage was noted but a bleacher section of a baseball field was lofted over a fence at the high school.

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Tornado – Lake Koshkonong to west of Fort Atkinson
COUNTY NAME: Jefferson

Date5/26/24
Time (Local)5:27-5:37 PM
EF RatingEF-0
Est. Peak Winds65 MPH
Path Length5.57 miles
Max Width30 yards
Injuries/Deaths0
Summary:Developed over northeastern Lake Koshkonong and tracked toward the northwest side of Fort Atkinson. Minor tree damage long its path.

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Tornado – Harmony/Lima Center (East of Janesville) to between Fort Atkinson and Whitewater)
COUNTY NAME: Rock and Jefferson

Date5/26/24
Time (Local)5:15 – 5:38 PM
EF RatingEF-0
Est. Peak Winds80 MPH
Path Length15 miles
Max Width50 yards
Injuries/Deaths0
Summary: It developed east of Janesville and tracked northeast into Jefferson county, ending in the vicinity of Hwy 12 between Fort Atkinson and Whitewater. Trees were uprooted, an empty grain bin was tipped, roof was damaged.

Two UW-W Faculty Members Selected as 2024-25 WI Teaching Fellows & Scholars

On May 23 the Universities of Wisconsin announced the selection of the 2024–2025 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars.

This year’s program participants come from the Universities of Wisconsin’s 11 comprehensive universities and UW-Milwaukee. Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars (WTFS) must demonstrate excellent teaching skills and have a curiosity about student learning to be nominated by Provosts. The yearlong program begins in late May and will culminate with a research presentation at the annual Spring Conference on Teaching and Learning in April 2025.

WTFS provides UW faculty and teaching academic staff a unique opportunity to collaborate with other exceptional teachers from across the Universities of Wisconsin and from various disciplines. In addition to discussing effective evidence-based teaching and learning approaches, participants are guided through systematic research focused on improving student learning through a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project, the 25th year of using this format.

Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars is one of three signature programs offered by the Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID). OPID supports the Universities of Wisconsin’s’ 13 Centers for Teaching and Learning in fostering a culture of teaching and learning excellence in Wisconsin. Together they offer professional development programs that ensure student learning in face-to-face, online, and blended learning environments. Fay Akindes is OPID Director.

The Wisconsin Teaching Fellows & Scholars program is directed by two faculty leaders, Valerie Barske, a history professor at UW-Stevens Point, and Heather Pelzel, a biological sciences professor at UW-Whitewater.

The two 2024-25 Teaching Fellows & Scholars selected from the UW-Whitewater faculty are:

Cody Marie Busch, Assistant Professor, Speech Language Pathology
Rocio Duchesne-Onoro, Associate Professor, Environmental Science

The Library Presents Finding Those Who Served – Military Genealogy – Tuesday

Do you have a veteran in your family tree? Join Russell Horton, Archivist at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, for the presentation, “Finding Those Who Served: Military Genealogy.” Learn about sources, tips, and tricks that you can use to learn about your military ancestor from the Civil War to the present. The presentation is hosted by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library and will take place in the library’s community room on the rescheduled date of Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m.

There is no cost or registration to attend. The library is located at 431 W. Center Street in Whitewater. Contact the library at 262-473-0530 with questions.

The Last Bugle Call

We honor and remember the following Whitewater area veterans who passed away since last Memorial Day. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” General George S. Patton.

Taps
29 May 2023 – 27 May 2024

Brian K. Beck
James W. Benes III
Joseph J. Campbell
Albert F. Danz, Sr.
Laurence W. Delaney
Muril T. Fields
Robert A. Fuerstenberg
Gerald W. Lehto
Ed McManaway
Perry D. Moyer
Gerald G. Nell
Robert O. Nelson
Robert C. Obney
David H. Papcke
Jack H. Papcke
Grant E. Rice
Kurt A. Troemel

We apologize if we have omitted the name of any veteran. It is not intentional. We only know what we see reported in the media and other sources.

Steven R. Smith, Adjutant, William Graham Post 173, Whitewater American Legion

Nomination Papers for Municipal Judge Due by June 3

An interim municipal judge for the city was just appointed on May 1, but nomination papers are already being circulated for a special election coincidental with the Presidential Election for a term that will begin in April, 2025 and expire in April, 2027. Per City Clerk Heather Boehm, nomination papers must be filed by June 3. The necessary forms may be obtained by a candidate from her office. If there are more than two candidates there will be a primary election on August 13. The position of municipal judge opened due to the resignation of Patrick Taylor, who is moving to California.