UW-Whitewater secures the WIAC trophy for an 18th straight time (Dave Lindow)
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Madison, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s tennis team claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title for the 18th consecutive time Sunday. The Warhawks won four singles flights and swept the titles in doubles play en route to the championship.
The WIAC champion is determined by using a combination of the regular season dual meet standings and the WIAC Championship results. The Warhawks entered the championship tied for first with six points from dual meet results. UW-Whitewater added 14 points from the championships for a total of 20 to claim the title by two points over UW-La Crosse.
SINGLES No. 1: Gracie Ha secured her second straight singles title (No. 2 singles champion in 2023) after defeating UW-Eau Claire’s Samantha Fuchs 6-2, 6-1 in the title match. To get to the title, Ha received a bye before defeating UWO’s Mana Usui 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.
No. 2: Molly Asfeld battled back from a 6-2, 6-4 loss in round two to eventual champion Shelby Roth (UWL) to secure bronze. In the third place bout, Asfeld took down Maya Kunze (UWSP) 6-3, 6-4. Her first round win was a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Alexis Budzinski (UWRF) Saturday.
No. 3: Abby Weaver picked up a pair of wins Sunday to claim gold in the third singles flight. After topping Morgan Dekan (UWEC) 6-0, 6-2 in the second round, Weaver bested UWL’s Lauren Lindow 6-1, 7-5 for the championship. She was 3-0 in singles play with a first round win over Ella Lamppa (UW-Stout) 6-1, 6-2 on day one.
No. 4: Alex Repplier won her second consecutive title in singles play Sunday. The top seed defeated Brianna Owens (UWO) 6-1, 6-1 before securing the title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Maia Samuelson (UWL). She adds the 2024 championship to a No. 5 singles gold from 2023.
No. 5: Sarah Ferguson went 2-0 after receiving a first round bye for the title. She took down Allie Brosteau (UWSP) 6-0, 6-1 in the second round and defeated Emma Heinert (UWL) 6-4, 6-0 in the championship.
No. 6: Crystina Lee battled hard in the No. 6 singles championship match. After taking the first set against top-seeded Hannah Cady (UWL), she dropped set two 6-4. Lee finished as the runner-up after the tiebreak went to the Eagles 10-2. On her way to the title match, Lee defeated Lexie Stein (UW-Stout) in straight sets and Tea Armstrong (UWEC) 3-6, 6-1, 10-5 in the second round.
DOUBLES No. 1 – Gracie Ha & Abby Weaver: The Warhawk tandem in the top doubles flight came in as the No. 1 seed and punched their ticket into the championship with an 8-1 win over a UWSP pair. Ha and Weaver took down UWL’s Tasha Bailey and Roth 8-5 for the title. The championship is the second consecutive at No. 1 doubles for Ha.
No. 2 – Molly Asfeld & Alex Repplier: As the top seed in the second doubles flight, the Warhawks received a first round bye. In round two, Asfeld and Repplier defeated Morgan Dekan and Liv Herzog (UWEC) 8-6 to secure their spot in the championship. UW-Whitewater won the title with an 8-5 victory over UWL’s Samuelson and Cady. The doubles title is the second straight for Asfeld.
No. 3 – Ava Andrae & Crystina Lee: The Warhawks’ pair in the third doubles flight entered as the No. 2 seed. The duo defeated Hailey Reuvers and Mykela Hanson (UWRF) 8-1 and the UWEC tandem of Armstrong and Aubrey Wittwer 8-3 to punch their ticket to the title match. Andrae and Lee won a thrilling battle for the championship defeating Lindow and Heinert (UWL) 8-7(4).
Following the completion of the championship, the WIAC announced Cassie Lee as the Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete. A full release on Lee’s accomplishments will be published in a separate story. She is the fourth Warhawk to earn the honor in the last five seasons and thirteenth in program history. Gracie Ha was selected as UW-Whitewater’s representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.
UW-Whitewater has now won 25 WIAC titles in program history. The top four teams from the conference championship (UWW, UWL, UWEC, UWSP) advance to the team tournament that will determine the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship. The team tournament will be hosted by UWW on April 26, 2025.
The Whippet Boys’ Cross Country Team emerged as sectional champions once again after supreme races from top to bottom on Friday, October 25 on the campus of UW-Whitewater. In a very controlled, dialed-in effort, Jack Hefty once again led the team to his second individual sectional title in 16:39. Xavier Zei ran perfectly and closed the door on his race very well and finished fifth overall. Miles Nickelsburg had the race of the day for the team placing in sixth overall. He methodically made his way through the upper crust of the pack passing two runners in the second mile and five runners in his final 1.1 miles of the race to stop the clock in 17:47. Luc Pomazak will get his first taste of the state meet after never seeing a varsity race all last season. Having improved significantly this season, he was the team’s fourth runner today and placed 17th in 18:28. Andrew O’Toole rounded out the team scoring with a strong 23rd place finish and an overall time of 18:47 on this difficult course. Onyx Thompson mowed down at least five guys in the final 200m finish straight and placed 31st with a time of 19:06. Isaac Straight was the final Whippet to finish today in 54th with a time of 19:56, twenty-four seconds faster than he ran on this course a week earlier.
Isaac Straight, Onyx Thompson, Andrew O’Toole, Luc Pomazak, Miles Nickelsburg, Xavier Zei, Jack Hefty, Coach Carstens
The girls’ race proved to be a good day overall for the team as they finished in sixth place. Nearly every girl ran faster than they did a week earlier on the same course at the conference championship. Today the team was led by senior Carley Boudreau who stopped the clock at 22:37 for a final placing of 21st. Fellow senior Athena Soto was a few steps behind her in 22:39 and placed 22nd. Virginia Nelson completed her first high school season as the team’s third runner and placed 23rd in 22:42. Mady Hefty moved up little by little throughout the race and was the team’s fourth runner in 28th with a time of 22:58. Senior Nola Coburn placed 41st with a time of 24:25. Ema Aranda placed 44th in 24:35, and senior Sami Van Daele placed 47th in 24:57. The team wraps up their season having finished second in the Valley division, third overall in the RVC, and with numerous seniors that have dedicated themselves to the sport of cross country for four years. The coaching staff is very thankful for the seniors and the leadership they have provided over the years. They are Isabella Aranda, Carley Boudreau, Nola Coburn, Athena Soto, Lucy Troxel and Sami Van Daele.
The WIAA State Meet will be held on the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, November 2nd. The boys will be competing in the Division 2 race which is slated to begin at 2:35.
On Tuesday, October 22, the Whippet Swim Team finished out their regular season schedule against Beloit Memorial. The night was spent celebrating our seniors and all their success in the pool as a Whippet! The girls swam fast on senior night and put up many new best times!
Whippet Girls’ Swim Team
Senior Makayla Bazeley swam a lifetime best in the 200 IM beating the rest of the field by nearly 13 seconds with at time of 2:14.43. With that time, she moved her up to third all-time on the Whippet Top 10 List. Makayla also swam the 100 Fly in dominating fashion as she went just on her season best time of 1:00.75.
Senior Emerson Dunham won the 500 Freestyle by over 1 minute. In her win she went a season best time of 6:03.45. Emerson also put on a fun performance battling back and forth with the competition in the 100 Breaststroke to go a time of 1:24.08!
A special shout out goes to Senior Adalynn Frye as she has been everyone’s biggest supporter and loudest cheerleader this season!
Seniors Makayla Bazeley, Adalynn Frye, and Emerson Dunham
The Whippets went 22 of 27 best times on the night! Charlotte Hajewski went 2/2 on best time dropping 6 seconds in the 200 IM and 4 seconds in her 100 Freestyle with a time of 1:05.92! Zoe Zei also went 2/2 dropping 23 seconds in the 200 Freestyle and 7 seconds in the 100 Freestyle. Atreya Wilson continues with the 2/2 best times, dropping 3 seconds in the 200 Freestyle and improving her 100 Breaststroke time to a 1:35.18. Maria Pena and Caitlin Alford both posted new best times in the 50 & 100 Freestyles!
We are looking forward to seeing them drop even more time as we head into our Championship Season. First up we have JV Conference on Tuesday, October 29, in Elkhorn starting at 6 pm. We hope to see you there! Go Whippets!
Article and Photos Courtesy of Sarah Reynolds Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
Brian Wilterdink hauls in a touchdown pass from Jackson Chryst against UW-Platteville (Olivia Zinanni)
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Platteville, Wis. — The No. 19 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team fell to No. 8 UW-Platteville 17-10 in the annual George Chryst Memorial Bowl in Platteville Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to claim the lead and secure the win. The Warhawks are now 25-4 in the George Chryst Memorial Bowl. Per tradition, offensive and defensive Players of the Game are selected from both teams after the game. UW-Whitewater was represented by running back Noah Battle and linebacker Ethan Gallagher. The Pioneers claimed possession of the Miner’s Axe for the fourth time in the 29-game bowl series.
After a scoreless first, UW-Whitewater got on the board early in the second quarter. The drive started with 6:18 left in the first from UWW’s own seven. The Warhawks marched 99-yards with Jackson Fox splitting the uprights from 25-yards out for the 3-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
UW-Platteville responded on the next drive. Following a 16-yard kick return, the Pioneers started their drive at the 20. Two 40-yard pass plays bolstered the four-play drive to give the host school the 7-3 advantage.
Late in the second, the Warhawks would reclaim the lead – this time on an 89-yard scoring drive. Tamir Thomas burst through the line for a 16-yard gain early in the drive. Jackson Chryst found Nick Wind for 19-yards down to the UWP 43 later in the series. After a nine-yard gain, Chryst found Brian Wilterdink in the end zone from 34-yards out for the touchdown strike. Fox hit the point after for a 10-7 UWW lead.
That score held until midway through the fourth quarter. The Warhawks had an opportunity on their second drive of the quarter, marching down to the UWP eight but the drive stalled and UWW turned the ball over on downs.
The Pioneers capitalized on the ensuing drive. Faced with third-and-ten from their own eight, Michael Priami found Brandt Stare on a pass hauled in at the Warhawks’ 45. He sprinted up the sideline for the 92-yard score. The point after gave the Pioneers a 14-10 lead.
On UW-Whitewater’s next drive, Chryst was hit as he threw causing an underthrown ball that was picked off by UWP. The turnover led to a field goal and the final score, 17-10.
Still, UWW had a chance … a late Hail Mary on the final play of the game. Chryst eluded one tackler and heaved the ball downfield, but the jump ball fell incomplete.
Chryst was 18-39 for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Battle paced the Warhawk ground game with 80 yards on 11 carries. Wilterdink was the top target through the air with 75 yards on five receptions. Tyler Vasey also hauled in five catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, Gallagher led the Warhawks with 11 tackles including five solo.
With three games left in the regular season, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout are all tied for the league-lead with a 3-1 mark in conference play. UW-Whitewater, UW-River Falls and UW-La Crosse are all 2-2 while UW-Eau Claire holds a 1-3 record and UW-Stevens Point is 0-4.
Patzka Breaks School Record to Win Augustana Interregional; UWW Places 3rd overall
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s cross country teams competed in the Augustana Interregional alongside multiple regionally-ranked teams. The Warhawks finished 3rd overall in the men’s “Gold” race, led by Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) and Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./).
Patzka completed the 8k with a personal best of 23:52.7 to finish first overall. Patzka’s PR also breaks a 56-year old school record. In 1968, Tom Hoffman recorded a 23:55 in Salina, Kansas. Patzka joins Hoffman and David Fassbender (23:57 in 2021) to run under 24-minutes.
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./) joined Patzka in the top-5, with a 24:14 to place fourth overall.
Chris Allen (Downers Grove, Ill./North) also recorded a personal best, running a 24:53.5 to finish 38th overall.
Wrapping up the scorers in the Gold Race, Tucker Johnson (Poynette, Wis./), 25:30 and Alex Metko (Brillion, Wis./), 25:34.
Brandon Gang (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Keegan Bratt (Waukesha, Wis./West) also recorded personal bests in the Men’s “Gold” Gang finished in 25:46.9 and Bratt with 25:46.9.
Other Warhawks in the men’s gold race include Dan Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./McDonell) (25:48), Tommy Conklin (West Bend, Wis./East) (25:49), Conner Murphy (26:03), Jonah Block (Whitefish Bay, Wis./) (26:37) and Brandon Massman (Belvidere, Ill./North) (26:45).
In the Men’s “Blue” race, the Warhawks finished 5th overall with 160 team points.
Featured in the “Blue” race, Matt Andreano, Andrew Beyer (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) and Aiden Johnson all competed personal bests. Andreano (26:10), Beyer (26:42), and Johnson (26:51) all finished in the top 55 runners. Joining them was Bryce Faith (Oconomowoc, Wis./) with a 26:45 for 49th overall.
Nick Wendl (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) (26:55), Landen Bratt (Waukesha, Wis./West) (26:56), Ryan Van Dam (Glen Ellen, Ill./Glenbard East) (27:08), Jordan Loferski (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Hamilton) (28:02), Adrian Ahuatl (St. Charles, Ill./East) (28:08), Will MacCudden (Slinger, Wis./) (28:23), James Belus (Oconomowoc, Wis./) (28:26) also competed in the “Blue” race.
The Warhawks return to their home course for the Warhawk Open next Friday, October 25. The men’s race is set to begin at 12:45 on the UWW Campus Course.
The Whippet Girls’ Swim Team had two meets this past week. First up was a dual meet against Delavan-Darien on Tuesday, October 15, where the Whippets beat the Comets 87 – 77. The girls placed 1st in 8 of 11 events. Maya Davis took on the 200 Freestyle for the 1st time this season going an impressive time of 3:07.04. Zoe Zei had a great day in the water; she dropped nearly 2 seconds in her 50 freestyle and dropped 8 seconds in her 500 freestyle. Atreya Wilson continues to improve her time in the 100 Breaststroke going a season best time of 1:35.65. Laken DePorter continues to get faster and faster in the 100 freestyle!
Whippet Girls’ Swim Team
Later that week, the girls traveled to Germantown on Saturday, October 19th to compete in a Sprint Invite which was lots of fun, and the girls got to do some really fast racing. The competition was tough as there were many division 1 schools to go against, but the girls all swam great! Makayla Bazeley put on a gutsy performance in the 200 Freestyle to just out touch the competition by .17 milliseconds to secure the win. She ended up going a season best time of 1:58.70. The 200 Medley was compromised of 8 swimmers each swimming a 25. The Medley team of Kendra Serrano, MJ Verduzco, Atreya Wilson, Maya Davis, Grace Coleman, Lucy Davis, Caitlin Alford, and Laken DePorter absolutely crushed their seeded time by over 16 seconds! Emerson Dunham had a top 10 finish in the 200 IM going a season best time of 2:40.85 and placed 8th overall! Caitlin Alford crushed her goal of going under 40 seconds in the 50 Freestyle!
Makayla Bazeley
The Whippets are back in action for their last home and conference dual meet on Tuesday, October 22 against Beloit Memorial. We will be celebrating our three seniors so be sure to stop by and watch them and all the Whippet swimmers compete in their final home meet of the season!
Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
By Broderick Frye Asst. Sports Information Director
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team [D3football.com #19] bounced back in a big way with a 66-0 romp of UW-Stevens Point. The Warhawks put up over 600 yards of total offense, while holding UW-Stevens Point to less than 150.
After winning the coin toss, the Warhawks elected to receive. It turned out to be a good decision, as Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge) took the opening kick-off 88-yards to the house.
The Pointers opening drive only lasted three plays before the Karsten Libby (Wheaton, Ill./North) intercepted a pass to get the Warhawks back on offense. Tamir Thomas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) capitalized on the turnover, rushing it in from the one yard-line to finish off the Warhawks’ drive.
The Warhawks added one more touchdown before the end of the first quarter, with Jackson Chryst (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) connecting with Brian Wilterdink (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) for a 36-yard touchdown pass.
With a 21-0 lead after the first frame, the Warhawks kept on the gas and added three more touchdowns in the second quarter. Chryst recorded two touchdown passes in the second quarter, including a 61-yard catch-&-run from Steven Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) on the opening drive.
Jackson Fox (Kirkland, Wash./Lake Washington) connected on a 21-yard field goal to end the half, putting the UWW up 45-0 over UW-Stevens Point.
In the second half, the Warhawks focused on controlling the pace of the game, draining time off the clock with the run game. In the second half alone, UW-Whitewater accounted for 194 rushing yards.
The Pointers started to put together a drive in the third quarter, looking to get their own points on the board, but Mason Stepanski (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) intercepted the pass in the end zone to put a stop on the drive.
The Warhawks finished off the night after a long 8-minute drive. Ty Schultz (Lockport, Ill./Lockport) punched it in from six-yards out as the Warhawks hit the 60-point mark.
On the ground, Schultz and Thomas each had two touchdowns with over 100 yards. The Warhawks gathered a total of 353 yards on the ground.
Through the air, Jackson Chryst (Orinda, Calif./Palo Alto) went 11-13 with 266 yards and three touchdowns. Nick Wind (Downers Grove, Ill./Montini Catholic) led the receiving corps with three catches for 95 yards.
The Warhawks are on the road next Saturday against UW-Platteville in the 29th-annual George Chryst Memorial Bowl. Kick-off is set for 1 PM in Platteville.
Christian Patzka (Left) and Gunner Schlender leading the pack at the Tom Hoffman Invitational – Photos by Olivia Zinanni, Craig Schreiner
Written by Lalaina Chandanais [UW-W sophomore majoring in English]
In his hometown of Brillion, Wisconsin, Gunner Schlender began running in early middle school when he decided to join the track team, and it soon became what he now refers to as his “first love.” His father was a track coach as well, so the passion for competitive running is deeply rooted in his family.
Schlender, now a fifth-year senior studying physical education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a big part of the sudden bloom of immense talent and growth of the Warhawk men’s cross country team in recent years.
“To really encapsulate the growth, we have to go back to before I joined,” said Schlender, a 2024 recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award.
In 2020, Schlender started his first year at UW-Whitewater. After a year away from competitive cross country due to the pandemic, he was itching to jump back into the sport he loved. He and his friend and fellow All-American student-athlete, Christian Patzka, helped the program to a new level.
“When I committed, we were ninth in the region, fifth in the conference,” Schlender said. He went on to explain how the team rose to fifth in the nation and second in the conference within his first year on the team, signifying only the beginning of what would be the team’s most immense growth period yet.
This season, the team is poised to compete for championships and individual awards at all levels.
Warhawk cross country head coach Jeff “Mills” Miller, left, was presented with a t-shirt bearing his own trademark image by assistant coach RJ Soderman. The annual Tom Hoffman Invitational cross country meet at UW-Whitewater was perfect for honoring Miller for his 40 seasons of coaching and mentoring Warhawks, on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. (UW-Whitewater photos/Craig Schreiner)
Patzka, a fifth-year history education major, joined the team at the same time as Schlender, and his talent was already apparent to Jeff Miller, the head coach for more than 40 years.
Patzka credits one of his first defining experiences with running to be back in his hometown of Black Earth, Wisconsin, where he ran a community 5-kilometer race with his father when he was in middle school. It was from there that his love for running only grew.
After he committed to UW-Whitewater, Patzka went on to win back-to-back regional races in cross country and national titles in track and field. Both he and Schlender have qualified for every national cross country meet and have achieved All-America status each year since they arrived.
Schlender and Patzka have been crucial in getting the team to where it is today, contributing what is, according to Miller, a “once-in-a-lifetime sort of talent.”
“They were All-Americans as freshmen. That has never happened before, and they both have done it. They have qualified for every national meet since they have gotten here, so it’s the stuff of legends,” said Miller. “They have reached well beyond what I think they even thought they could do.”
When asked to name some highlight moments of the team’s success, there was a moment of deliberation shared by all — the team’s vast number of achievements surely made it difficult to only name a few.
“The Blugold Invite in Eau Claire in 2021 was our first real meet as a team, our first real test. We knew what we were capable of, but had yet to prove it,” said Schlender. “We went out there and raced incredibly well. It was our first time that our potential as a team was tapped into. After that, we knew we could beat teams that are nationally ranked, and that we wanted to be in the top 10.”
Patzka recalled the aftermath of some of the team’s first wins, stating how the shared feeling of pride and accomplishment amongst every teammate was a highlight in itself.
“Everyone’s got a big smile, a tear comes down. You know it was all worth it,” said Patzka.
Head cross country coach Jeff Miller, third from right, embraces Schlender and Patzka, on his immediate right and left, respectively, and the men’s team’s other seniors following the Tom Hoffman Invitational on Sept. 21, 2024, outside of the Williams Center. The Warhawk senior class was recognized at the meet. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Olivia Zinanni)
A resilient, close-knit program
For Miller, one of the largest achievements in his eyes was the resilience that shone through after a year of stagnancy and uncertainty.
“Our athletes got to train more with the extra time they had, and it just helped them get stronger,” Miller said. “We took a bad situation and made the most of it.”
Still, there is another layer of the cross country team’s success that cannot be defined by the digits of a new record time or a medal around a neck. Another factor that further emphasizes the strength of their unique bond with each other.
Patzka was made aware of his teammates’ unwavering support when he was suffering from Achilles tendonitis during the summer after his freshman year and into his sophomore year. Even when he could not compete, his teammates made it known that they unconditionally valued him.
“The guys would still check in on me,” said Patzka. “It was nice knowing that even though it was really painful, I still have those guys there for me. I felt supported.”
Schlender shared the same positive sentiment towards the support and long-lasting connections made within the team, stating how he met some of his closest friends through UW-Whitewater cross-country. Justin Krause, currently a graduate assistant for UW-Whitewater’s Campus Tutorial Services and a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country teams, was a sophomore on the team when Schlender joined. Krause served as a consistent role model for his new teammates each year.
“He has been my best friend since my first visit and is the best leader I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve lived with him for three years now.” said Schlender. “He is the hardest worker, the nicest person, and when he does something, you just follow it. When you are around him, you work harder, and you care more.”
Gunner Schlender, at right, and Christian Patzka, are also decorated members of the Warhawk men’s track and field team — they’ve each earned multiple conference All-America honors. The duo is shown competing at the Karl Schlender Invitational at Kachel Fieldhouse on Jan. 20, 2024. The meet is named for Schlender’s grandfather, who coached the men’s and women’s programs for nine years. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Olivia Zinanni)
Warhawk family and tradition
The deep gratitude within the team extends in all directions, especially toward the faculty and staff that have had a positive impact on getting the team to where it is today. One faculty and team member connection that is particularly special is the one between Schlender and Miller — it’s rooted in the history of the UW-Whitewater athletic department and of a longtime friendship.
“I coached with Gunner’s grandfather, Karl Schlender. I shared an office with him. He was a great coach and person, and everyone who knew him knows that,” said Miller. “Gunner never met his grandfather, so it is kind of an interesting dynamic — I talk about what kind of person he was to him, and he learns more about him through that.”
It is acknowledged among the members of the team that they would not be where they are without the footsteps left by previous athletes to follow. Patzka even states that the university’s rich athletic history is a large reason why he was drawn to it.
“There are so many people who go through our athletics, so being associated with UW-Whitewater athletics and being associated with past athletes through the years is a great honor.”
A bright present and future
When considering the team’s future, there is an overall sense of high hopes for the continuation of this great era of achievement.
Junior business analytics major and teammate, Dan Anderson, has shown great growth and potential. Miller said the Eau Claire native has taken the positive influences of Schlender and Patzka and grown into his potential.
The Warhawks are currently ranked second in the North Region and fourth in the nation among NCAA Division III teams by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA). Schlender and Patzka finished first and second, respectively, in a field of more than 400 runners to lead the team to a runner-up finish at the Pre-National Meet on Oct. 4 in Terre Haute, Indiana, the site of this year’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship.
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship is set for Nov. 2 in Stevens Point, with the NCAA regional and national meets to follow on Nov. 16 and Nov. 23, respectively.
With the sheer amount of talent displayed and learned from within recent years — and the promising outlook for the 2024 team — this great bloom in the men’s cross country team’s success is set to continue for years to come.
Thursday, October 17 was a good day for the Whippet Cross Country teams as they raced their guts out at the 2024 Rock Valley Conference Meet.
In this eleven-team meet, the girls finished in 3rd overall, just a few points from second. A tight pack of Whippets played a large role in the team’s success. Carley Boudreau emerged as the top runner in this meet, as she was one of four Whippets that earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Carley finished in 19th with a time of 23:16. In 20th was Athena Soto in 23:22. Mady Hefty was 21st in 23:32, and Virginia Nelson was 22nd in 23:35. The top 24 runners earned all-conference honors. Nola Coburn placed 25th in 23:49. This wave of red was very thrilling to watch race around the course and pass other runners as a pack of Whippets together. Ema Aranda was the team’s sixth runner today and placed 32nd with a time of 24:37. Sami Van Daele was the team’s 7th runner and placed 37th with a time of 25:03.
Athena Soto, Mady Heft, Carley Boudreau, Virginia Nelson
In the JV race, Delaney Hammack placed 13th in 26:59. Mya Graves-Koran placed 15th in 27:17. Lucy Troxel placed 19th in 27:45. Payton Brautigam placed 23rd and stopped the clock in 30:26. The JV team did not have a team score.
The boys’ team replicated its runner-up finish from a year ago against a very strong Monroe team. Jack Hefty took the lead from the gun and never looked back as he sailed to his second conference title in as many years and finished in 16:50. Xavier Zei earned first-team all-conference honors placing 5th in 17:51. Miles Nickelsburg earned second-team all-conference honors in 9th with a time of 17:56. Luc Pomazac also earned second-team honors in 13th with a time of 18:41. Andrew O’Toole earned honorable mention honors in 19th with a time of 18:49. Rounding out the varsity squad were Onyx Thompson in 27th with a time of 19:22 and Isaac Straight in 48th in 20:20.
Xavier Zei, Jack Hefty, Luc Pomazac, Andrew O’Toole, Miles Nickelsburg
In the JV race, Quinton O’Toole led the team and secured a top 10 finish to place 8th with a time of 20:29. Isaiah Mendez was the team’s second runner and placed 12th in 21:08. Wyatt Esch placed 20th in 22:04. Alex Clarksen placed 44th in 24:36. Wrapping up the team scoring was Angel Kilar who placed 58th with a time of 26:49. The JV team finished in 5th with 129 pts.
Next up for the team will be the WIAA Sectional meet hosted on this same course at UW-Whitewater on Friday, October 25th. The top two teams and the top five individuals not on those teams will earn a trip to the WIAA State Meet. The girls’ race will begin at 4:00, followed by the boys at 4:45.
Whitewater Volleyball closed its regular season with a non-conference win against Johnson Creek on Thursday, October 17. It was a special night for the Whippets, as they recognized their parents for their constant support all season and honored the program’s six very special seniors (Ava Alvarado, Falyn Krahn, Zoe Kohl, Calli Grosinske, Ella Spear, and Ayden Clark) who played in their final home volleyball match. The Whippets started the match strong and never looked back. The Whippets took the match in three straight sets – 25-11, 25-23, 25-16.
