By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Whitewater, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host Wheaton (IL) in the second round of the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs Saturday, November 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Perkins Stadium. The Banner’s article on the Warhawk’s 42-14 first round win on Saturday, November 18 over Bethel (MN) may be viewed here.
More information will be announced this week including links to purchase tickets and parking in advance.
Christian Patzka comes in to the finish line at the 2023 NCAA Championships (d3photo)
By Angela Kelm Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
Newville, Penn. – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s cross country team finished tenth at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships Saturday led by a national runner-up performance by Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights). The championships were held in Newville, Pennsylvania on the most difficult course the Warhawks have been on this season.
The Warhawks have now finished among the top 10 as a team at the NCAA championship three consecutive seasons and six times overall in program history. A total of 32 team competed in the national championship meet.
Patzka finished second for the second consecutive season crossing the line in 24:20.7 on the tough course. He is now a two-time All-American after finishing second a year ago and 23rd in 2021.
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) picked up his third All-America honor with a time of 24:41.5 to finish 11th – his best finish in three career national meets.
The runner-up and eleventh-place finishes are the best for the Warhawks’ top two runners at the championship in program history. The previous best was Jeremy Burks (7th) and Pat Frascone (15th) in 2000.
Dan Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./McDonell) finished among the top half of the nearly-300 runner field in the men’s race. His time of 25:34.6 was 78th – his best career finish at nationals. Chris Allen (Downers Grove, Ill./North) posted a time of 25:54.2 for 131st followed by Craig Hundley’s (Grayslake, IL/North) 26:07.4 for 163rd.Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) crossed the line in 26:54.4 with Nick Hardin (Greenfield, Wis./Whitnall) wrapping up the Warhawk contingent with a clocking of 26:42.2. Hardin had a valiant performance running over four miles with just one shoe after his was pulled off early in the race.
Warhawks huddle during a timeout (Caleb Williams, d3photo)
Mount Vernon, Iowa — The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team fell to Northwestern (MN) in a five-set heartbreaker 25-20, 25-21, 28-30, 26-28, 11-15 Saturday evening in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The Warhawks end the 2023 campaign in the NCAA Regional final with a record of 28-5.
Senior Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and freshman Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances over the course of the weekend. Weinfurt hammered down 47 kills averaging 4.27 per set while Krzus dished out 126 assists – an average of 11.45 assists per set.
UW-Whitewater used a 7-2 midset run to grow a 17-12 advantage in set one. The Eagles battled back to within one, 19-18 but the Warhawks scored five of the next seven to secure the win. Payton Kuepers (Madison, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) pounded down the final point with a kill to give UWW a 1-0 lead in the match.
UWW jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in set two taking advantage of Eagle miscues. UNW worked their way back to make it a one-point set, 6-5 when Krzus tallied back-to-back aces. A few points later Weinfurt added another ace to push the Warhawk advantage back to four, 10-6. Moments later, Ally Warburton (St. Charles, Ill./North) sparked another UWW run with a kill. Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) added a tally in the ace column with Warburton hammering down another as the Warhawks took their largest lead of the set 14-8. UW-Whitewater held a multi-point advantage the rest of the way as Weinfurt capped the set with a kill.
The Warhawks had four aces in the set. Warburton and Weinfurt were efficient on the outside combining for 10 kills in 17 attempts with just a single error.
Weinfurt tallied the first point of set three with a kill and the Warhawks didn’t trail until late in the set although the score was tied 12 times along the way. With the score knotted 22-22, UNW took its first lead on an ace and then followed with a kill for set point. Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) forced a second set point and a bad set by the Eagles re-tied the set 24-24.
Ally Longden’s (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) serve was too much to handle to give the Warhawks set point before the teeter-totter swung back in favor of UNW. The Eagles had the next two set points before UWW took advantage of a UNW error and Weinfurt followed with a kill to make it 28-27 in favor of the Warhawks but the Eagles were able to tally the next three to extend the match winning 30-28.
Set four was a battle through and through. The score was tied five times and there were four lead changes by the 13-13 mark in the contest. From there, the Warhawks put together a 6-2 run to take a four-point lead, 19-15. UWW ended up leading 24-21 in the set but the Eagles fought through three set points to knot the set 24-24. The teams traded set points once again with a Anderson Kill giving UWW a 26-25 advantage. It was deja vu all over again as the Eagles tallied the next three to force a decisive fifth set.
With all of the momentum from two late-set comebacks, UNW jumped out to a 6-3 lead. The Warhawks battled back late, pulling to within one, 11-10, on back-to-back kills from Weinfurt. The Eagles responded with three straight to force match point. Anderson held it off with a kill but Northwestern converted on the next point to win.
Weinfurt tallied a career-high 26 kills in the match. Her 73 attack attempts is the most in program history in a single match. She added 14 digs and three blocks. Warburton and Anderson joined her in double figures with 12 and 10 kills respectively. Krzus posted 51 assists with three aces, ten digs and five assist blocks in the contest.
Defensively, Anderson turned away 11 attack attempts – a mark that ranks second in the program record book for blocks in a match and one that she has accomplished twice this season. Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) registered 22 digs followed by Longden’s 19.
Despite a tough schedule – over half of the team’s opponents this season are ranked or receiving votes in the latest national poll – the UW-Whitewater registered the most wins (28) since 2016. The Warhawks made their 34th appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament this season. UWW claimed the league’s automatic bid after sweeping No. 2 and then-undefeated UW-Oshkosh on their home court in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. Four Warhawks were selected First Team All-WIAC including Weinfurt, Anderson, Jensen and Krzus. Weinfurt (Offensive), Jensen (Defensive) and Krzus (Newcomer) were tabbed WIAC Players of the Year. Anderson, Weinfurt and Jensen also earned All-Region recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. All-America Teams have yet to be announced.
Tommy Coates sprints away from defenders after hauling in a catch (d3photo)
By Angela Kelm Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information
The No. 5 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs with a 42-14 win over Bethel University at Perkins Stadium Saturday.
The Warhawks advance to face Wheaton (IL) in the second round. That game is slated for Saturday, November 25 at noon. The location is set to be announced Sunday afternoon. The Thunder defeated Mount St. Joseph 41-34 in their first round matchup Saturday.
UW-Whitewater scored early and never looked back. After the Warhawk defense forced a third-and-out, UWW had great field position with Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge) calling for a fair catch at the UWW 48 on the Royals’ punt. Facing a third and seven from the Bethel 49, Alec Ogden (Marshall, Wis./Monona Grove) dropped back, surveyed and found Steven Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) in stride beating his defender down the right sideline for a 49-yard touchdown. Jeff Isotalo-McGuire sent the extra point through the uprights and the Warhawks held a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
Following three consecutive punts – two for Bethel and one for the Warhawks – UWW took over at their own 32 with just under five to go in the first quarter. Ogden opened the drive with a 34-yard scamper off the right side of the line. Two plays later, he extended the play and dodging defenders before hitting Nick Wind (Downers Grove, Ill./Montini Catholic) wide open in the end zone from 32 yards out. Another extra point had UW-Whitewater leading 14-0.
The Warhawk defense turned Bethel over on downs at the UWW 34 to bring the offense back on to the field. Ogden took off finding space down the right side once again, this time registering a 47-yard run to open the drive. On the next play, Tommy Coates (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle Institute) hauled in a great catch in the end zone from 19-yards out for the score and a 21-0 UWW lead.
Bethel capitalized on a Warhawk miscue for their first score of the game. A bad snap on a punt gave the Royals the ball at the UWW four-yard line. Bethel punched it in utilizing the wildcat formation to make it 21-7.
The Warhawks responded with Vasey weaving through traffic on the kickoff for a 39-yard return to set up the UWW offense at their own 42. After a few short gains, Ogden hit Coates on the tunnel screen, and he bolted up the near sideline for a 54-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 28-7.
UW-Whitewater scored on their first possession out of the intermission on Tamir Thomas’ (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls) two-yard run. The Royals added to their total with their own two-yard punch in to make it 35-14 in the third. UWW wrapped up the scoring with a single touchdown in the fourth – a 32-yard Thomas run up the middle.
Ogden was 11-15 for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He added 71 yards on the six carries. Hein and Drake Martin (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) were the top targets with three catches each and a combined 109 yards receiving. Thomas led UWW in the rushing game with 156 yards on 13 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, Hawk Heffner (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) paced the Warhawks with nine tackles. Matt Burba (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) added eight including a tackle for a loss of three yards. In the secondary, Egon Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) was one of the most active breaking up three passes that would have gone for big gains.
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Mount Vernon, Iowa — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team swept Washington University-St. Louis 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-18) in the second round of NCAA regional play Friday evening in Mount Vernon, Iowa. With the victory, the Warhawks earn a spot in the regional final for the second consecutive season.
UWW will play the winner of Northwestern (MN) and host Cornell College in the regional championship at 5 p.m. Saturday. The UNW/CC match is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Editor’s note: Northwestern (MN) beat Cornell 3-2, so UWW will face No. 1 seed and fifth-ranked Northwestern in the regional final.
The Warhawks were efficient hitting .237 in the match while the UWW defense held the Bears to just .080 attacking.
WashU had a 7-6 lead in the first set when a 3-0 run for the Warhawks gave UWW a 9-7 lead. Although the Bears came back to tie the set 18-18, UW-Whitewater never trailed the rest of the set. From that even point, UWW scored seven of the next eight to pick up the first set win.
An early 5-0 run in the second gave UWW an 8-3 advantage and the Warhawks never looked back. Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) put the finishing touch on the set with a kill for the final point.
In the third, UW-Whitewater strung together a run of six to jump out to a 10-3 lead. Another five-point run mid-set widened the gap to 17-9 and all but sealed the set and match. Ally Warburton (St. Charles, Ill./North) hammered down a kill for match point and a Bear miscue sealed the win for UWW.
Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) led the Warhawks with 13 kills in 26 attempts while committing just a single error. Warburton joined Anderson in double figures with 11 kills.
The nation’s top blocking team posted 10 total blocks led by a solo and five assists from Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead). Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) added a solo and four assists while dishing out 30 assists in the match.
In the backcourt, Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) registered 22 digs. Krzus posted 14 and Weinfurt added 13.
Editor’s note: The following story was provided by Elizabeth Miller.
WHS and UW-W Grad Dawson Miller Places 2nd in Division at Hyrox Chicago, Qualifies for 2024 Hyrox World Championship in France
On Saturday, November 11th, Dawson Miller, a graduate of Whitewater High School (2011) and UW-Whitewater (BBA Finance ‘15, MBA Data Analytics ‘17) placed second overall in the Men’s Open Division at Hyrox Chicago. Hyrox is known as the “World Series of Fitness Racing,” with over 40 races around the world in 2023 alone. He and the first place finisher are the first two Americans to break the hour mark in the open division. Miller’s time of 59:53 qualified him to compete at the Hyrox World Championships in Nice, France next June.
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s cross country team is headed to Newville, Pennsylvania for the NCAA Division III Championships hosted by Dickinson College this Saturday.
Championship Information: Date: Saturday, November 18 Host: Dickinson College Location: Big Spring High School in Newville, PA Time: 10 a.m. CST start (men’s race) Live Coverage: Video available on ncaa.com (runs through awards ceremony)
The Warhawks will send eight runners to the national championship meet – seven will compete on Saturday. UW-Whitewater finished 10th in the 2022 national meet. The Warhawks have finished among the top 10 five times in program history including fifth place finishes in 2021 and 1999.
“Our goal is to finish better than we ever have before in the national meet,” said Coach Jeff Miller. “We have seven runners that have competed in a national meet before,” continued Miller. “That’s a relatively rare feat, so we’re excited for Saturday’s championship.”
UW-Whitewater enters the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship ranked sixth according to the latest USTFCCCA poll. The Warhawks have won all but three meets this season – each time finishing second to the No. 1 or No. 2 team in the Division III poll that week.
The Warhawks are led by Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) this season. The junior was named the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week three times this season – October 2, October 16 and October 30.
UW-Whitewater will have five All-Region runners including two runners who are two-time All-Americans. Patzka was the 2022 runner-up registering the top finish for a UWW runner in program history. Both Patzka and Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) have placed among the top 30 at the national meet each of the last two seasons. Seven Warhawks earned All-WIAC honors this season – the largest contingent in program history.
By Broderick P. Frye Asst. Sports Information Director
Mount Vernon, Iowa -The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team opened the NCAA Regional in Mount Vernon, Iowa with a 3-1 (25-15, 20-25, 25-12, 25-20) win over Coe College Thursday afternoon.
The Warhawks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face No. 14 Washington University-St. Louis Friday. That regional semifinal match is slated to start at 4:30 with the winner securing a spot in the regional final.
UWW won the battle of the Hawks for the second time this season. The Warhawks hit .204 in the match while holding the Kohawks to just .051.
After a back-and-forth start to the set, a huge 6-0 run with Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) at the service line set up UWW with set point and Ally Warburton (St. Charles, Ill./North) registered the final point with a kill.
Coe turned the tables in set two and used a late run of their own to even the match 1-1.
UW-Whitewater cruised in set three with a 6-0 burst with Weinfurt at the service line once again. That run gave the Warhawks a 12-4 advantage and they cruised the rest of the way for a 25-12 win.
Three consecutive UWW kills in set four extended the Warhawk lead to 15-10, but the Kohawks battled back. With a one-point advantage, 20-19, UW-Whitewater ran off three in a row to build a cushion. The final two points came on Coe miscues to send the Warhawks into the second round.
Weinfurt led all players with 16 kills adding three aces and 15 digs. Warburton posted 13 kills and Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) rounded out the double digit kills contingent with 11. Aurbrie Krzus dished out 45 assists in the four-setter.
Defensively, Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) tallied 27 digs while Ally Longden (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) added 18 and Krzus posted 14. Abbie Dix (Brodhead, Wis./Brodhead) led the UWW blocking effort with four assist blocks.
WashU advanced to the second round with a 3-0 sweep of St. Olaf in their opening match. The Warhawks defeated the Bears earlier this season in a four-set match played in Whitewater.
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team will open the 2023 NCAA Football Playoffs at home in Perkins Stadium as the Bethel University Royals come to Whitewater for round one. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. on Saturday, November 18.
The winner advances to play the winner between Wheaton (IL) and Mount St. Joseph Saturday, November 25. Location of the round two contest will be announced following the completion of all round one games.
TICKETS/PARKING Tickets are $14 for Adults, $10 Over 65 / Students and youth 5-18 Free kids under 5 (no ticket needed) Advance Ticket Purchase: Click Here Tickets will also be available for purchase on Saturday at Perkins Stadium. Parking: All parking is cashless this season. To purchase in advance, click here. Fans can purchase on the day of but must go through the online purchasing portal to do so and will not be allowed into a lot until purchase is complete.
IN THE POLLS UWW: #5 D3football.com (Prev: 5) / #5 American Football Coaches Association (Prev: 6) BU: Receiving Votes / Receiving Votes
UWW’S PATH TO PLAYOFFS The Warhawks wrapped up the regular season with a 9-1 record despite boasting one of the toughest schedules in Division III this season. UW-Whitewater’s lone loss came at the midway point of the season to then-No. 14 UW-La Crosse. UWW finished as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runner-up to the now-fourth ranked Eagles. That strength of schedule was a vital piece of the Warhawks receiving an at-large bid into the playoffs this season.
UW-Whitewater is making its 16th playoff appearance since 2005. UWW is 58-12 in postseason play with six national titles in program history.
UWW’s first six games of the 2023 campaign were against ranked opponents including contests against then-top five’s Saint Johns (week two) and UW-River Falls (week six). The Warhawks picked up back-to-back wins at home over UW-Stout and UW-Platteville before wrapping up the season with shutouts over UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire.
In the final two weeks of the regular season, UWW outscored their opponents 107-0 including a 59-0 route of the Blugolds last week.
HOW BETHEL GOT HERE The Royals claimed their sixth MIAC Championship last week to secure the league’s automatic bid into the postseason. Bethel is making its third consecutive playoff appearance and 12th overall.
Bethel enters the postseason on a seven-game win streak – the longest for the Royals since 2013. BU made a run to the quarterfinals last season and is 13-11 in postseason play in program history.
ON THE AIR Saturday’s game will air live online on the WIAC Network. The contest can be heard on 105.9 FM The Hog in the Whitewater area, or online at www.1059thehog.com.
SERIES The Warhawks and Royals have met just one other time in the teams’ storied histories – and it was another postseason matchup. UW-Whitewater defeated Bethel 26-12 in the NCAA Quarterfinal at Perkins Stadium on December 1, 2018.
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s volleyball team will head to Mount Vernon, Iowa for NCAA Regional action this week. The eight-team regional hosted by Cornell College will run Thursday through Saturday.
The Warhawks (26-4) will take on Coe College (21-11) to open their 34th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The first match of the day Thursday will feature Washington-St. Louis against St. Olaf at 11:30 followed by UWW and Coe at 2 p.m. At 4:30, Northwestern (MN) will face Edgewood with Cornell hosting Millikin in the final match of the evening at 7 p.m.
REGIONAL INFORMATION Location: Mount Vernon, Iowa Facility: Small Athletic & Wellness Center
Click here and select UWW Match Notes (PDF) for further details.
More information will be posted on the online preview story as it becomes available
UWW’S PATH TO REGIONALS The Warhawks finished as the runner-up in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings but rolled through the league tournament to claim the WIAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. UWW swept UW-River Falls in the semifinal, beating the Falcons for the second time in less than a week. In the WIAC Tournament Championship, UW-Whitewater was phenomenal in handing UW-Oshkosh its first loss of 2023 on the Titans’ home court. The Warhawks won in straight sets to take down the No. 2 team in the nation and punch their ticket to regionals. UWW has won 18 WIAC Tournament titles.
HOW COE QUALIFIED Coe, the number three seed in the American Rivers Conference Tournament, knocked off top-ranked Dubuque 3-1 in the title match to claim the ARC’s automatic bid into the postseason. The win is Coe’s second straight ARC tournament championship.
ALL-LEAGUE LEADERS
The Warhawks swept all major player awards in the WIAC this season. Outside hitter Jenna Weinfurt (Waukesha, Wis./Catholic Memorial) was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year while libero Morgan Jensen (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) secured Defensive Player of the Years honors for the second time in her career. Setter Aubrie Krzus (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) was named the WIAC Newcomer of the Year. In addition, the nation’s top blocker, Kirsten Anderson (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie), garnered First Team All-WIAC recognition.
The Kohawks were represented by middle hitters Grace Lueken and Gracie Urbatsch, setter Maddy Maahs and pin Madi Parson on the ARC’s All-Conference listing this season.
BATTLE OF THE HAWKS
The Warhawks lead the all-time series against Coe 9-4 since 2006. UWW has won the last six and eight of the last 10. Five of the last six meetings have resulted in the Warhawk sweep. Coe has won the lone two five-setters since 2006. Thursday’s match will be the second meeting between the two squads this season – UWW won 3-0 on September 9 on the road.
