Updated 2/27/25 @ 4:45 p.m. to add the photo below.
A new tradition: Students bring their stuffed animals to be the audience for the dress rehearsal. Photo courtesy of Tom Ganser.
The Whitewater High School Players will be performing “The Good Doctor” in the James M. Stewart Auditorium at WHS on Feb. 27 & 28 and Mar. 1 at 7 p.m., and Mar. 2 at 2 p.m. General seating tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. For more information call the box office at 262-472-8178.
Written by Neil Simon, “The Good Doctor” is charming, hilarious, sad, and touching. It consists of a series of short plays, based on short stories by Russian author Anton Chekhov. The scenes, when experienced one after another, give you a strong sense of Chekhov’s take on the human condition, embellished by Simon’s wit and pithy dialogue. The Writer is the one unifying element in the scenes, introducing and commenting on them. The audience meets a variety of characters, all of whom are immediately relatable and strikingly human.
The photo above is of “The Writer,” and the photos below are of the eight stories that are depicted in the play. All are from the final dress rehearsal, courtesy of Tom Ganser.
The Whitewater Arts Alliance will host “From Whitewater to the World: The Etchings of Léon Rene Pescheret” from February 27 to March 30, 2025, at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St., Whitewater. The exhibition features the work of Léon Rene Pescheret (1892–1971), a British-born American printmaker known for his color and monochrome etchings of Gothic cathedrals in Europe, world’s fairs, northern Wisconsin woods, and the former “State Teachers College” (now UW-Whitewater). Pescheret set up his studio in Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1936 and worked there for over 30 years, producing prints that appealed to local and international viewers.
The exhibit is curated by Ashley Dimmig, PhD, a WAA Board member and the Crossman Gallery Director and Art History Lecturer at UW-Whitewater’s Department of Art and Design. She earned her PhD in Art History from the University of Michigan in 2019 and oversees the gallery, curates exhibitions, and teaches art history.
The exhibition features prints loaned by private collectors Ed Hale, Pat Blackmer, and Dan Richardson, alongside works from the Crossman Gallery at UW-Whitewater. Together, these pieces show Pescheret’s ability to turn diverse landscapes and cultural moments into detailed etchings. This exhibition presents nearly 80 of his prints, a mere slice of his vast body of work, shedding light on the depth and breadth of his career. Pescheret’s philosophy of creating affordable prints stemmed from his belief that art should be accessible to everyday people, not just wealthy collectors.
Join us for an opening reception and panel discussion with the curator and the collectors on Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 12 pm-3 pm at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St., Whitewater. Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and hear insights from collectors about Pescheret’s enduring impact. This event is free and open to the public.
About Whitewater Arts Alliance:
The Whitewater Arts Alliance, Inc. is dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing the arts as an essential and integral part of the community.
Whitewater Arts Alliance / Cultural Arts Center 402 West Main Street Whitewater, WI, 53190 Phone: 608-201-2151
A contingent of more than 30 students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater attended the 2025 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Student Forum on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (UW-Whitewater photo/Bella Dinamarca)
UW-Whitewater students recognized by Wisconsin Broadcasters Association
A total of 15 students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater were recognized as award winners at the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) 2025 Student Forum on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
The following student was recognized at the WBA 2025 Student Forum as the recipient of a Student Excellence Award:
Whitewater, WI: Carter Waelchli, who is studying Communication, won the following award: First place, Best TV Sports Play-By-Play.
As an institution, UW-Whitewater took home 11 awards, including three for first place in a category, two for second place and six for third place. The university swept the Sports Show category by earning first, second, and third place. More than 30 students from UWW-TV, the university’s student television network, and WSUW / 91.7 The Edge, the university’s student radio station, attended the seminar.
The WBA is a state broadcasters membership group that was established in 1951. Its main purpose is to promote the development of the arts of aural and visual broadcasting in all its forms, working closely with statewide educators and broadcast managers/directors to encourage and promote customs and practices that will strengthen and maintain the broadcast industry to best serve the public.
The WBA also recognizes state broadcasters, professionals, and student/amateur broadcasters with annual seminars and recognitions. Students in the media studies program at UW-Whitewater have the opportunity each spring to attend several networking break-out sessions during the annual Student Seminar, typically held in late February or early March.
UWW-TV and WSUW, each supported by UW-Whitewater, provide students with hands-on experience in producing high-quality content both behind the scenes and on camera. To learn more about UWW-TV, visit uwwtv.org. To learn more about WSUW, visit 917theedge.weebly.com.
Editor’s note: The above press release was received from UW-Whitewater.
Mark Dorn writes, “Eight afternoon visitors right outside my sunroom window at the Village at Trippe Lake condos. 4 pm Wednesday afternoon, February 19.”
Our thanks to Mark Dorn for catching and sharing another great wildlife photo.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!
The following area student completed a certificate requirement at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in December.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, founded in 1909, is one of 13 four-year institutions comprising the Universities of Wisconsin. UWL offers 130-plus degree programs from undergraduate to doctoral levels in arts, social sciences and humanities; science and health; business; and education. UW-La Crosse – www.uwlax.edu – is a top-ranked national university. It is the No. 1 public university in Wisconsin with fewer than 25,000 students, according to Niche’s Best Colleges ranking.
The following student completed her program requirements in December:
Maggie Trautsch was the leading scorer, with 18 points / Photo by Olivia Zinanni
Correction 2/27/25 @ 2:35 p.m. – The player in the above photo was misidentified. This has now been corrected.
The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team topped UW-River Falls 66-52 in the first round of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Tuesday in Kachel Gym.
With the victory, the Warhawks advance to play UW-Stout on the road Thursday. The WIAC semifinal game is set for a 7 PM tipoff in Menomonie. The conference tournament championship will be hosted by the highest remaining seed on Saturday.
Senior guard Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) etched her name atop the WIAC record book in three-pointers Tuesday. Carollo needed just one to break the conference record with her 231st career three-pointer and she got it with the first bucket of the fourth quarter.
The game started on a different note, with the Falcons taking an early 7-3 lead less than four minutes in. UW-Whitewater responded in a big way holding UWRF scoreless the rest of the period while scoring 16 unanswered to take a 19-7 lead into the second quarter.
The Falcons cut the margin to six, 26-20, with just under two to go but the last minute of the first half featured a flurry of action. Maggie Trautsch (Sun Prairie, Wis./DeForest) knocked down a three off a Carollo assist. Carollo hauled in the defensive board and that led to a Mia Gillis (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel Catholic) layup with 15 seconds remaining. UWRF got down the floor quickly for a buzzer-beater layup to make it 31-22 at the break. The Falcons coach was whistled for a technical following contact on the play. With the choice to shoot the free throws immediately or wait until the other side of the intermission – the Warhawks chose the latter and headed to the locker room.
Carollo went to the line before the start of the third and hit both free throws to push the lead back to double digits. The gap dipped back into single digits just once the rest of the way – on the final bucket of the third.
Trautsch paced the Warhawks with 18 points bolstered by a 3-8 night from downtown. Bri McCurdy (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls) hit 6-9 from the floor and 5-8 from beyond the arc for 17 points – all career bests for the sophomore. Carollo posted 11 points and added 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals. Gillis registered 10 points on 5-7 shooting from the field with 5 assists in the contest.
Students across the Whitewater Unified School District showcased their literary knowledge in the district-level Battle of the Books competition last week.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association, the program challenges students to read and master 20 books from a preselected list. Book lists were published last June, allowing students and staff to begin their reading journey.
Under the leadership of District Library Media Specialist Kathy Retzke, library lessons in November 2024 introduced students to the competition format. Teams of up to four students were formed, and each was responsible for dividing and conquering the reading list. Over the next 10 weeks, weekly meetings led by library staff provided opportunities for collaboration, comprehension exercises, and practice questions.
Originally launched at Lakeview Elementary under the direction of former library paraprofessional Jerre Sveum, the program expanded district-wide three years ago. This year marks the addition of a high school team. Participation has soared, with 89 students across 26 teams competing from 4th to 11th grade.
“The Battle of the Books program is a fantastic example of how reading can bring students together in a fun, competitive, and educational way,” said WUSD Superintendent Dr. Caroline Pate-Hefty. “Seeing nearly 90 students from across our district dedicate themselves to reading, teamwork, and critical thinking is truly inspiring. Their hard work and collaboration exemplify the kind of engaged learning we strive for at WUSD. We are incredibly proud of all our participants and look forward to seeing how our teams perform at the state competition.”
The winning teams from each school will advance to the statewide Battle of the Books competition, February 24-28, competing virtually against 250 elementary schools, 160 middle schools, and 70 high schools. Below are the teams that will represent WUSD:
Do you and your young kids love to sing, dance, and play musical instruments? Do you wish you had new parenting strategies to handle stress, meltdowns, and challenging behaviors?
Children ages zero to six and their caregivers are invited to “Sing, Dance, Thrive,” a free class at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center (341 S. Fremont St.) on Saturday, March 1 at 3:30-4:30 p.m. Participants will engage in imaginative music and movement adventures, playfully dance with colorful ribbons and parachutes, and nurture relationships by deepening emotional awareness and learning coping strategies for home and school.
The class is taught by Noelle Larson, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, graduate of Whitewater High School and Berklee College of Music, and the owner of Circle of Song Music Therapy, LLC. Noelle has a passion for helping clients and participants to “Connect, Thrive, and Come Alive Through Music,” strengthen family relationships, learn adaptive coping strategies, and experience wonder and joy through the delight of participating in live music making.
There is no cost or registration required to attend. While the class is best for ages 6 and under, all ages are welcome to attend. Contact Sarah French with any questions at sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov or 262-473-0530.
UW-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble (UW-W Photo by Craig Schreiner)
The UW-Whitewater Symphonic Wind Ensemble conducted by Glenn C. Hayes will be performing their Carnegie Hall program on Sunday, March 2 at 3:00 pm in The Young Performing Arts Center, 930 W. Main Street, on campus. Tickets will be available at the door. The group will be performing by invitation at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, March 11 on an 8:00 pm program. The ensemble is accepting donations for their Bus Fund. If you would like to support the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, you may make a tax-deductible donation by writing a check payable to “UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc” and indicate FUND 0487 – SWE on the memo line. Checks may be mailed to: UW-Whitewater Foundation, Inc., Alumni Center, 800 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI. 53190.
Tickets for The Young concert may be purchased here. Admission for adults is $7, for those age 65+ or under age 18, $4. Tickets purchased at the door are subject to a $2 service charge.
Update 2/25 @ 3:55 p.m. – The team plays in the first round of the conference championship tonight, Tuesday 2/25 @ 7 p.m. – UW-W (#3) vs. UW-RF (#6)
Unconditional love and basketball: Warhawk Kacie Carollo builds on family legacy
Written by Chris Lindeke Photos by Craig Schreiner, UW-Whitewater Athletics
The Carollo family name is synonymous with women’s basketball — and winning — at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
For more than two decades the family has been deeply associated with a team that has a strong legacy at the university and is a household name in NCAA Division III women’s basketball.
Keri Carollo was hired as head coach in April 2002. In 2008, her husband, Joe Carollo, joined her on the sidelines to be an assistant coach.
Fast forward to 2025, and their daughter, Kacie, is helping the family build on that exceptional success.
The Carollo family, including, left to right, Keri, Matthew, Kacie, Tyler, and Joe, hold the team’s conference championship and national runner-up trophies after the Warhawk women’s basketball team’s run to the Final Four in 2022. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Michael McLoone)
A two-time All-American, Carollo, an integrated science-business major, has been a linchpin in one of the strongest four-year stretches in the program’s history.
The run has included two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, one conference tournament title, and three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the Final Four in 2022, the Sweet 16 in 2023, and the Elite Eight in 2024.
Carollo has thrived on and off the court — she is a recipient of multiple scholarships and is a five-time member of the Dean’s List — and enjoys the small-town, community-like atmosphere and the caring faculty.
“The professors have been very understanding of our schedules and the demands,” she said. “They understand the time and energy commitment to sports, which I’m very grateful for.”
With just four games remaining in the regular season, Carollo is cherishing every remaining moment as a part of the team.
“It’s basketball, so it’s not the most important thing in the world, but it is to our family, and it is to my teammates,” she said. “Valuing every single day — and the people around me — has been super important for me, because it goes by really fast.”
Carollo’s journey to becoming a Warhawk started more than two decades ago.
A young Kacie Carollo holds an individual trophy between her parents, Keri and Joe Carollo, after the Warhawks placed third in the nation with an 80-67 win against Oglethorpe on March 22, 2008, in Holland, Michigan. (UW-Whitewater Athletics photo)
Raised to be a Warhawk
Carollo’s first memories of being involved in the program include “picnics” packed by her parents that included snacks, puzzles and games — all things to keep her occupied during the team’s practices and games.
She recalled being pushed around in the ball cart and being on the bus with her “big sisters” on the team.
“She was very outgoing, strong-willed, and personable,” Keri Carollo said. “You could tell she was a lot like me — she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and had a very strong personality but was also very caring and always looking out for everyone else.”
In 2008, when Carollo was just a small child, the Warhawks experienced their first big success under her mother’s leadership. The team made its first-ever trip to the Division III Final Four, where they went on to finish in third place.
More national success followed for UW-Whitewater. The team made back-to-back appearances in the Final Four starting five years later, finishing as national runner-up in 2013 and in third place in 2014.
Recruited to be a Warhawk
A three-sport athlete at Whitewater High School, Carollo worked closely with her parents to explore opportunities to compete in college basketball.
After a trip to St. Louis for a college visit as a high school senior, she realized that her home for the next four years may be right in her backyard.
Carollo was recruited closely by then-assistant coach Kirsten Hammer and then-graduate assistant Brooke Trewyn, who each earned a BSE in physical education and an MSE in professional studies from UW-Whitewater and were members of the Warhawk women’s basketball team as undergraduates.
“They asked me a lot of questions, and I could tell they really cared about me as a person,” she said.
Carollo enrolled at UW-Whitewater in the fall of 2021, joining a veteran-laden team that was poised for a big season after enduring a COVID pandemic-shortened 2021 campaign.
Warhawk Kacie Carollo, right, hugs Vayda Briggs, 10, who came to the game to see her former babysitter play. The Warhawk women’s basketball team defeated UW-Eau Claire to win the WIAC championship at Kachel Gym on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Four years of success
Carollo was an immediate fit with the Warhawks during the 2021-22 season. She played a supporting role in helping UW-Whitewater capture the regular season league championship and make a run through the NCAA Tournament to the championship game.
After the team punched its ticket to the Final Four with a victory over conference rival UW-Oshkosh, Carollo embraced her mother and coach with tears in her eyes.
UW-Whitewater head women’s basketball coach Keri Carollo hugs her daughter Kacie, guard on the Warhawks, while players react after defeating UW-Oshkosh for a spot in the NCAA Division 3 Final Four Women’s Basketball Tournament on March 12, 2022. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
“Everything happened so fast, and none of it was expected,” Carollo said. “It was just so huge for everybody in that moment … I know how hard my parents have worked, so it was cool for me to be an actual, tangible piece of it rather than just supporting them.”
Most importantly, she showed her ability to blend in both on and off the court — a characteristic that’s stuck with her over the last three-plus seasons even with her parents as coaches.
“I have to give Kacie a lot of credit — she’s made it easy — and I would also give credit to the teams she’s played with,” Coach Carollo said. “They have been very understanding of that dynamic, and we’ve never had teams that Kacie’s played with give us any pushback.”
Carollo evolved into a central leader on the team starting with the 2022-23 season. The team captured its second straight conference title, won the WIAC Tournament and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
Players gather with Head Coach Keri Carollo at center court after the win. Kacie Carollo (13) is next to her mother, Keri. The Warhawks women’s basketball team defeated UW-Oshkosh on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. to advance to the WIAC tournament championship game. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
In 2023-24, UW-Whitewater, led by Carollo and another All-American — 2024 Jostens Trophy (National Player of the Year) recipient Aleah Grundahl — made a second straight run to the second weekend of the national tournament. The Warhawks finished one game away from a trip to the Final Four.
This year’s team is currently ranked #25 in the nation. The postseason begins the week of February 24, and the Warhawks are hopeful for another deep run.
“We value opportunity,” Coach Carollo said. “When you’re gifted an opportunity — not everybody gets to play college basketball — you make the most of that opportunity and try to get the most out of that experience. That goes for academics and social life, too, as not everyone gets to go to college. A lot of people take it for granted.”
Head women’s basketball coach Keri Carollo, center, and her husband Joe, an assistant, talk to players. Their daughter Kacie, right, is among the players. The Warhawk women’s basketball team defeated UW-Stevens Point, 53-44, on Jan. 10, 2024, in Kachel Gym. With the win, the Warhawks matched their best start in program history with 14 wins and no losses. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Looking back (and ahead)
The Carollos have grown closer because of their basketball experiences inside of Kachel Gymnasium and around the country.
“We’ve always been close, but I think this has brought us closer, just seeing her go through the highs and lows and challenges of being a student-athlete and a woman,” Coach Carollo said.
The couple are also firmly embedded as leaders in other spaces around the Williams Center. Keri Carollo serves Warhawk athletics as senior woman administrator and assistant athletic director for compliance, while Joe Carollo is an assistant director for business affairs and event operations and a lecturer of kinesiology, teaching classes in the sport management minor.
“I know how much they care and how involved they are — it is literally their life,” Kacie Carollo said. “When they get after me or someone else, I know at the end of the day, it’s not personal — it’s just because they care.”
Carollo is on track to graduate in May 2025. She plans to remain in the area and pursue a career in health care administration.
Kacie Carollo (13), an integrated science and business major, comes off the court. The UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team defeated Calvin University (Michigan) on Dec. 30 in its final home game of 2024. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
Carollo’s focus remains on basketball as she hopes to help extend the season deep into March. She has already etched her name into the program record book, currently ranking second in both career points and rebounds, and now looks to add even more team success to an already sterling career ledger.
No result will break a mother and daughter bond that has only grown stronger after more than 20 years of bleeding purple together.
“I tell her at the start of every year that no matter what happens — wins, losses, whatever — I’m always going to be proud of you and love you unconditionally,” the coach (and mom) said.
