Sports

Blackhawk Technical College will host an exciting, high-level wheelchair basketball game featuring some of the nation’s most talented adaptive athletes, including Paralympians, as the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association (WASA) Marquette Golden Eagles defending national team takes on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks Men’s wheelchair basketball team.

The game is free and open to the public and promises a fast-paced, competitive showcase of elite athleticism, teamwork, and inclusion. Fans of all ages are encouraged to attend and experience the intensity and skill of wheelchair basketball at its highest level.

“This event is about more than just a game,” said Emily Oberst, WASA Community Outreach Director. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate inclusion, challenge perceptions of disability, and showcase the incredible athleticism of wheelchair basketball. Whether you’re a lifelong sports fan or brand new to adaptive sports, this is an experience you won’t forget.”

The event also serves as an educational and community-building opportunity, exposing spectators to adaptive athletics and reinforcing the message that sport is for everyone.

Event Details: WASA Champ Marquette Golden Eagles v. UWW Warhawks Wheelchair Basketball Exhibition Game
Where: Blackhawk Technical College, 6004 S County Rd G, Janesville WI
When: Saturday, February 28, 6:30 pm – Admission: Free

About WASA – WASA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical or sensory disabilities through the power of adaptive sport, recreation, fitness, and education. WASA programs impact health, independence and rehabilitation – transforming lives and empowering individuals in their daily living.

About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater – We inspire, engage and transform lives. Founded in 1868, we serve more than 12,000 students and celebrate more than 100,000 alumni around the world. Our faculty and staff are devoted to student success on our Whitewater campus, our Rock County campus, and our vibrant online environment. We prepare innovative, resilient students with outstanding skills that make them strong candidates for 21st-century careers and community leadership. We embrace our priority mission to serve students with disabilities. Home to the Warhawk family, UW-Whitewater delivers a supportive, caring culture with an entrepreneurial spirit and championship drive.

About Blackhawk Technical College – Blackhawk Technical College, one of 16 colleges under the Wisconsin Technical College System, serves students and employers in Rock and Green counties with campuses in Janesville and Monroe, Wisconsin. The College has more than 6,000 credit and noncredit students enrolled in more than 70 programs. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, it has provided education and training to area students and employers since 1912. Find out more at blackhawk.edu.

The Whitewater Boys’ Wrestling teams have seen their 2025-2026 season come to a close sooner than they would have liked as they participated in the Division 2 Sectional Tournament at Wilmot Union.  

The boys battled through lots of adversity going into the tournament going through some illnesses. The coaching staff was very pleased with the effort throughout the day as all those present performed to the best of their abilities on the given day.

Gabe Crane (132) led the way with a 3rd place finish. The immediate result was disappointing for Gabe as he had high aspirations of qualifying for the state tournament but came up one place short. The positive of the day was the fact that Gabe was definitely not 100% and after an early loss he could have used it as an excuse and just cashed in the season. He battled hard and was able to fight through his matches finishing 3-1 on the day with 3 pins. Gabe finished the season with 28 pins, one shy of tying the school record for pins in a season.

Coming in 4th place included George Christon (106) and Brady Friend (138). Each of these young men had tough losses in the quarterfinals but came back through on the backside with a couple of much needed wins to get into the 3rd place match. Both of them wrestled hard in the final match but came up on the losing end.

Austin Retzlaff (215) had some nice wins on the day, including two against a very tough opponent in the last match for him. Austin finished the day in 5th place winning the last match by a technical fall.

Trevor Piper (190) continued to show his improvement that he has shown the last few weeks of the season. He was able to avenge an earlier season loss in the wrestle back match which really had him excited as it justified his hard work in the room was paying off. At the end of the day Trevor finished in sixth place.

Closing out the placements for Whitewater was Deavion Olson (HWT). Deavion wrestled very well in his last high school tournament having two very close matches against opponents who had defeated him earlier in the season. Olson was able to finish out his high school career with a win by pinning his opponent in the 7th place match.

Although the last couple of outings for the Whippets were not what was hoped for the team, they had a great season considering their youth. They won the Whitewater and Clinton Invites and finished as Co-Champions of the Rock Valley Conference “Valley” Division in duals. 

Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org

The Whitewater Girls’ Wrestling teams have seen their 2025-2026 season come to a close sooner than they would have liked.

The girls defended their Rock Valley Conference title in Edgerton outdistancing runner-up Jefferson. The Whippets put six girls into the finals with two claiming RVC Titles and had three more bring home a bronze medal.

Ema Aranda (107) and Emma Maas (114) led the way for the Whippets bringing home the Gold medal, both securing pins in their championship matches. This was the first RVC title for both ladies.

Reaching the finals with two wins leading up to the final match and securing runner-up were Isabelle Cantu (100), Kora Davis (126), Storm De Porter (132), and Madi Kubicz (185). Each of these ladies wrestled their hearts out in the final match but came up short. Likely the most exciting match of the evening for the tournament (also being the last match of the evening) was Kubicz who dropped a tough 5-4 match in overtime.

Coming in third place and having great performances throughout the tournament closing out the evening with a victory and making it onto the podium were Berma Vubumu (145), Aubrey Fuoco (152), and Payton Taylor (165). These girls had tough losses at some point of the tournament but were able to come back through and reach the podium.

Congratulations on a great performance for the entire Whippet Girls Program in defending their RVC title. They should be proud of the great accomplishment.

The girls’ team put together a very nice ending to their season, finishing in 2nd place at their regional tournament only falling to Milton by 24 points who had five champions on their way to their regional title. In order to advance to the Girls’ Sectional Tournament the girls needed to finish in the top two at their respective weight classes. Isabelle Cantu (100), Ema Aranda (107), and Payton Taylor (165) each finished in second place to advance to the Kettle Moraine Sectional. Just missing out on qualifying and finishing in 3rd place included Emma Maas (114), Silvia Harris (126), Storm De Porter (132), and Marianna Kubicz (185). Each of these ladies were 3-1 on the evening however are unable to advance in the tournament series, but that does not mean they did not have a great tournament!

On Friday night, February 20, the 3 qualifiers traveled to Kettle Moraine to participate in the sectional tournament with the top two girls advancing to the State Tournament in Madison. Cantu (100) and Aranda (107) had a couple of tough draws for their opening round, each losing their match. Based on the setup of the sectional tournament if you lose in the first round then you are eliminated. Payton Taylor (165) had a very nice tournament, getting two pins to start off the tournament and seeing her advance to the championship against a familiar foe from Delavan-Darien. Payton lost in the championship and because she had not wrestled the girl who took 3rd she had to have a wrestle back to hold her spot. It is tough to come off a loss in the championship and Payton wrestled hard but unfortunately lost the match thus taking 3rd place and just missing out on the state tournament qualification.

All of the girls should be proud of their accomplishments over the course of the season. They defended their Rock Valley Conference Championship and were runner ups in the regional tournament against a very good Milton team. Each of the girls showed a lot of heart all season long, some battling through injuries yet still competing the best that they could. 

Best of luck to our exiting seniors; Isabelle Cantu (100), Silvia Harris (126), and Atreya Wilson (138). All three of these ladies have been an integral part of the development of the Girls Wrestling Program at Whitewater High School.

Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org

SECTIONAL RECAP — WHAT A DAY TO BE A WHIPPET!

The Whippets finished 4th overall at the Whitefish Bay WIAA Sectional, and there was SO much incredible swimming from start to finish. This team showed heart, grit, and major speed all day long!

‍ Medley Relay — 8th (1:59.33)
Esch / Enns / Nickelsburg / Kluck
 David Enns threw down an awesome 50 Breast split of 33.78!

‍️ 200 Free
 Cruz Aranda — 1:49.36 STATE QUALIFIER (now #2 all-time Top 10)
7^th Sam Nickelsburg — 2:15.77 HUGE PR — dropped 4 seconds!
9^th Wyatt Esch — 2:23.48

‍ 200 IM
6^th Langdon Coburn — 2:06.04 STATE QUALIFIER
 Massive 7-second drop and now sits #4 all-time!

‍ 50 Free
5^th Mateo Bazeley — 22.55 STATE QUALIFIER (#3 all-time!)
11^th Caleb Kluck — 25.01 PR!
ChaCha Binagi — 28.77

‍️ 100 Fly
 Langdon Coburn — 52.61 STATE QUALIFIER (dropped 2 seconds!)

‍️ 100 Free
 Cruz Aranda — 49.18 STATE QUALIFIER (#4 all-time!)
8^th Mateo Bazeley — 52.17
14^th Wyatt Esch — 57.15 PR!
David Enns — 1:00.97 (-3 seconds!)
ChaCha Binagi — 1:05.31 PR!

‍ 200 Free Relay — 3rd (1:31.39)
Aranda / Kluck / Coburn / Bazeley — STATE QUALIFIERS

‍ 100 Breast
14^th Caleb Kluck — 1:17.28
15^th David Enns — 1:17.76 (dropped nearly 5 seconds!)

‍ 400 Free Relay — 4th (3:27.65)
Coburn / Bazeley / Esch / Aranda — STATE QUALIFIERS
 Langdon Coburn led off in a 49.64, now #5 all-time!

This meet was full of PRs, Whippet Top-10 record moves, clutch relays, and incredible team energy. So proud of the way these swimmers stepped up and raced for each other!

 NEXT STOP: STATE!
 Waukesha South Natatorium
 Friday, February 20
 Swimming begins at 5:30 PM

Let’s go Whippets!!! 

Article and Photos Courtesy of Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu

Congratulations to the girls on winning the Rock Valley Conference Wrestling Tournament on Friday night, February 6!

The girls finished with nine in the top three. Ema Aranda and Emma Maas were both Conference Champions. Isabelle Cantu, Kora Davis, Storm De Porter, and Marianna Kubicz were runners-up, and Burma Vubumu, Aubrey Fuoco, and Payton Taylor finished in third.

Article and Photos Courtesy of John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org