The Whitewater Track and Field team went to Fort Atkinson to compete in a large nine school competition on Friday, April 26. The competition was rained out for the second straight year after the handful of events were able to take place. Attached are photos of two athletes who got a chance to compete before the competition was halted.
David RubioEmy Islas
Senior David Rubio had a 37’3″ Triple Jump for a fourth place before the rain came and, freshman Emy Islas ran the 100 Meter race in a heavy downpour for an 11th place finish.
Whitewater hosted the Monroe Cheesemakers in a conference match on Tuesday, April 23. Whitewater won 4-0 with goals by Mayte Navejas (2) and Belle Peterson (2). Marina Linos had 7 saves in goal for Whitewater, and Monroe’s keeper, Kaelyn Welch, had 18 saves.
Mayte Navejas
Whitewater and Cambridge-Deerfield played a rainy non-conference game Friday night, April 26. Whitewater won 2-1 with goals by Belle Peterson and Mayte Navejas. Marina Linos played in goal for Whitewater and had 9 saves. The Cambridge-Deerfield keeper had 23 saves.
Article Submitted by Maddy Blain Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach mblain@wwusd.org Photo courtesy of Bob Mischka
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Athletic Department has announced the hire of Jarod Wichser as the next head coach of the Warhawk men’s basketball team. Wichser served as the interim coach last season.
“I would like to thank Chancellor King, Athletic Director Ryan Callahan, and the search committee for trusting me to lead the men’s basketball program,” said Coach Wichser. “It is a privilege to be a part of the Warhawk family, and I will work hard to build upon the rich tradition of success here at UW-Whitewater.”
“We are excited for Jarod to lead our men’s basketball program,” said Athletic Director Callahan. “Jarod holds character in high regard and his work ethic and ability as a teacher are never in question.”
Prior to taking over as the interim head coach a year ago, Wichser served as an assistant coach under longtime head coach Pat Miller for six seasons. The Warhawk men’s basketball program has a history of longevity of its head coaches – Wichser is just the third to take on the role since 1978.
“We’ve been fortunate with two of the nation’s most decorated coaches at the helm since 1978 – Dave “Augie” Vander Meulen and Pat Miller – that led with integrity and passion for the sport and the university. Working under Coach Miller for six years has put Jarod in a position to continue the legacy of Augie and Pat while building his own,” added Callahan.
Wichser takes the helm of a program with a long history of success at the conference and national level. UW-Whitewater has won 15 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and five WIAC Tournament titles – second-most in the league. UW-Whitewater’s 22 NCAA appearances is more than any other team in the conference while the program’s four NCAA Division III titles is tied for the most in the WIAC. The Warhawks boast a record of 42-19 in NCAA tournament play.
“The standard of success in men’s basketball at UW-Whitewater is very high because of the many elite student-athletes and coaches who built this program,” added Wichser. “We are going to be relentless in our pursuit to meet and maintain the standard of excellence they established.”
“I am thrilled for him and his family as he leads us into a new era of men’s basketball,” concluded Callahan.
In his interim campaign, Wichser led UWW to a 17-9 overall record and a 7-7 mark in WIAC play.
Wichser is a 2012 graduate of UW-Whitewater. He earned a degree in elementary/middle education before completing a master’s program in professional development at UWW in 2018.
Whitewater hosted a Triangular Track & Field Competition on April 22 which included East Troy and Monroe. The Whitewater Boys beat East Troy 108-27, but the Whippet Girls lost to East Troy 91-41. Monroe, a much bigger school than both Whitewater and East Troy, won over both of the smaller schools.
The Whitewater Boys dominated the shorter races, winning the 100 Meter, 200 Meter, 400 Meter, and 800 Meter Races. Ethan Dugan won the 100, Traysen Thomason won the 200, Nate Holden won the 400, and Jack Hefty won the 800.
Junior A’lani Ross won the Girls’ Triple Jump competition with a jump of 33′ 1.2″.
Whitewater Soccer traveled to Jefferson for a conference game on Monday, April 22.
Ema Aranda
The Whippets won 7-0 with goals from Belle Peterson, Emma Valadez-Morales, Mayte Navejas, Aubrey Mendoza, Karlee Villegas-Korbel, Berma Vubumuh, and Sophia Garcia.
Marina Linos played in goal for Whitewater and had four saves. Sam Ganser and Rachel Simonson played in goal for Jefferson and had a combined total of 25 saves.
Article Courtesy of Maddy Blain Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach mblain@wwusd.org File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
WHS celebrated Nate Black’s Signing Day on Friday, April 12th. Nate will be going to UW-Oshkosh to further his education and to play football.
Nate Black and Family
Nate Black was a great player for the Whippets, serving as a WR/DB and a Team Captain throughout his entire senior season. He led us on offense and defense with his relentless effort each and every snap of the game. He accounted for a touchdown in four separate ways this last season (Passing, Receiving, Rushing, Defensive INT TD).
We will miss his competitiveness and fire on the football team. We are all proud of him and his hard work and cannot wait to see him succeed at the next level!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sam Bartlett Whitewater High School Head Football Coach barsa01@wwusd.org
By Angela Kelm Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior Rachel Nelson has been named the National Tenpin Coaches Association Division III Bowler of the Year. She is the fifth Warhawk to earn the honor. As a team, the Warhawks dominated statistically this season, leading Division III in six of seven categories
A bowler representing UW-Whitewater has been named the NTCA Bowler of the Year three consecutive seasons with Caitlin Mertins (2022) and Kelly Whipple (2023) preceding Nelson’s honor this season. The other two Warhawks to earn the award are Amanda Van Duyn (2016) and Katie Zwiefelhofer (2015).
Nelson’s 19.79 average for Baker frames led Division III this season. Across all divisions, Nelson ranked 11th in both 10th frame scoring average (21.04) and 10th frame fill percentage (88.3) for an anchor bowler. Her 10th frame double rate at 30.5% is 12th best for an individual bowler in the NTCA.
Whipple, the 2023 NTCA DIII Bowler of the Year, was the divisional leader this season in Baker double percentage (49.60).
Nelson led UWW in frames bowled (1,066), average per frame (19.50), strikes (483) and strike percentage (45.2). Whipple was the Warhawks’ top spare bowler and led UWW in overall fill percentage (83.5) while ranking second on the team in frames bowled (1,056), average per frame (19.25) and strikes (461).
As a team, the Warhawks were nothing short of dominant in the field of Division III teams. UW-Whitewater led the nation in traditional frame average (18.49), Baker frame average (18.97), Baker double percentage (42.20), strike percentage (40.80), single-pin spare conversion percentage (85.40) and overall spare conversion percentage (66.90).
UW-Whitewater and Warhawk bowlers have been recognized in the release of the NTCA national statistics leaders nearly every season dating back to the awards’ inception in 2017. In the first season Division III was recognized separately, 2018, the Warhawks led the nation in all seven team and all six individual categories.
Whitewater Track and Field is not only proud of its long history but also of the incredible meets that have been hosted on the campus of Whitewater High School. Numerous WIAA tournament events were also hosted which provided track and field fans with some amazing memories. Those memories are now on display in the form of facility records alongside the impressive WHS school records.
Through the generous financial support of the Whippet Booster Club, the school and facility record board has come to life for all who visit in the years to come. A special thank you to district employee Josh Enerson who built the frame and put the final touches on mounting it this week.
Come check it out at the two home meets remaining on the team’s schedule. On April 22nd WHS will host Monroe and East Troy. On May 10th, the team will host the Rock Valley Conference Meet. Go, Whippets!
Article and Photo Submitted by Chad Carstens Whitewater High School Track and Field Coach ccarstens@wwusd.org
