Sports

The following article was posted to The Messenger Sports on December 10.

Broncos Right Guard Quinn Meinerz Taken to Hospital Due to Elevated Heart Rate

Meinerz told the team’s trainers late in the first half that he was dealing with chest tightness and an elevated heart rate, according to ESPN.

Denver Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz will remain in a Los Angeles area hospital on Sunday night, after the 25-year-old experienced an elevated heart rate during Denver’s 24-7 win against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Meinerz, a third-year pro out of Wisconsin-Whitewater [he was an offensive lineman,] told the team’s trainers late in the first half that he was dealing with chest tightness and an elevated heart rate, according to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.

ESPN reported that Meinerz, although “feeling better” after the game, was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. The Broncos anticipate him to return to Denver on Monday.

After the game, head coach Sean Payton told reporters that he “nothing to report” regarding Meinerz.

According to the Denver Post on December 11, “Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz was released from a Los Angeles-area hospital Monday and is returning to Denver. Head coach Sean Payton on Monday morning didn’t say much more than that, but confirmed, “Quinn will be back today. That’s really the update we have.”

The Whitewater Wrestling team finished up a busy week of competition culminating in hosting their 10th annual Whitewater Invitational on December 9. Saturday consisted of the varsity team competing against 14 other top-notch teams from the area including many division one programs. The team and individual competition was very stiff, potentially the best overall wrestling we have seen in the ten years of the tournament. 

When the tournament ended, the Whippets found themselves in a respectable 5th place behind a very good Riverdale team from southwest Wisconsin who won the tournament, with Burlington coming in second. Third went to Janesville Craig and fourth went to Verona. The coaching staff was happy with the finish as there were some very high-quality teams ahead of the Whippets and thought overall we wrestled well. 

Connor Friend was the top placing Whippet coming in 3rd place. Connor lost a tough overtime match against an opponent from Riverdale who had beaten Connor last year quite severely. Connor wrestled very well losing on a scramble in overtime. In the third-place match, Connor was able secure a pin against a very tough young man from Lake Mills.

Nate Black and JJ Gonzalez also had very good days, each losing only one match and going 4-1. Because this is a scramble tournament the timing of their losses prevented them from being in the championship bracket so they did not medal but did wrestle extremely well. 

Team Picks Up Two Dual Meet Wins on the Week

On Thursday night, December 7, the wrestlers traveled to Beloit Turner to compete in two dual meets. In dual number one the Whippets took care of Clinton in the first dual 67-12. Coming away with pins in this dual meet were Jarvis Porcaro, Jason Villegas, Brady Friend, Traysen Thomason, Odair Porras, and Sebastian Cuellar. 

In the nightcap, the Whippets weathered a storm and were able to hang on to defeat Beloit Turner 48-30. As always, the Whippets vs the Trojans of Turner is a very competitive dual. The Whippets found Turner ahead and gaining momentum as we entered the 138-pound contest when Connor Friend and Traysen Thomason picked up a couple of quick pins. Then JJ Gonzalez and Odair Porras followed with some well wrestled matches to keep the momentum in our direction. After a loss, Jesus Barajas had a big win at 175 sealing the victory for the Whippets. The two wins on the night pushed the Whippets to 3-1 on the season.

The team is next in action on Saturday, December 16, when the varsity and girls’ teams go to the Mount Horeb Invitational and the JV team is at the Elkhorn JV Invitational.

Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Action Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

Seven Warhawk football players represent the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on the 2023 All-Region 6 teams announced by D3football.com Wednesday. UW-Whitewater’s contingent consists of five First Team selections, one Second Team honoree and a Third Team pick. 

Senior defensive back Egon Hein became a three-time All-Region selection with First Team honors this season. A two-year team captain, Hein is a semifinalist for the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy and William V. Campbell Trophy. The First Team All-WIAC pick returned from injury to appear in seven contests. A lockdown defender frequently tasked with shutting down top receivers, Hein registered 22.0 tackles including 2.5 for losses while adding a pair of interceptions and five pass breakups this season.

Also representing the Warhawk defense with First Team honors this season, linebacker Joey Antonietti received his first All-Region nod. The sophomore led UWW in total tackles (90) and interceptions (4) while adding 5.5 tackles for a loss on the season. He ranked among the top ten in the WIAC in interceptions per game and tackles per game in 10 regular season contests.

Tamir Thomas was one of the top running backs in the nation all season. Through regular season games, Thomas ranked eighth in rush yards per carry (7.29) in Division III. In 10 games this season, Thomas averaged just under 100 yards per game, adding 12 rushing touchdowns including an 85-yarder. He added 75 yards on seven receptions with one receiving touchdown. On average, Thomas was responsible for 7.8 points per game in the regular season. The junior became the third fastest Warhawk back to reach 1,000 rushing yards hitting the milestone on his 139th carry (11th game this season) – the fastest since 1997 for UWW.  

Bolstering the Warhawks’ lucrative run game were offensive guard Alex Pethan and center John Pekar – both were First Team All-Region 6 selections this season. The pair helped UWW post phenomenal numbers in the ground game with 2,595 rushing yards, averaging six yards per carry for the regular season. In 706 drop backs, Pethan and Pekar combined to allow just one sack. Through the 10-game regular season slate, UW-Whitewater led the WIAC and ranked eighth nationally in rushing offense (259.5 yards per game). UWW also led the WIAC in fewest sacks allowed (.90 per game) while holding second in total offense (464.4 yards per game). In conference contests only, the Warhawks averaged 1.7 yards more per carry and had 528 more rushing yards than any other team. 

Matt Burba, a junior defensive tackle, earned Second Team All-Region 6 honors this season. In 10 games played, Burba registered 30 tackles including 7 for losses. He added 2.5 sacks for a total loss of 33 yards while forcing one fumble on the season. The 2023 First Team All-WIAC selection helped lead the league’s top defensive team (293.1 yards per game allowed), top scoring defense (18.0 points allowed per game) and best fourth-down defense (36.8 conversion percentage). 

Mason Stepanski added Third Team All-Region 6 honors for special teams play. The sophomore was a Second Team All-WIAC pick this season. Stepanski tallied 27 tackles, the majority coming on special teams coverage. He helped lead the WIAC’s third-best kickoff return defense (16.22 yards per return allowed). 

The Whitewater Boys’ Swim Team competed against Edgerton/Evansville on Tuesday, December 5. The team started conference with a win by finishing 1st in 10 of the 11 events. 

200 Medley Relay – Langdon Coburn, Jack Hefty, Cruz Aranda, and Myles Morse with a 1st place finish with a time of 2:04.00

200 Freestyle – Langdon Coburn with a 1st place finish and a time of 2:21.62. Wyatt Esch competed in this event for the first time and earned himself a time of 2:50.37. 

200 IM – Myles Morse with a 1st place finish and a time of 2:41.62 

50 Freestyle (JV) – Angel Kilar and Isaac Straight continue to drop time in this event. We are excited to see what the upcoming meets have in store for them. 

50 Freestyle (Varsity) – Cruz Aranda with a first-place finish and a time of 26.39. Sam Nickelsburg (30.70) and Caleb Kluck (30.49) had impressive swims as well.

100 Butterfly – Langdon Coburn placed 1st with a time of 1:06.21

100 Freestyle – Jack Hefty placed 1st with a time of 57.53. Caleb Kluck earned himself a best time of 1:13.38. That’s a 2 second time drop. 

500 Freestyle – Sam Nickelsburg with a 1st place finish and a time of 7:14.11. David Enns also had an impressive swim with a time of 8:26.09

100 Backstroke – Cruz Aranda (1:11.36) with a 1st place and Miles Nickelsburg (1:15.29) with a 2nd place finish.

100 Breaststroke – Jack Hefty with a 1st place finish and a time of 1:18.08. David Enns had a best time with a 1:40.23

400 Freestyle Relay – Cruz Aranda, Langdon Coburn, Myles Morse, and Jack Hefty with a 1st place finish and a time of 4:05.46. Then a 3rd place finish by Miles Nickelsburg, Sam Nickelsburg, Wyatt Esch, and Angel Kilar with a time of 5:16.16.

The Boys’ Swim Team is back in the pool on Saturday, December 9, at Elkhorn. We hope to see you all there!

Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org

The Whippet Swimmers traveled to Milton on Saturday, December 2nd to compete in the Tom Lieder Invitational. The Whippets placed 7th overall as a team.

Placing in the Top 16 include (Top 3 medal):

• 200 Medley Relay:
  • 7th – Langdon Coburn, Jack Hefty, Cruz Aranda, Myles Morse (2:00.14)
• 200 IM:
  • 4th – Cruz Aranda (2:23.94)
  • 6th – Jack Hefty (2:30.10)
• 100 Fly:
  • 7th – Cruz Aranda (1:04.45)
  • 16th – Sam Nickelsburg (1:22.54)
• 100 Free:
  • 4th – Jack Hefty (55.86)
• 100 IM:
  • 6th – Langdon Coburn (1:05.99)
• 200 Freestyle Relay:
  • 6th – Miles Nickelsburg, Wyatt Esch, Onyx Thompson, Caleb Kluck (2:04.29)
• 100 Backstroke:
  • 6th – Langdon Coburn (1:07.86)
• 400 Freestyle Relay (8 Swimmer swam a 50 Freestyle)
  • 2nd – Cruz Aranda, Langdon Coburn, David Enns, Miles Nickelsburg, Caleb Kluck, Sam Nickelsburg, Myles Morse, Jack Hefty (3:44.07)

The Whippets are back in action on Tuesday, December 5th in Edgerton at 5:30 p.m. 

Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org

The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team had an AMAZING night of racing at the Southern Lakes Conference Relay Championship Meet on Thursday, November 30th. The boys placed 5th overall as a team, two relay teams took home medals, and there were many impressive swims on the night!

The night started off with the Medley Relay team of Onyx Thompson, David Enns, Sam Nickelsburg, and Wyatt Esch. The boys each had impressive splits in their respective strokes, but most notable was Sam Nickelsburg’s 50 Fly with a time of 33.45 and Wyatt Esch’s 50 Freestyle of 32.63.

Miles Nickelsburg and Caleb Kluck joined David Enns and Sam Nickelsburg in the 200 Freestyle Relay. The boys had a fantastic race and out touched Burlington by 2 seconds to secure a 3rd place finish and were the first to take home some hardware for the Whippets!

Langdon Coburn, Jack Hefty, Myles Morse, and Cruz Aranda all teamed up to take on the 1000 Free Crescendo Relay and the 200 Butterfly Relay. They all had fantastic performances, placing 4th in the 1000 Free Relay with a time of 11:06.15 and 5th in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:56.98. Langdon Coburn had some impressive splits with 1:01.02 in his 100 FR and 27.15 in his 50 Fly.

The Whippets had two relays in the splash and dash of the evening. Each swimmer sprints one length of the pool for a total of 100 yards. Miles Nickelsburg, Onyx Thompson, Sam Nickelsburg, and David Enns won their heat and finished 7th overall with a time of 56.62. And Caleb Kluck, Angel Kilar, Wyatt Esch, and Isaac Straight all racing in their first meet ever, all swam a great race and placed 11th overall with a time of 1:08.77.

Miles Nickelsburg, Jack Hefty, Cruz Aranda, and Myles Morse put on a stellar performance in the 500 Freestyle Crescendo, 50 -100-150-200, a very fun race to watch where they battled back and forth with Badger with only 4 seconds separating them. They were able to clinch a second-place finish and take home a medal!

The 400 Backstroke relay of Langdon Coburn, Sam Nickelsburg, Onyx Thompson, and Miles Nickelsburg secured a 7th place finish.

We finished out the night with our 400 Freestyle Relay of Caleb Kluck, Wyatt Esch, David Enns, and Angel Kilar. All had some great times and have made some serious improvements from their first timed 100 Freestyles at practice during the first week.

Now that the first meet jitters are out of the way, the boys are ready for their next races on Saturday, December 2nd at the Milton Invite. Racing starts at 10 a.m.; we hope to see you there!

Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org

Whitewater beat Monroe 56-25 in Rock Valley Conference Girls’ Basketball action at Whitewater High School on Thursday, November 30. 

Whitewater jumped out to a 22-6 lead and never looked back behind aggressive defense and good patience on offense. 

Whitewater travels to Parker on December 5 and East Troy on December 8 next week.

Article Submitted by Mike Dowden
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
dowmi01@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka

By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information

The No. 6 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s basketball team cruised to a 79-33 win over Concordia Wisconsin Wednesday night in Kachel Gym. The Warhawks remain undefeated on the season, 7-0.

Box Score

Following a rough first quarter for both offenses – UWW shot just 15.8 percent and CUW hit 23.1-percent from the field – the Warhawks turned it on for the rest of the game shooting above 45-percent from the floor and a blistering 70.6-percent (12-17) from three-point range in each quarter.

Bri McCurdy sparked the offense with a three-pointer 15 seconds into the period. After a Falcon layin, Aleah Grundahl got it done on the offensive glass with a put back that started a 10-point Warhawk run. Grundahl hit another layup while Katie Hildebrandt nailed a triple and McCurdy dropped in another from long range in the scoring burst.

Concordia Wisconsin narrowed the gap to seven, 23-16, with just under two minutes to go before the break. The Warhawks closed the half with a Kacie Carollo layup and a Maggie Trautsch three-pointer to take a 28-16 lead into the locker room.

UW-Whitewater’s offense continued to surge outscoring the Falcons 25-10 in the third quarter to open up a 53-26 lead heading into the final quarter. The margin was extended further as UWW outpaced CUW 26-7 in the fourth. 

The Warhawks were phenomenal from the floor in the final three quarters shooting 57.1, 46.7 and 64.3-percent from the field in the last 30 minutes of action. In that span, UWW hit 12-17 from three-point range.

UWW shot 43.5-percent from the floor and 48-percent from downtown in the game while hitting 13-14 from the free throw line. The Warhawk defense held the Falcons to 29.5-percent from the floor, 18.2-percent from deep and just 5-10 from the charity stripe.

Hildebrandt led all players with 18 points bolstered by 4-7 from three-point range. She added four assists and two blocks. Grundahl added 14 points and hauled in seven boards adding a game-high four steals. Trautsch hit 3-5 from beyond the arc for 11 points adding seven rebounds and three steals. Carollo wrapped up the double-digit scorers with 10 while notching a game-high seven assists.