Sports

Day One State Track Recap

In beautiful La Crosse, Wisconsin, athletes from the Whitewater Track and Field program competed their guts out at the highest level with several athletes advancing to Saturday’s final day of competition.

Traysen Thomason started things off in the 100m dash with an incredible start out of the blocks and placed 2nd in his run, running 11.16 into a headwind. Combining the heats qualified Traysen into the final seeded fifth.

Next up was the girls’ 4x200m relay. The quartet of A’lani Ross, Sydney Schilt, Calli Grosinske, and Athena Soto ran their second fastest of the season to stop the clock in 1:49.02. They placed 14th overall and will not advance into Saturday’s final.

Ethan Dugan breezed through his 400m prelim in 49.01 to win his heat and is the second fastest seed going into Saturday’s final.

The final event was the boys’ 4x400m relay. The team of Ethan Dugan, Quincy Boudreau, Jack Hefty, and Nate Holden debuted a different relay order and strategy in the prelim. It paid off as the team handed off in first place at every exchange and was clear of the chaos that can sometimes clutter up the exchanges in this event. They placed third in their heat and advanced to the finals as the fourth seed. Their time of 3:24.38 is the fifth fastest time ever run in program history, and just shy of a full second from being school record holders. They will get another chance to give it their all Saturday in the final.

Jack Hefty will also compete on day two in the 1600 where he looks to defend his state title from one year ago in the same event.

Go, Whippets!

Article Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org

UW-W’s Gracie Holland Finishes as National Runner-Up on Pole Vault

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
May 23, 2024

Myrtle Beach, SC – The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s and women’s track and field programs opened competition in the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Thursday, May 23. 

Gracie Holland competing in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship (Credit: Olivia Zinanni)

Gracie Holland led the way with a runner-up finish in the pole vault competition. Holland cleared the bar on her second attempt at 4.01 meters (13-1.75) to break the program record in the event. She is now a two-time national runner-up (2022) and three-time All-American (2023, fourth) outdoors. Adding in her national title indoors (2023) along with another All-America finish in 2022 (5th), Holland is now a five-time All-American in her signature event. 

Two Warhawks advanced to the finals in their events Thursday. Christian Patzka won his heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:03.96 to qualify for the finals scheduled for tomorrow evening. Justin Krause posted a time of 3:52.90 to finish sixth and qualify for the finals in the 1,500-meter run. That final is slated for Saturday afternoon. 

Tina Shelton competed in a pair of events Thursday. She registered a career-best time of 24.37 to finish 15th in the prelims in the 200-meter dash. That mark is sixth-fastest in program history. Shelton joined teammates Hannah Bilodeau, Jacqueline Kornowski and Danielle Pouska in the 4×100 meter relay. The squad crossed the line in 46.94, just .08 away from qualifying for the finals in the event. 

In the final event of the evening, Gunner Schlender gave it his all in a tough 10,000-meter run. The heat and humidity created an interesting race as Schlender held fifth for over half of the race. A couple of big moves from a few athletes stretched the group and Schlender crossed the line 14th with a time of 31:28.27. 

On the docket for Friday, Shelton will be back in action for the prelims of the 100-meter dash and Patzka will go for a defense of his 2023 national title in the steeplechase. Saturday’s slate features both Patzka and Schlender competing in the 5,000 while Shelvin Garrett II and Jordan Hall will compete in the triple jump. Kenni Czarnecki will also represent UWW in the hammer throw. 

NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Preview

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team [D3baseball.com end of regular season #5] is headed to the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship this week. The eight-team championship is slated to run Friday, May 31 through Thursday, June 6. The North Coast Athletic Conference in combination with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Lake County Captains are hosting the championship at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio. 

LOCATION – CLASSIC AUTO GROUP PARK (35300 Vine St., Eastlake, OH)
Classic Auto Group Park is home of the Lake County Captains, the High A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. The stadium features 6,500 seats and an upper level of suites. 

TICKETS (Purchase Here)
Tickets will be available at the entrance to the stadium on the day of the game or in advance here. Tickets can be purchased on a per-game basis or via an all-session package. Per game ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (62+). All-session packages for students and seniors are $25 and $40 for adults. 

PARKING/TAILGATING
Parking will be available in lots around the stadium. Tailgating is allowed as space permits. 

LODGING/AREA INFORMATION
Please visit the tournament page for more information on the Eastlake area including lodging, the stadium, attractions and food. 

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT (Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket)
The championship is split into two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket advance to the Championship Series, a best-of-three series set to begin Wednesday. The Warhawks’ four-team pod includes their first round opponent Randolph-Macon, Salve Regina and Birmingham Southern. The other bracket includes Pomona-Pitzer, Misericordia, Endicott and Lynchburg. 

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER
UW-Whitewater (40-9) will open the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship against Randolph-Macon (33-14). The matchup will be the first between the two squads in program history.

The Warhawks claimed the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles to punch their ticket in the NCAA tournament. Cruising through regional action, UWW won a three-game series over UW-La Crosse in Super Regionals to secure their spot in the DIII College World Series. 

RMC received an at-large bid into the 2024 postseason tournament. The regular season Old Dominion Athletic Conference champions won a NCAA Regional hosted at Penn State Harrisburg before defeating Adrian College in a three-game secures to punch their ticket into the final eight. 

The Warhawks have the most championship experience of any team competing in Ohio this week. UW-Whitewater has seven DIII College World Series appearances in program history including national titles in 2005 and 2014. 

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UWW Baseball Super Regional Recap: Warhawks Advance to NCAA DIII World Series

Warhawk bench celebrating after Adam Cootway hits a homerun (Photo Credits Angela Kelm)
Dogpile
Trophy
Team with coaches

Game 1 box score
Game 2 box score

By Broderick P. Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team is heading to the World Series for the first time since 2016 after overcoming Friday’s loss to UW-La Crosse. The Warhawks battled back with a 8-0 first game before a 8-2 victory in the second game punched the Warhawks’ ticket to Eastlake, Ohio.

In the first game, the Warhawks opened up the scoring right in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. 

With Cade Berendt (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) doing his work on the mound, the Warhawks held the Eagles off the base path for much of the game. The Eagles did not have a runner past second the entire game.

A huge fourth inning added four more runs to the lead. Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) started off the scoring with a solo home run.

The Warhawks scored three more runs between the sixth & seventh, with the defense keeping the Eagles from scoring. The Warhawks forced game three with an 8-0 shutout win.

Berendt picked up the win, pitching one of his career best games in the battle. He pitched all 9 innings, recording a career-high 13 strikeouts as well as his first career complete game shutout. 

The Warhawks carried the momentum forward into the second game of the day, scheduled to begin only 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, after tying the series up 1-1. 

UWW struck first once again, with Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) blasting a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to go up 2-0. The next inning, the Warhawks added two more to their lead, going up 4-0.

The Eagles scored their first run of the day on a sacrifice fly in the top of 5th, but the Warhawks answered back with a RBI single from Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) in the bottom of the frame.

The Warhawk lead was closed to just three runs in the top of the sixth as UW-La Crosse added another run to make it 5-2.

But in the bottom of the eighth, Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) all but sealed the game with a three-run homer to put the Warhawks up 8-2. 

The freshman pitcher Jack Hagen (San Clemente, Cal./San Clemente) only needed three outs and the Warhawks sealed their spot in the 2024 NCAA DIII World Series.

Hagen picked up his ninth win of the season, pitching the whole game. He allowed only eight hits, with no runs earned on the game.

Offensively, the Warhawks had home runs from Frank, Scolan, and Cootway between the two games. Frank and Scolan each had three RBIs in the second game. Holland had two RBIs in the first game.

The Warhawks will advance to the NCAA DIII World Series held in Eastlake, Ohio from May 31 to June 7. The tournament will be two double-elimination pods of four-teams. The winners of each pod will play a best of three series for the Championship. For more information visit https://www.ncaa.com/sports/baseball/d3

Track and Field Athletes Qualify for State

The Whippets had a great day competing at the WIAA Sectional Track and Field Meet hosted by Big Foot High School on Thursday night, May 23, and came home with several state qualifiers. 

Quincy Boudreau, Traysen Thomason, Ethan Dugan, Nate Holden, Jack Hefty

Traysen Thomason earned his first trip to state in an individual event by finishing third in the 100m Dash with a new personal best of 10.93. Ethan Dugan once again punched his ticket to state by winning the 400m Dash with a time of 48.84. Jack Hefty battled through his illness all week and claimed another sectional championship in his signature event, the 1600m Run. He stopped the clock at 4:22.65. Also earning a trip on the boys’ side was the 4x400m relay consisting of Quincy Boudreau, Nate Holden, Jack Hefty, and Ethan Dugan. This relay was able to secure 3rd place behind Ethan’s 48.2 relay split and finish in 3:26.27.

Other competitors for the boys included Ty Bucholtz who narrowly missed out on the 110H final by .02 seconds but was under 17 for a second time this season in 16.96. Nate Holden finished 9th in the 400m in 52.75. The 4x200m relay finished in 5th place with a time of 1:31.65. The relay members consisted of Traysen Thomason, Nate Black, Akamion McHenry, and Quincy Boudreau. This relay ran the 8th fastest time in school history in that event. In the field events, Quincy competed in the long jump but did not make the finals. Jaylyn Ewing competed in the high jump and was able to clear 5′ 10″, but was unable to go higher. 

Traysen Thomason
The 4 x 400m Relay

On the girls’ side, the 4x200m relay of A’lani Ross, Sydney Schilt, Calli Grosinske, and Athena Soto finished in 4th place to earn a trip to state as well! Their time was 1:48.22. The same relay then stepped onto the track for the 4×100 25 minutes later and had a very competitive race. In a tight finish, they took 5th place overall with a time of 50.99. Sydney Schilt also competed in the sectional meet in the 200m dash. Running her best open 200 of her life, she finished in 5th place overall, one place away from state. However, her time moved her up to #6 all-time in WHS history for that event.

4x200m relay of Athena Soto, Calli Grosinske, Sydney Schilt, and A’lani Ross

The WIAA State Meet will take place on Friday May 31st and Saturday June 2nd. Good luck to all our Whippets competing at the State Meet!

FULL RESULTS: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/563413/results

WHIPPET TOP TEN LIST: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mi54eY7WKX5fgnuEiD-kCmlgCOKIkDsUsJsWVgsGsCk/edit?usp=sharing

STATE MEET INFORMATION: https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Spring/Boys-Track-Field/Tournament#51061277-state

Article Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Multiple Sources

UW-W Baseball Falls to La Crosse 3-2 in Opener of Best of Three Super Regional

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

Friday’s Super Regional D-III game at Prucha Field was storm-delayed, with the noon start initially being delayed to 1 p.m. The first pitch was finally pitched at 2:10. La Crosse got on the board with their three runs in the first inning. UW-W’s two runs both came in the fifth inning. The stats may be found here.

La Crosse’s cheering section seemed almost larger than Whitewater’s; at least their cheers seemed louder.

The teams meet again on Saturday at 11 a.m., and assuming that the Warhawks come out on top, the third, deciding game begins 45 minutes after the conclusion of the former.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior adults and students. The seats are pretty comfortable, with backs, but a cushion isn’t a bad idea.

McKevitt Advances to Sectional Golf

The Whippet Golf Team finished their team portion of the season at regionals Wednesday, May 22, in Delavan.

The team was paced by a career performance by junior Devin McKevitt who shot an 80 which earned him 4th place in the meet.

Teammate Reece Condon finished with an 86 for the day which was good enough for 12th place.

With Devin’s record setting day, he has earned himself a trip to sectionals next week. Congrats on a good season Whippets, and congratulations Devin!

Article and Photos Courtesy of Whippet Athletics Facebook Page

Two Doubles Teams Advance to Sectional Tennis

On Monday, May 20, the Whitewater Boys’ Tennis Team competed in the subsectional tournament at East Troy. The 1 doubles team of Emerson Ellenwood and Yovanni Rojas-Reyes defeated Big Foot 6-2 6-2 and will now face Edgewood for an opportunity to participate in the state tournament. The 3 doubles team of Hugo Portales and Emmanuel Mbifi defeated Jefferson 6-1 6-4 and then pulled through in the 3rd set to defeat Edgerton 6-4 1-6 10-5. They will now also play Edgewood in the semifinals of sectionals on Wednesday, May 22.

Hugo Portales, Emmanuel Mbifi, Emerson Ellenwood, Yovanni Rojas-Reyes

Article and Photo Courtesy of Baron West
Whitewater High School Head Tennis Coach
bwest@wwusd.org

Dugan Breaks 46-Year-Old School Record at Regionals, Seventeen Athletes Advance to Sectionals

The Whippet Track and Field Teams had a great night at the WIAA Regional hosted by Delavan-Darien on Monday. The top four finishers in each event earned a trip to the WIAA sectional on Thursday in Big Foot. Four regions will feed into one sectional event where the top four finishers will earn a trip to the WIAA State Meet held in UW-La Crosse on May 31st – June 1st. 

Ethan Dugan

Ethan Dugan was the top performer for the boys’ team as he etched his name into the record books by taking down Brent Gnatzig’s 1978 record of 49.04 in the 400m dash. Ethan stopped the clock in an eye-popping 48.67 and won the regional title. Sydney Schilt had a very strong day in the relays and the 200. Her time of 26.60 earned her a spot as the 10th fastest 200m runner in program history, bumping off Fy Fy Okocha (1995) and Keri Mclean (2000) who were tied in that same spot with a 26.74. Other sectional qualifiers include:

GIRLS

  • 100H Hurdles – Carley Boudreau, 4th
  • 200 – Sydney Schilt, 2nd
  • 300 Low Hurdles – Carley Boudreau, 3rd
  • 4×100 – A’lani Ross, Sydney Schilt, Calli Grosinske, Athena Soto, 2nd
  • 4×200 – A’lani Ross, Sydney Schilt, Calli Grosinske, Athena Soto, 2nd
  • Pole Vault – Myialynn Cobbs, 2nd; Makayla Bazeley, 3rd

BOYS

  • 100 – Traysen Thomason, 4th
  • 110H Hurdles – Ty Bucholtz, 3rd
  • 400 – Ethan Dugan, 1st; Nate Holden, 3rd
  • 1600 – Jack Hefty, 2nd
  • 4×200 – Traysen Thomason, Nate Black, Akamion McHenry, Quincy Boudreau, 3rd
  • 4×400 – Quincy Boudreau, Traysen Thomason, Nate Holden, Ethan Dugan, 2nd
  • High Jump – Jaylyn Ewing, 4th
  • Long Jump – Quincy Boudreau, 4th
  • Triple Jump – David Rubio, 4th
Carley Boudreau
Sydney Schilt

The boys’ team finished 3rd and the girls’ team finished 7th overall. 

FULL RESULTS: https://www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Track/2024/delavandarienregional.htm

Article Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka