Sports

Girls’ Soccer Season Off to a Cold Start

Whitewater hosted Janesville Craig in a chilly Girls’ Soccer game on Tuesday, April 5. Despite holding off the Craig Cougars for nearly 80 minutes, several late goals caused the Whippets to lose 6-0.

On Friday, April 8, the Whippets hosted Watertown Luther Prep in a very snowy game. The game ended in a tie, 1-1, with the Whitewater goal scored by sophomore Mayte Navejas on a penalty kick.

Girls’ Soccer vs Craig

Article Submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Whippet Softball Falls in Opener

The Whippet Softball Team played their first game of the year Monday night, April 4, and lost to a tough Jefferson team 14-1. Whitewater trailed 6-1 after four innings as Jenna Pope did a nice job pitching and keeping the game close. Jefferson erupted for eight runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of reach.

Jenna Pope

Jenna Pope, Shyan Lesperance and Nataly Benes each had a hit, while Samantha McKelvey scored the lone Whippet run.

Whitewater plays Clinton at home tonight (Tuesday, April 5) and then travels to Beloit Turner on Wednesday, April 6. Games start at 5:00 p.m.

Article Submitted by Ron Sdano
Whitewater High School Head Softball Coach
rsdano@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Gomez Voted Assistant Coach of the Year for WWCA District 6

Whitewater’s Johnny Gomez has been voted by his peers as the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association District 6 Assistant Coach of the Year. This is an outstanding honor for Coach Gomez and an honor that is very well deserved.

Coach Gomez plays an integral role in the success of the entire wrestling program, just recently finishing up his 16th year as a coach for Whitewater Wrestling. In this time, the Whitewater program has consistently had good numbers which has helped lead to the success year in and year out. Coach has helped lead the team to many team championships including two regional championships. Coach Gomez does a wonderful job keeping up with the best technique for each individual student-athlete, aiding in their success.

Outside of the high school program Coach Gomez is a huge piece of the puzzle for the Mighty Whippets as well as the rest of the Whitewater Wrestling Club. He makes the sport of wrestling extremely fun for the young Whippets with the hope they will one day be putting their names on the Wall of Champions in the high school wrestling room.

Congratulations to Coach Gomez on a very well-deserved recognition.

Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Girls’ Soccer Opens with 1-1 Draw

Whitewater Girls’ Soccer opened its season by hosting Beloit Memorial High School on Tuesday, March 29.

Mayte Navejas

The teams played a very cold and windy game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Whippets’ goal was scored by sophomore Mayte Navejas. Sophomore goalkeeper Marina Linos also made many key saves for the Whippets.

Article Submitted by Maddie Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

#12 UW-W Splits on Home Opening Day

By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Monday, March 28, 2022

No. 12 UW-Whitewater Splits on Home Opening Day

The No. 12 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team posted a 2-0 victory against UW-Stevens Point in the second half of a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Monday afternoon at Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.

The Warhawks (9-4 overall, 1-1 WIAC) dropped the first game by a 4-0 score.

In Game 2, Kade Lancour and Cade Berendt combined for a three-hit shutout, limiting UW-Stevens Point (9-2, 1-1) to two singles and one double in the contest. Lancour struck out six over 6 2/3 innings before Berendt came on in relief and earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the year by throwing the final 2 1/3 frames.

After stranding runners in all innings except one, UW-Whitewater got on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Second baseman Bennett Frazer drew a leadoff walk, and left fielder Matt Scolan singled up the middle with one out. Following a walk by right fielder Jacob DeMeyer to load the bases, designated hitter Sam Vomhof lifted a fly ball to left to plate Frazer.

The Warhawks added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. After centerfielder Zach Campbell and catcher Ryan Norton started the inning with back-to-back hits, Frazer brought home pinch runner Eric Hughes from third on a ground ball to third.

Berendt pitched around a two-out base runner in the ninth to close out the victory.

First baseman Nick Paget registered two of UW-W’s seven hits in the game. Scolan, DeMeyer and Vomhof each reached base twice with one hit and one walk apiece.

In the opener, UW-Whitewater tallied eight hits but stranded nine runners on base.

Westin Muir took the loss on the mound, falling to 2-1 on the season after striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. Cam Anfang struck out four batters in 2 2/3 hitless, scoreless frames in relief.

Scolan and Vomhof collected two hits apiece to lead the offense.

The Warhawks host UW-Oshkosh Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.

Whippets Host New Invite at UWW

On Tuesday, March 22, Whitewater High School hosted the first annual “Fool’s Spring” Invitational, held at UW-Whitewater. This meet gave more athletes a chance to compete indoors before beginning the outdoor season. In total, 12 teams participated in the meet. Whitewater was again led by a strong performance in the Girls’ 4x200m relay, improving their season’s best time to 1:53.65, good for 1st place by a nearly 4-second margin. Jack Hefty led the boys’ team with his 1st place finish in the 1600m Run, finishing in a time of 4:41.42. Other top-5 efforts included the Girls’ 4x400m Relay team of Kilar, Buehler, Grace Villarreal, and Weigel (3rd), Cooper Hammond in the 1600m (4th place), the Boys’ 4x400m relay team of Hammond, Hefty, Connor Sharlow, and CJ Tomomitsu (4th), and CJ Tomomitsu in the Pole Vault (5th). 

Kindyl Kilar

Additionally, our throwers all threw for personal records in the Boys’ Shot Put, and several young sprinters had the chance to participate in their first high school competition. Thank you to all the parents and spectators who attended the meet, as well as to all the student-athletes who volunteered to work events, which allowed the meet to run smoothly! The Whippets’ next competition is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd, at Clinton High School.

Article Submitted by Matt Green
Whitewater High School Head Track Coach
mgreen@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Boys 4×800 and Girls 4×200 Teams Place First at Nelson-Daniels

On Friday, March 18, Whitewater Track & Field athletes participated in the Nelson-Daniels Small School Invitational at UW-Whitewater. Strong team and individual performances were posted by both squads. Competing against over 20 schools from Wisconsin and Illinois, the Whippets began with a strong start from the Boy’s 4x800m relay. The team of Cooper Hammond, Nate Holden, Ethan Dugan, and Jack Hefty posted a time of 9:09.36, good for 1st place. Despite strong competition and on-track adversity, the boys crossed the finish line nearly 12 seconds faster than the next-fastest relay team. The other 1st-place finish of the night was posted by the Girl’s 4x200m relay team of Maddie Buehler, Kindyl Kilar, Olive Coburn, and Calli Grosinske. A strong start out of the blocks, stellar hand-offs, and a gutsy finish on the back stretch helped the relay team cross the line in a time of 1:54.88.

Nate Holden, Cooper Hammond, Ethan Dugan, and Jack Hefty

Other event place-winners for the boys included CJ Tomomitsu in the Pole Vault (T-2nd), Connor Raupp in the Shot Put (7th), and the 4x400m relay team of Hammond, Dugan, Tomomitsu, and Hefty (8th). For the girls, Kindyl Kilar placed 6th in the 55m Dash Final. All athletes who competed showed great effort and enthusiasm, cheering on and supporting their teammates through the 4x400m relay that was run late that night. The Whippets return to action on Tuesday for their second and final indoor meet, the ‘Fool’s Spring’ Invitational, hosted by UW-Whitewater.

Article Submitted by Matt Green
Whitewater High School Head Track and Field Coach
mgreen@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

National Runner-up: UW-W Women’s Basketball 58 / Hope 71 (UPDATED with photos and details)

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Warhawk Women’s basketball came within one game of their first national championship on Saturday, March 19 as they came out blazing in the first half in Pittsburgh, with the score tied at 34. The tide began to turn in the third quarter, which ended with Hope (#2) over the Warhawks (#12) by 56-49. The final score was 71-58. UW-Whitewater evidently had great fan support, as one of the CBS Sports Network commentators said that “half the town” was there.

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UW-Whitewater Women’s Basketball Finishes as National Runner-Up

Photos credit: Dan Hunter, d3photography.com for UW-Whitewater Athletics)
 

By Chris Lindeke, Assistant Athletic Director, Strategic Communications and Branding, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Game Statistics

The No. 12 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team wrapped up its fourth appearance in the Final Four Saturday afternoon with a 71-58 loss against No. 2 Hope (Mich.) in the national title game of the 2022 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Warhawks conclude the 2021-22 season with a 28-5 record, good for the second-most wins in program history. UW-W won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 12-2 league record and defeated Ripon, Illinois Wesleyan, Smith (Mass.) and UW-Oshkosh on the way to its fourth appearance in the national semifinals since 2008.

With Thursday’s 55-51 win against Amherst (Mass.), UW-Whitewater punched its ticket to the national championship game for the second time in program history and first time since 2013.

Playing in her final game at UW-W, Rebekah Schumacher tallied a team-high 14 points with three rebounds and three steals. Johanna Taylor, also closing her Warhawk career, posted 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, adding to her program-record total of 208 career blocks. Courtney Oomens also played in her final game as a Warhawk.

Aleah Grundahl, who was named to the All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of play, registered 11 points, five assists and two steals. Kacie Carollo collected 11 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Yssa Sto. Domingo recorded eight points and three assists.

The two teams traded the lead in the first quarter before the Flying Dutch (32-1) took an 8-5 advantage just past the midway point of the period.

Taylor and Grundahl converted baskets to give UW-Whitewater the advantage, and the two teams exchanged the lead again before Grundahl’s layup just before the buzzer gave UW-W a 16-14 lead.

The Warhawks’ lead jumped to five in the opening minute of the second on a 3-pointer by Sto. Domingo. UW-W took its largest lead of the quarter at 27-21 with 6:07 on the clock following a jumper by Taylor.

Hope scored the next eight points, and the two teams exchanged buckets over the final three minutes of the half. Carollo’s 3-pointer tied the game at 34-34 heading into halftime.

The Dutch scored the first six points of the third and increased its lead to eight by the 3:33 mark. UW-Whitewater pulled to within four on two separate occasions in the final three minutes of the quarter, but Hope held a 56-49 advantage heading to the fourth.

A 3-pointer by Carollo one minute into the fourth quarter pulled the Warhawks within three before the Flying Dutch scored the next 13 points for a 69-53 advantage with 2:58 remaining. UW-W got no closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Boys’ Wrap Up Season with Banquet

On Tuesday, March 15, the Whippet Boys’ Basketball Team enjoyed their end of season banquet. Overall, the season didn’t play out as well as the players, the coaches, or the fans hoped. There were, however, some bright spots, and the players at all three levels improved as the season progressed. The JV2 squad came together as a team to overcome inexperience, illness, and injury to finish strong. The JV1 team, always in a tough spot as their players are always on notice to challenge Varsity in practice, provide minutes for Varsity in game situations, and work on developing their team chemistry in their own games, overcame these challenges to finish the season on a positive note.

Seniors

The Varsity team, at different times throughout the season, was battling injuries and illness. Near the end of the season, the team started to find their rhythm and were more competitive than earlier in the season. This was most evident when the #12-seeded Whippets traveled to the #5-seeded Mariners of St. Francis near the shores of Lake Michigan in the first round of the WIAA playoffs. The boys battled through 13 lead changes and 11 ties to experience their most satisfying win of the season. The final score was 60-56 behind Jonathan Aron’s 25 points and five assists and Wyatt Nickel’s 13 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Arno Crowley contributed nine points and three steals, Ramon Wence poured in seven points and dropped seven assists and three steals, with Sam Brown providing a steady rudder guiding the Whippet ship with six points, four rebounds, and five assists.

JV1
JV2
Varsity

Last but not least, the Rock Valley Conference coaches gathered last Wednesday to vote on All-Conference honors. The RVC coaches recognized Jonathan Aron and Wyatt Nickels for their season-long performances and rewarded them by naming them All-Conference Honorable Mention. Congratulations fellas and to all three teams!

Jonathan Aron (Photo by Bob Mischka)
Wyatt Nickels (Photo by Bob Mischka)

Article and Photos Submitted by Jim Aron