Local Student Recognized on Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln Deans’ List

William Hofmann of Whitewater has been named to the Deans’ List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2023-24 academic year.

Hofmann, a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations, was named to the Dean’s List for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

More than 6,800 students at Nebraska were named to the Deans’ List for the fall semester.

Qualification for the Deans’ List varies among the eight undergraduate colleges and the Explore Center. Listed below are the minimum requirements for each entity and the name of its respective dean or director. All qualifying grade-point averages are based on a four-point scale and a minimum number of graded semester hours. Students can be on the Deans’ List for more than one college.

  • College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 3.75; Dean Tiffany Heng-Moss.
  • College of Architecture, 3.75; Dean Kevin G. Van Den Wymelenberg.
  • College of Arts and Sciences, 3.7; Dean Mark E. Button.
  • College of Business, 3.6; Dean Kathy Farrell.
  • College of Education and Human Sciences, 3.75; Acting Dean Nicholas J. Pace.
  • College of Engineering, 3.5; Dean Lance C. Perez.
  • College of Journalism and Mass Communications, 3.7; Dean Shari Veil.
  • Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, 3.7; Dean Andy Belser.
  • Explore Center for undeclared, pre-engineering, pre-health and pre-law students, 3.6; Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Undergraduate Education Amy Goodburn.

Recent Walworth County Criminal Charges

Ashley K Wasser, 39, of 1226 W Florence St, #13,Whitewater, has been charged with burglary of a building or dwelling, a felony.

Harling Gamez Rodriguez, 24, of 424 W. Forest Avenue, Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs, a felony.

Gage D Fritz, 17, of W9245 Stader Road, Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs, with a modifier of possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places [a felony]; possession of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places; and possession of drug paraphernalia [misdemeanors.]

Joshua T Hacht, 20, of 1563 W Wildwood Rd, #3, Whitewater, has been charged with possession of narcotic drugs, with a modifier of possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places [a felony]; possession of tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places; and possession of drug paraphernalia [misdemeanors].

Editor’s note: These cases have not been concluded. Unless a judgment of conviction is entered, the defendants are presumed innocent of all charges.

No. 11 UW-W Wrestling Blanks UW-Platteville on Senior Night

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

Senior Cadin Koeppel points to the camera after pinning his opponent Thursday (Michael Gouvion)

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team shutout UW-Platteville 45-0 Thursday evening. The Warhawks are ranked eleventh in the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III dual meet poll. 

Jalen Dunson set the bar high with a fall in the opening bout of the dual. Dunson, ranked eighth nationally at 125 pounds, pinned Jack Sullivan in just 30 seconds to give UWW a quick 6-0 lead. 

John Fortugno took to the mat at 133 pounds. He registered a quick takedown and rode out his opponent, Chris Karbash, through the first. The bout was close heading into the third with Fortugno leading 3-1. The Warhawk opted for bottom position and quickly got to his feet breaking the hold for escape points to take a 4-1 lead. Karbash was able to tally a takedown and quickly let Fortugno up for the escape as the Warhawks had sealed the riding time point. Fortungo sealed the bout with a takedown in the final 15 seconds of the bout for a 9-5 decision. 

Ethan Pogorzelski added a second tally to the fall column for UW-Whitewater on the evening. The 141-pounder had built a 7-1 advantage when he fended off a shot by Trent Dumont and turned it into three. He improved position to get back points before Dumont was able to turn back to his stomach. Pogorzelski changed his tactic, getting Dumont back to his back and scooping his head for the fall in 4:40. After three weight classes, UWW held a 15-0 lead. 

UW-Whitewater tallied a pair of consecutive major decisions at 149 and 157 pounds to increase the gap to 23-0 in the dual. Lucio Morgan pushed the pace in the second and third periods to top Carter Kruckeberg 16-5. Leading 6-2 after two, Morgan opted for the bottom position and was up and out in 15 seconds. He turned defense into offense countering a shot with a takedown. Going for the extra point win, Morgan let Kruckeberg up and went right back for a double leg and three more. After the escape, Morgan overpowered his opponent for another takedown and quickly let Kruckeberg up. He nearly registered a final takedown that would have given Morgan technical fall points, but his shot had both wrestlers landing out of bounds and stopped the action with just one second left in the bout. 

Jermaine Butler opened the scoring at 157 pounds. After a restart in the first, Butler improved his position to grab back points with a four-point nearfall. With Butler in the top position to start the second period, UW-Platteville’s David Cushman had a nifty reversal to grab two points, but Butler quickly escaped to push the lead to 8-3. Cushman went with an optional start to open the third handing Butler an escape point. Late in the period, Butler grabbed a single leg and turned it into a takedown adding riding time for a 13-3 major decision. 

Fall number three for the Warhawks came by way of Caden Kirchner at 165 pounds. The Warhawk got a quick takedown before the bout was stalled twice for medical reasons. Upon the restart, Kirchner got right back to work with a three-point nearfall before locking in the cradle and pinning Cole Smith in 2:30. 

Ryan Riser, ranked sixth at 174 pounds, had the tightest bout on the evening but picked up a 7-6 decision over Ryan Pothoof. Riser picked up three points on a takedown in the first ten seconds of the bout. Less than a minute to go in the period, he added a second takedown with Pothoof tallying a last second escape to make it 6-2. Leading 7-3 after an early escape in the third, Riser shot for a single leg, but Pothoof battled to turn it into a takedown for the Pioneers. Riser fought off any extra points to hold on for the 7-6 decision. 

The 184-pound bout was one of the most exciting on the night. From the opening whistle there was no shortage of action between UWW’s Gavin Kohel and UWP’s Marty Koenig. There was a flurry of action in the first, but no points awarded. Kohel took the down position, escaped quickly and immediately got on the defense as Koenig pushed the pace. Kohel countered and got the takedown for a quick four points. Holding a body lock, Kohel had multiple big throws that had the crowd erupting. In the third, Kohel connected on a double leg, but his throw attempt ended with Koenig on top with back points to boot to make it 7-4, UWW. Koenig opted for neutral on a restart after the wrestlers went out of bounds and Kohel added riding time to claim a 9-4 decision. 

Jordan Lewis got on the board against Cal Ries. The 197-pounder showcased great mat awareness with an early shot near the edge of the mat. Lewis was patient pulling Ries back in and improving position until he was awarded takedown points. Ries eventually escaped to make it 3-1 after one period. Following an escape to open the second, Lewis registered a similar takedown to extend his advantage to 7-1 with one period to go. Ries opted for bottom position with Lewis holding on to seal riding time. Ries escaped and Lewis tallied one more takedown late to grab the extra point win with an 11-2 major decision. 

Cadin Koeppel put the finishing touches on a phenomenal senior night in Kachel Gym. At 285 pounds, Koeppel had a great finish on a double leg for a takedown in the first. He got control of Dylan Warren’s wrist and pinned it to his back eventually turning the Pioneer for back points to take a 7-0 lead. Koeppel chose the bottom position and quickly registered a reversal for two more. He went back to wrist control, once against pinning it to Warren’s back and this time the turn ended in a fall as Koeppel picked up the pin in 3:46. 

WHS Players Present an American Classic; Auditorium to be Dedicated to the Late Jim Stewart

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Whitewater Unified School District.

Whitewater High School (WHS) Players will be presenting Thornton Wilder’s American Classic Our Town, February 29 – March 3, 2024 in the newly named James M. Stewart Auditorium. This timeless drama is about life in the small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners.   This Pulitzer Prize-winning play is considered by many to be the greatest American play ever written. This show has something for all ages.

As a part of this event, the Whitewater Unified School District (WUSD) invites the community to the dedication of the high school’s auditorium to long-time WUSD school board member James (Jim) M. Stewart. The dedication will take place Saturday, March 2, at 5:30 p.m., before the performance. 

Stewart was elected to the WUSD School Board in 1981 and served for [a total of] nearly 27 years. He continued to serve until his passing in November 2021. During his tenure on the board, he served as board president for six years, vice president for two years, and treasurer for six years. Jim’s legacy extends far beyond the boardroom, as he impacted the lives of countless students, parents, and educators alike through his service. 

“Jim left an indelible mark on our community and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of students and families,” said Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty, Superintendent. “Having the community come together in Jim’s honor is a great way to memorialize his legacy and celebrate the time, energy, and passion that he gave to the betterment of our students. It will surely be a special day for our school district community.”

The production of Our Town is being sponsored by a generous contribution from the Coburn family and is under the direction of Jim McCulloch and technical direction of Kat Dunham. Cast members include: Marina Linos, A’lani Ross, Brooke Mason, Payton Bunger, David Enns, Alex Clarksen, Taylor Speerbrecher, Haley Keltesch, Sam Nickelsburg, Hayleigh Pond, Deven Bawden, Chacha Binagi, Ava Van Daele, Ayden Clark, Grace Coleman, Esteban Diaz-Gallegos, Willow Vogelzang and Alex Sullivan.

Students working behind the scenes as stage managers, customers and set builders include: Kara Long, Gabi Kirley, Alexsa Cansino-Pena, Matt Zingsheim, Ace Hudec, Ava Nygren, Lucy Troxel, Miles Nickelsburg, Taiya Kolb, Rae Breisath, Kayla Mikos, Josh Nygren, Payton Peacock and Sami Van Daele.

In the true spirit of Our Town, WHS Players has partnered with the Whitewater Historical Society to present Streets of Whitewater. A detailed collection of historic photographs, rarely-seen artifacts, and stories of the early days of our own town will be on display before each performance. So, come early and experience a bit of our heritage.

Performances of Our Town will be held at Whitewater High School, in the James M. Stewart Auditorium, located at 534 S. Elizabeth Street, on February 29 – March 2 at 7:00 p.m. and March 3 at 2:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and can be purchased at the door or by calling the box office at 262-472-8178.  The house will open one hour prior before performance.

#FlashbackFriday with the Historical Society: Gone but Not Forgotten – Old City Hall

It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. In past years, February posts have often centered around the fire that destroyed Old Main in February of 1970. In thinking about the loss of Old Main, the loss of other historic buildings in Whitewater come to mind. So, this month, we will present “Gone, but not forgotten.”

Our first images are from Old City Hall, built in 1899 on the corner of Center and Whitewater Streets and demolished in August of 1971. The images were taken just before demolition of the building and show the main staircase. The demolition of old city hall was controversial, but many felt the building could not be economically renovated. A new police and fire station was built in the late 1960s and the basement was used for city offices until 1997, when the administrative addition was built.

Join us again next week for more “gone but not forgotten” photos.

(2426P and 2427P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Local Student Recognized on University of Delaware Dean’s List

NEWARK, DE — Sophie Olson of Whitewater has been named to the University of Delaware Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester.

To meet eligibility requirements for the Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.

Two People Shot and Killed in Elkhorn Bar; Suspect Apparently at Large (Updated)

Updated 2/2/24 @ 12:10 a.m.: Per WISN 12 News, “Family identified them [the victims] as 33-year-old Emerson Weingart and 37-year-old Gina Weingart. Relatives told WISN 12 News Gina tended bar there on Wednesday nights, and Emerson would come and sit with her while she worked. Emerson Weingart’s father said the two just got married this summer.”

Updated 2/2/24 @ 12:55 p.m.: Contact information provided for anyone having tips about the case. Also added that the surname of the owner of the establishment is Barr.

According to a press release from the City of Elkhorn Police Department, “On Thursday, February 1, 2024, at approximately 12:11 a.m., the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call for a report of shots fired and a person down inside the Sports Page Barr, located at 29-1/2 S. Wisconsin Street, Elkhorn. Officers from the Elkhorn Police Department and Walworth County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched and upon arrival discovered the bodies of a male and female inside the bar, who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.

Identities of the victims are being withheld, pending notification of next of kin.

The incident is currently under investigation and there is no further information available at this time.”

Per 620 WTMJ, “Elkhorn Police Chief Joel Christensen says neither of the two victims in the shooting is the suspect.” The perpetrator is reportedly still at large.

Law enforcement are investigating the incident as a homicide and are asking anyone with information to call the Elkhorn Police Department at 262-723-2210, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 262-723-2677, or electronically by using P3 Tips, at www.p3tips.com.

Editor’s note: The Sports Page Barr is located in the same building as the Nickel Plate Hotel, and the establishment’s name does use the name “Barr.” The owner’s surname is Barr.

No. 5 UW-Whitewater Women’s Basketball Falls to No. 23 UW-Oshkosh

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

 The No. 5 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team fell to No. 23 UW-Oshkosh 57-46 in a fast-paced, physical battle Wednesday night in Kachel Gym. 

Box Score


The teams set a furious pace from the opening tip. The Warhawks jumped out to a quick lead in the contest courtesy of the Kacie Carollo-Aleah Grundahl connection. Carollo hit Grundahl for an open layup on the first possession and the pair connected once again on UWW’s second time down the floor. Grundahl knocked down the and-one for a 5-0 lead less than two minutes in. From that point, the Titans outscored UW-Whitewater 15-5 to hold a five-point lead after the quarter.
 
The pace continued in the second quarter, favoring UWW for the 10-minute span. The Warhawks forced eight turnovers, scoring eight points off of UWO miscues, in the second quarter alone. The stifling full-court pressure led to a last second bucket as Carollo picked off a pass and banked in a triple from mid-court to send the Warhawks into the break with a 28-24 advantage. UW-Whitewater doubled up their opponents in the quarter, 18-9, bolstered by eight points and six boards.

The squads traded buckets early in the third, but the Warhawks maintained the lead for the majority of the period to head into the final quarter with a 39-36 lead. 

Carollo picked the pocket of the Titans’ point guard and went coast-to-coast early in the fourth to give UWW its largest lead of the game, 43-36, with 8:24 left. Carollo dropped in a three-pointer just over a minute later to make it 46-41 before the Warhawk offense fell cold. UW-Whitewater went scoreless in the final seven minutes of the contest. 

Carollo led the Warhawks with 13 points on 5-10 from the field and 3-7 from long range. She added team highs in rebounds (8), assists (4) and steals (3). Katie Hildebrandt posted 10 points bolstered by a pair of three-pointers adding seven rebounds and three blocks. 

UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh now share the lead in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference race with records of 7-2 and five games remaining in the regular season. 

The World of the Arts Explored through UW-W Lectures in Whitewater & Janesville

The World of the Arts Explored through UW-Whitewater Lectures in Whitewater and Janesville

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Continuing Education announces free lectures in Whitewater and Janesville this spring. Thirteen lectures offered from January through April will focus on The World of the Arts and are open to all.

For over 40 years, UWW has hosted lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series in Whitewater, and began a similar tradition in Janesville in 2020 with the Cedar Crest Lecture Series. From music to literature, film to poetry, the world of the arts will be explored in both series.

Lectures scheduled for 3 p.m. at Fairhaven Senior Services in Whitewater include: 

January 29 

Manufacturing “Talent”: How I Teach the Art of Performing

Benjamin Whitcomb, professor, music

Editor’s note: This lecture was already presented. The video is available here.

February 5

Connections Between Art-making, Research and Education

Verónica Soria Martínez, assistant professor, Curriculum and Instruction

February 12

Tragicomedy in the 20th Century

Michael Y. Bennett, associate professor, Literature, Writing and Film

February 26

Chimes at Midnight: Shakespearean Adaptations and the Late Career of Orson Welles 

Erica Moulton, assistant professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

March 4

Kaftans, Carpets, and the Kaaba: Textiles in the Islamic World

Ashley Dimmig, director, Crossman Gallery

March 11

D.H. Lawrence and the Question of American Literature

Jonathan Ivry, associate professor and chair, Literature, Writing, and Film

March 18

The Handmaiden and the Historical Context of the Japanese Occupation of Korea

Donald Jellerson, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

April 22

Nice Poets. Rude Poets: Satire and Obscenity in Arabic Political Poetry

Asmahan Sallah, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

April 29

Is the Golden-Age of the Broadway Musical Still Golden?

Bruce Cohen, associate professor, Theatre & Dance

Lectures in the Fairhaven Lecture Series are held in Olm Fellowship Hall at Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. They will be recorded and posted to our website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures from this and previous series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted. Visit https://www.uww.edu/ce/fairhaven for more information and descriptions of each lecture.

Lectures scheduled for 2 p.m. at Cedar Crest Retirement Community in Janesville include: 

February 22

The Films of Max Ophuls and the Intersection of European and Classical Hollywood Cinema

Donald Jellerson, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film

February 29

American Pop Culture Through the Lens of Music

Jeff Suarez, associate professor, Music

Thursday, March 7

Kaftans, Carpets, and the Kaaba: Textiles in the Islamic World

Ashley Dimmig, director, Crossman Gallery

March 13

An Overview of the Profession of Art Therapy

Anna Banwell, lecturer, Integrated Studies

Public lectures held in the Cedar Crest Lecture Series will take place in the Gathering Place at Cedar Crest, Inc., 1702 South River Road, Janesville. Free parking is available and registration is not required. Visit our website at https://www.uww.edu/ce/cedar-crest for lecture descriptions and updates.

If you have a disability and require accommodations, please advise us as soon as possible. Requests are confidential. UW-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA. Please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003 for further information.

About UW-Whitewater

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater we inspire, engage and transform lives. Our higher education mission began more than 150 years ago — and we now serve more than 11,000 students at our Whitewater and Rock County campuses, 90% of whom stay in the region after earning their degree.  The Warhawk family — led by caring faculty and staff — is devoted to student success within a broad range of academic programs. One of only four Public Colleges of Distinction in the state, the University boasts small class sizes (20:1 ratio), is ranked one of the top 10 public colleges by the U.S. New & World Report, and is the top-ranked college in the state for serving students with disabilities. Continuing Education is committed to meeting the lifelong learning needs of the residents of our region in offering a variety of classes, workshops and trainings that respond to the changing personal and professional interests of adult learners by connecting the University and community. 

Local Students Honored on UW-W Dean’s List

A total of 3,757 students earned a spot on the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the 2023 fall semester.

The following students were named to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Dean’s List for the 2023 fall semester:

Whitewater

Marijke Arreola

Stephanie Hensel

Tj Kaczkowski

Devon Knowles

Raquel Ortiz

These students have demonstrated their academic abilities by receiving a grade point average of 3.4 or above in a single semester.

“Making the Dean’s List is a tremendous honor. It is a recognition of our students’ hard work and commitment to success,” said John Chenoweth, who serves as UW-Whitewater’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are proud of our students and hope to see their names on the list again. Congratulations to all who were recognized!”

More than 11,500 students are currently enrolled at the university’s Whitewater and Rock County campuses.