Sports

Four members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater wrestling team were selected to the 2020 Division III All-American teams by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Seniors Mike Tortorice (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel), Hazen Rice (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) and Jaritt Shinhoster (Hoffman Estates, Ill./Barrington) earned first team honors, while senior Ryder Sigler (Fredonia, Wis./Cedarburg) garnered second team accolades.

The quartet helped the Warhawks place second at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and finish third at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional Championships. All four qualified for the NCAA Championship, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The All-American teams, which usually consist of the top eight finishers in each weight class at the NCAA Championship, is based on each wrestler’s overall body of work through the regional tournaments.

Tortorice finishes his career as a three-time All-American. He was the top seed in the 125-pound bracket for the NCAA Championship with a 33-1 record. Tortorice claimed the WIAC championship for the third straight season and the Upper Midwest Regional title for the second consecutive year. He placed third in the nation in 2018 and finished as national runner-up in 2019.

Rice was set to be the No. 4 seed at the NCAA Championship after a strong senior campaign at 141 pounds. He finished the year with a 32-1 record, with his only loss coming in the Upper Midwest Regional final against Augsburg’s David Flynn, who was set to be the third seed. Rice closed his career as a two-time national qualifier, two-time regional champion and three-time conference champion.

Shinhoster enjoyed a dominant sophomore campaign, reaching the NCAA Championship for the second straight season at 174 pounds. Seeded fourth at the national tournament, Shinhoster finished the year with a 28-3 mark after winning the WIAC title and finishing as runner-up at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional. He finished ninth in NCAA Division III with 18 pins.

Sigler broke through for his first NCAA Championship berth at 165 pounds after finishing as runner-up at the NCAA Upper Midwest Regional, including a major decision over two-time defending national champion Lucas Jeske of Augsburg in the regional semifinal to punch his ticket. He finished the year with a 23-13 record and placed third at the WIAC Championships.

Both Shinhoster and Sigler earned spots on the NWCA’s Division III Scholar All-America Team.

WIAC Statement

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has canceled all athletic events, including contests and practices, for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s Athletic Directors agreed to cancel all athletic events, including conference and non-conference competitions and WIAC spring championships, for the 2019-20 year.

In addition, any organized athletic related activities, including practices, strength and conditioning and athletic training, an all on- or off-campus, in-person athletic recruiting activities are suspended indefinitely.

“Our department is taking the COVID-19 situation very seriously, and we as leaders decided that the health and well-being of those in our campus community comes first,” Interim Athletic Director Ryan Callahan said. “We encourage our student-athletes, coaches and support staff to be safe in the coming months.”

“My heart breaks for all of our student-athletes, especially our seniors from fall and winter sports who were not able to close their careers competing for championships, and all our spring teams who are unable to play out their traditional seasons and qualify for individual and team championship events.”

Last Thursday, the NCAA canceled all remaining winter and spring national championship events, including the Division III wrestling and indoor track and field championships.

UW-Whitewater announced last week that Spring Break will begin one week early and run through Sunday, March 29. Beginning Monday, March 30, face-to-face instruction will be suspended, and the campus will move to alternative delivery of classes through at least Friday, April 17. All campus events are canceled through at least Friday, April 17, with limited exceptions.

Campus will remain open, and the university will continue daily operations.

Questions about the COVID-19 situation can be directed to 262-472-1362 or covid19info@uww.edu. The phoneline and e-mail will be monitored during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Packers have given WR Jake Kumerow the minimum salary tender as an exclusive rights free agent, according to a source. So the UW-W fan-favorite is back for another go in Green Bay. ‪Teams must tender ERFAs by 3 pm CT 3/18 or they become free. Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan and Tyler Lancaster are also in that category.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer

Whitewater High School Gymnastics wrapped up the 2019-2020 season with a banquet held on Wednesday, March 11th, at Whitewater High School. The gymnasts did a fantastic job this season and they will continue to do so in future seasons.

The awards presented at the banquet were earned by the following gymnasts: MVP Jenna Caldwell, Most Dedicated Halee Peters, Most Improved Varsity Maddy Donnelly, Most Improved JV Brooke Bazeley, and Rookie of the Year Brenda Aguilar.

The Southern Lakes Conference awards were awarded to two gymnasts. This is a very high honor for the Whitewater High School Gymnasts. Jenna Caldwell earned Honorable Mention, and the highlight was Halee Peters earning Second Team All-Conference.

Thank you to the parents for supporting the girls, organizing pasta parties, and all the other amazing things you have done throughout the season. Thank you to Mr. Bob Mischka for coming to the gymnastics meets and taking pictures of the girls.

Overall, it was an amazing season, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls to work with. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. Go, Whippets!

Article and Photos Submitted by Coach Kelly O’Hara

MADISON, Wis (WIAC Press Release) -Following a very deliberative process to allow for the full consideration of the most up-to-date information pertaining to the spread of COVID-19, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced a set of measures that will be implemented conference-wide effective immediately.

In so doing, the conference was able to consider input provided by the medical community, the decisions rendered recently by the NCAA pertaining to national championships and student-athlete eligibility, as well as steps taken by other NCAA conferences and amateur and professional sports organizations.

Most importantly, the conference endeavored to make responsible decisions that took into account what is in the best short term and long term interest of our campuses and student-athletes while prioritizing the health and safety of the general public.

The following measures will take effect immediately:
1. The spring sports season (i.e., baseball, softball, women’s lacrosse, outdoor track & field, golf and tennis) has been cancelled to include any and all competition.
2. Any and all athletically-related activities (e.g., practice) are suspended indefinitely.
3. All in-person athletic recruiting activities (on- or off-campus) are suspended indefinitely.
4. All in-person conference meetings are to be transitioned to telephone conference calls until further notice.
5. The American Family Insurance/WIAC Student-Athlete Leadership Institute scheduled for April 16-17 is postponed with the possibility of rescheduling the Institute in the fall.

The No. 8 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team fell just short of a thrilling comeback victory Friday night, falling 70-62 against Redlands (Calif.) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Kachel Gymnasium in Whitewater.

UW-Whitewater wraps up its season with a 23-4 record after claiming the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season championship, a semifinal appearance in the conference tournament and its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last 13 years.

The Warhawks trailed by as many as 14 in the third quarter and were down 10 at the end of the period before making runs in the fourth.

UW-Whitewater drew to within two possessions at 52-46 with 9:27 on the clock after a pair of free throws by freshman forward Aleah Grundahl.

The Bulldogs (22-6) responded with six straight points to double their lead up to 12 at the 7:45 mark, but the Warhawks surged back with a 6-0 run to cut it to 58-52 on a layup by junior center Johanna Taylor at the midway point of the quarter.

Redlands responded again with five straight points, but UW-Whitewater ran off five unanswered as senior guard Becky Raeder cut it to 63-58 on a 3-pointer with 1:31 left.

The Bulldogs hit 7-of-8 from the free-throw line over the final 1:13 of regulation to punch their ticket to the second round, where they’ll face Trine (Ind.), a 65-37 winner over Benedictine (Ill.).

Grundahl led the Warhawks with 18 points and eight rebounds, and Taylor finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three assists.

Raeder and sophomore guard Veronica Kieres each tallied nine points, and junior guard Rebekah Schumacher registered eight points, all in the first half. Kieres added seven rebounds.

UW-Whitewater committed only 10 turnovers in the game but was held to 31.3 percent shooting in the contest, while Redlands converted 48.1 percent from the floor.

The Warhawks scored 28 second-chance points thanks to 17 offensive rebounds.

UW-Whitewater led 8-2 three minutes into the game. After Redlands drew to within one, the two teams traded baskets over the remainder of the first quarter, and the Warhawks took a 17-16 advantage on a 3-pointer by Schumacher with just over a minute remaining.

Neither team led by more than four in the second quarter before the Bulldogs took a five-point lead in the final minute of the period.

After a pair of Raeder free throws brought UW-W within three at the 8:37 mark of the third quarter, Redlands scored the next 11 points and led 48-34 with 6:18 on the clock.

The Warhawks drew within 10 by the end of the quarter to set up their comeback attempt.

The Whitewater Gymnasts competed in Sectionals at Elkhorn High School on Friday, February 28th. The Sectional competition consisted of nine teams which included Whitefish Bay, Elkhorn, West Bend East, Jefferson, Valders/Roncalli, Waterford, Port Washington, and Shorewood.

Whitewater placed 8th scoring a 113.125 which was their highest team score of the season. The gymnasts had a very successful meet achieving many personal bests.

Halee Peters placed 15th on Beam scoring an 8.075, 18th on Vault scoring an 8.25, a 7.85 on Floor, 7.05 on Bars, and scored a personal best in the All-Around score with a 31.225.  

Jenna Caldwell competed Bars placing her 23rd with a score of 7.2. Anna Ejnik placed 20th on Beam scoring a 7.875 and a 7.55 on Floor.

Caleigh Yang scored two personal bests, scoring a 26.05 in the All-Around and on the Balance Beam scoring a 7.4. Maddy Donnelly scored a 7.7 on Vault, Brenda Aguilar scored a 7.3 on Vault, and Ashly Xochipa scored a 5.6 on the Balance Beam.

The Whippets have completed their successful season, and the Wisconsin State Gymnastics meet will be held on March 6th and 7th at the Wisconsin Rapids.

Article and Photo Submitted by Coach Kelly O’Hara

The Whippet girls fell to Martin Luther 61-55 Saturday night, February 29, in the regional final.

Seven Whippets scored, with three in double-digits. Kacie Carollo led the team with 19, followed by Abby Grosinske with 15, and Cassidy Laue with 11.

Cora Linos and Grosinske led the team in rebounds, pulling down six each.

Catherine Skindingsrude, Grosinske, and Brianna Zimdars each contributed three assists.

The team combined for 12 steals, with six by Carollo.