Congratulations to the WHS Music students who performed at the WSMA State Solo/Ensemble Festival on the UW-Whitewater Campus last Saturday, April 25th! Twenty-five events received a 1st rating and five events received a 2nd rating. Congratulations to all students who made it to State! Results for competitors can be found at https://wsmamusic.org/festivals/state/whitewater/results/
The Exemplary Performance Recognition Project expands recognition of outstanding performers at the WSMA State Solo & Ensemble Festival. State festival adjudicators select the most exceptional performances at each of the festival campuses through a two-step process. One WHS event received the Exemplary Performance Recognition Award: Ava Van Daele (Musical Theater Solo) and 3 other events were nominated for consideration: Ian Agen (Musical Theater Solo), Lia Ramirez (Musical Theater Solo), Ian Agen and Ava Van Daele (Classical Soprano Tenor Duet).
Article and Photos Submitted by MacKenzie Gehrke Whitewater High School Vocal Music Instructor gehma01@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Community Foundation is now accepting applications for Spring Community Action Grants. Grants will be awarded to local non-profit organizations actively working to support the greater Whitewater community with educational, cultural, charitable and benevolent projects that will benefit and improve the community.
Projects are expected to be accomplished within a specific period of time (generally not more than one year) and should be creative, innovative and address community needs. The deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2026.
Virginia Coburn, WCF Board Member who chairs the Community Action Grant Selection Committee, said, “I’m inspired by the number of local organizations sponsoring programs and projects to benefit the community. The Foundation has given grants to The Community Space, Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, First United Methodist Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Whitewater Rescue Squad and many more. I invite you to read the pages on our website to see if one of your projects is eligible for an action grant.”
The Foundation continues to provide and host scholarships for Whitewater High School students and also offers fiscal sponsorship to organizations that are seeking 501(c) (3) status or require temporary pass-through funds for worthy community projects.
The Whitewater Community Foundation’s mission is to enhance quality of life in the Whitewater area via educational, cultural, charitable or benevolent expenditures.
This month, we proudly hosted our first annual Whippet Pathways Day at Whitewater Unified School District, welcoming more than 50 businesses, organizations, and institutions into Whitewater High School.
We’re excited to share that every available space in the building was utilized for meaningful, career-connected learning experiences.
The day featured three student-selected small group sessions followed by a career and college fair, creating an engaging and high-energy environment focused on student futures.
Students explored a wide range of career pathways, connected directly with local businesses, colleges, and community organizations, and engaged in authentic conversations with professionals about education, training, and careers. Through both individual and small group interactions, students built their networks and developed social capital while gaining real-world insight and advice.
Experiences like this are powerful in building career awareness. When students engage directly with professionals, they not only learn about careers, they begin to see themselves in them.
The impact has been immediate and inspiring. Over the past week, students have been connecting with staff to solidify, and in some cases rethink, their career plans. Many are adjusting their 2026 to 2027 course selections to better align with new goals, and others are actively pursuing job shadows and Youth Apprenticeships with partners they met during the event.
We also received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and community partners, reinforcing the value and impact of this experience.
A huge thank you to the 50 plus businesses, organizations, and institutions who dedicated their time and expertise to make a lasting impact on our students’ futures. We’re excited to continue growing this experience in the years ahead.
Article and Photos Submitted by Mike Rick WUSD Career and Technical Education Coordinator ricmi01@wwusd.org
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team claimed their third-straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title with a doubleheader sweep over UW-River Falls on Sunday. The Warhawks extend their win streak to 30 games, improving to 22-0 in WIAC play and clinching the 24th regular-season title in school history.
To start the day, the Falcons took an early lead with a sacrifice fly run in the top of the second. The Warhawks were able to answer back, taking the lead with two runs in the fourth. Landen Seymour (Rockton, Ill./Honongah) drew in a run on a groundout to get the Warhawks on the board, followed by an RBI double from Dominick McVay. IN the fifth, Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) tacked on his own run with an RBI double to take a 3-1 lead after five complete.
UW-River Falls was able to tie up the game in the 6th inning, scoring two runs in the frame. The Warhawks were quickly able to get back ahead, with McVay hitting an RBI double to put the Warhawks back on top. Jackson Koenig (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) traded places with McVay for his own RBI double, putting the Warhawks up by two runs.
Sam Steuber (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) worked through the first 6.0 innings, able to pick up the win with the Warhawks taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Ethan Wickman (Spring Green, Wis./River Valley) came in pitching the final three innings to earn the save. Wickman didn’t allow a single hit in the final three frames, striking out two.
The Warhawks added more insurance runs to build their lead on the Falcons. Evan Olson (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) added a sacrifice fly in the 7th. Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) added a run in the 8th from a sacrifice bunt. Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) put the final touches on the game with a two-run homer to push the Warhawks to the 9-3 win.
In game two, the Warhawks pulled ahead to a run-rule victory, defeating the Faclons 10-0 in 8 innings.
The Warhawks scored three runs in the third inning thanks to a lead-off home run from Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North). Leyten Bowers (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) RBI single & Landen Seymour’s (Rockton, Ill./Honongah) sacrifice fly put the Warhawks up 3-0.
The fifth inning was even larger, with five runs coming in from three hits. Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) singled to load up the bases, before a balk scored McVay & advanced the runners over. Evan Olson (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) cleared the bags for a 2-RBI single, before Leyten Bowers (Mineral Point, Wis./Mineral Point) found the pitch he wanted for a two-run shot down the left field line. Bowers’s homer put the Warhawks up 8-0.
Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) added another run in the 5th, followed by Evan Olson (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) hitting his third RBI of the game to get the run-rule win.
Ben Lee (Amherst, Wis./Amherst) pitched a shutout 6.0 innings to earn the win in game two. Lee only allowed three hits & walked one with three strikeouts.
The Warhawks enter the last week of WIAC regular-season play with five games to go. On Wednesday, UWW will head up to Eau Claire to finish out the rain-out game from April 13th. The Warhawks will finish out the regular season with a four-game home stand against UW-Stout on May 1st & May 2nd.
Join us for Move Together, Dance Together — a fun and welcoming dance class designed for babies in carriers and their caregivers. This class is all about connection, movement, music, and building community while getting out of the house and doing something joyful together.
No dance experience needed — just bring your baby, their carrier, and come as you are!
Colonel (COL) Christian C. Hofer will be retired on May 1st, 2026, after 38 years of military service as the Military Infectious Disease Portfolio Manager for the Defense Health Agency serving at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
COL Hofer is a native of Whitewater, Wisconsin and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1988 serving as a Nuclear Propulsion Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician on three different operational and training nuclear propulsion plants. During his active-duty Navy service, he completed two Western Pacific deployments on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in support of Operation Restore Hope, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, and Southern Watch along with two assignments as a nuclear propulsion prototype instructor. COL Hofer transitioned to the Navy Reserves in 1999 and completed the Basic Reserve Intelligence Training, reclassified as an Intelligence Specialist, and served at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Mayport Naval Station in Florida. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Second Lieutenant in 2002.
COL Hofer graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Animal Science and then received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005. Upon graduation, he returned to active military service in the U.S. Army and was assigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC where he deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2007-2011, he was the Command Veterinarian for the Special Warfare Medical Group (Airborne) at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center. COL Hofer completed his residency training in Laboratory Animal Medicine and a Master of Science in Comparative and Veterinary Preventive Medicine in 2014 at the Ohio State University and became a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine in 2017. He served at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases from 2014-2017 and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 2017-2020. He then served as the Command Veterinarian and Director of the Veterinary Review Office for the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base from 2020-2023.
COL Hofer’s military education includes Systems Engineering Management, Fundamentals of Systems Acquisitions Management, Fundamentals of Veterinary Global Health Engagement Course, Intermediate Level Education Resident Course, Medical Management of Chemical/Biological Casualties Course, and Contracting Officer’s Representative Course. He earned the Combat Medic Badge and his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal (2nd award), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Navy Battle “E” Award, the Navy Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal (2nd award), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2nd award), the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the NATO medal. COL Hofer was also recognized with the BG Charles V.L. Elia Veterinary Excellence Medallion at graduation from Officer Basic Course in 2005. He was inducted into the Order of Military Medical Merit and recognized by the Army Surgeon General with the 9A Proficiency Designation in 2023.
COL Hofer and his wife of 19 years, Dr. Jennifer Hofer, are professional scuba divers and like to travel the world sharing their diving experiences. He has a 27-year-old son, Jacob, from a previous marriage. He and Jennifer are moving back to Gainesville, Florida where Jennifer will be taking a faculty position as an Associate Professor in Medical Oncology at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. They are both looking forward to expanding their scuba instruction and travel business, Best Life Dive Adventures, Inc. Christian’s mom, Sherry, lives in Wellington, FL and his brother, Jason, lives in Ladysmith, WI.
Steve Watson wrote on Thursday evening, April 16, “According to my rain gauge, we’ve had six plus inches of rain since Wednesday. Here’s proof.”
Steve wrote, ” I was sad because I wasn’t able to practice my bunny hop, nac-nac, tail tap or caveman at the skate park due to the flowing water everywhere. “
Our thanks to Steve Watson for sharing these photos of “too much of a good thing!”
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The Whippet track and field team found themselves in some great competition on Friday night as they travelled to Watertown for the Gosling Invitational. Facing some of the top Division I schools in the area, the young Whippets competed well and put up some great performances and personal bests. Highlighting the evening for Whitewater on the girls’ side was senior Sydney Schilt. In her first outdoor appearance of the season, Schilt went head-to-head with defending Division I State Champion, Kyenret Rinkam of Brookfield Central, and Janesville Parker’s Harper Brandenburg, in the 100 M Dash. Schilt did not disappoint as she finished third in 12.58, putting her number 4 all-time on the Whippet Top Ten list, .02 ahead of former teammate, Kindyl Kilar. Schilt came back later in the meet and won the 200 in a time of 26.47. The 4X100 M Relay, composed of Emy Islas, Schilt, Emma Maas, and Emery Kachel, finished 2nd to Middleton in a season-best time of 52.46 as Kachel raced home on the anchor leg. Mya Graves-Koran ran her fastest time of the season in the 100 M Hurdles, placing 7th in 18.66. Maddi Morton, competing for the first time this season in the pole vault, cleared the 7 foot barrier, and Virginia Nelson ran season bests in the 1600 and 3200, as did Delaney Hammack in the 800.
The Whippet boys also found their way to some great performances as Langdon Coburn continued to show why he is one of the area’s top pole vaulters, winning his specialty with a vault of 13 feet. Ty Bucholtz placed 3rd in the 110 M hurdles in a field that included some of DI’s best hurdlers. Bucholtz’s time of 15.48 placed him at number 9 all time on the Whippet Top Ten list. Freshman Cason Boudreau continued to impress with an 8th place finish in the 300 M hurdles running 45.17. The 4X800 M relay composed of Angel Kilar, Wyatt Esch, Carlos Aguilar, and Tyler Carollo rolled to a season best of 9:51. Vinnie Juette, Mateo Bazeley, Evan Leising, and Aaron Garcia ran a season best time of 1:36.29 in the 800 M Relay placing 6th. Freshman Bastian Portales ran 58.94 in his first ever 400 M race and Trevor Piper continued an upward trajectory in the discus, a new event for him.
The Whippets travel to Brodhead on Tuesday to take on Delavan, Jefferson, and Brodhead in a quadrangular.
