Sports

Nate Black Signs to Play with UWO

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

Soccer Downs Big Foot 1-0

Whitewater hosted Big Foot in a conference game Thursday night, April 18.

Ema Aranda

It was a very exciting game, with Whitewater winning 1-0. Whitewater’s goal was scored by freshman Ema Aranda.

Marina Linos had a huge game in goal for the Whippets, making 6 saves. 

Article submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photos courtesy of Bob Mischka

UW-W’s Rachel Nelson Named DIII Bowler of the Year

Action photo of Rachel Nelson (Olivia Zinanni)

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.

New Outdoor Record Board on Display

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

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club’s New “Shot Club” Registration Open

Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club is excited to announce the details of the 2024 shot club.  Registration is currently open and the spring portion of the Club starts April 7. Registration closes April 30. 

1.  Registration must be completed by completing the Google Form: https://forms.gle/JGjzDLAVBUG8W5N78

2.  In order to receive recognition at a game next season, the player will need to make 10,000 game like shots and participate in four (4) shot club training sessions between June 15 and August 31.

The rules of the Whitewater Shot Club are:

1. Every game like shot made counts as “1 make”;

2. Every 10 minutes of focused ball handling counts as 10 makes (limit of 2000 makes for the 2024 with ball handling);

3. Students in grades 9-12 for the 2024-25 school year have until August 31 to get 10,000 makes. Students in grades 5-8 have until October 31 to get 10,000 makes. 

4. Makes are submitted weekly. Information on recording and submitting makes will be sent out to athletes that sign up. Workouts will be run by Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe and more information will be coming to families that sign-up. Open gyms begin Sunday, April 7 at 5 pm. In May, Open Gyms run from 4-6pm. There is no open gym on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day; otherwise gym is open at 4 pm starting on Sundays in May until basketball season starts. 

This programming is new for the community, and we look forward to answering questions and working to get better at basketball!

Coach Dowden and Coach McCabe

Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Whitewater Traveling Basketball Club. The Banner appreciates having permission to use the homepage image by Schorsch from Pixabay.

Soccer Defeats Clinton 11-0

Whitewater Girls’ Soccer hosted Clinton for a Rock Valley Conference game on Thursday, April 11.

The Whippets won 11-0 with goals from Carley Boudreau, Mayte Navejas, Belle Peterson (2), Isabella Aranda, Payton Brautigam, Karlee Villegas-Korbel, Ayden Clark (2), and Sami Van Daele (2).

Belle Peterson kicks one of her two goals
Sami Van Daele scores one of her two goals with the Clinton goalie looking on from behind.

The Clinton keeper played a tremendous game, and made 29 saves. Marina Linos and Calli Hartzheim played in goal for Whitewater. 

Article Submitted by Maddy Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Baseball Falls to Evansville

The Whippet Baseball Team competed against Evansville on Tuesday, April 9, and unfortunately came out on the losing end by a score of 6-4. 

Owen Hicks

The Whippets fell behind 4-0 in the middle innings but cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the 6th. The tying run was on 2nd base when the final out was recorded.

Leading the offense was Owen Hicks and Emmett Spear who went 2×4 and 1×2 respectively.

Owen Hicks handled the starting pitching duties and went 4⅔ innings. Mike Pope came in relief to finish the game.

The Whippets will be in action again on Friday, April 12, against Big Foot at home. Game time is set for 4:45 pm.

Article Submitted by Michael Hookstead
Whitewater High School Head Baseball Coach
mhookstead@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Softball Defeats Delavan After Huge First Inning

On April 9th, the Whitewater Whippet Softball Team defeated the Delavan-Darien Comets 21-3 thanks in part to 14 runs in the first inning. Falyn Krahn homered to left field, scoring three runs. Gaby Kubicz doubled, scoring three runs. Paige Kollwelter doubled, scoring two runs. Sydney Schilt singled, scoring one run. Taiya Kolb singled, scoring two runs. Savannah O’Neal doubled, scoring one run. Marianna Kubicz doubled, scoring one run.

Savannah O’Neal

The Whippets added to their early lead after the top of the second inning when Schilt tripled, Gosh singled, and O’Neal singled each scoring a run. A single by Lauren Buehler, and a walk by Kubicz extended their early lead in the third.

O’Neal earned the win for the Whitewater Whippets. The left-handed pitcher surrendered two hits and one run (unearned). Kollwelter appeared as the relief pitcher. The Whippets had seven stolen bases in the game. 

Article Submitted by Krista Sbarra
Whitewater High School Head Softball Coach
sbakr01@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

Soccer Plays to 1-1 Draw

Whitewater Soccer played Janesville Craig in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 9. It was an exciting game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Craig’s goal came from freshman Nevaeh Johnson, and Whitewater’s goal was scored by senior Sophia Garcia off a corner kick by Mayte Navejas.

CJ Braker had two saves in goal for Janesville, and Marina Linos had 12 saves in goal for Whitewater.

Article Submitted by Madeleine Blain
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Soccer Coach
mblain@wwusd.org

Majors Named Assistant Coach of the Year for Division 6

Congratulations are in order for Mr. Paul Majors! Majors was named the 2024 Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association District 6 Wrestling Assistant Coach of the Year. This is an award voted on by the WWCA Coaches in District 6 which includes the area from Clinton, north to Markesan, to Fond Du Lac, to Mukwonago, and to Lake Geneva.

Mr. Majors has been involved in the wrestling program as a volunteer or paid coach for over 20 years and is very deserving of this award. The student-athletes love how well he connects with them and the advice about not only wrestling but more importantly life that he provides. Congratulations, Coach Majors. Job well done!

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