Sports

Whippet Volleyball Squad Competes in Warhawk Invite

The Whippet Volleyball Squad finished 16th overall in the Warhawk Invite this past weekend. Once again, the Whippets showed they are a team who can compete beating the 11th place Union Grove team in two straight sets and competing with a very tough pool play bracket with the likes of Monona Grove and Prescott (4th and 5th place finishers respectively).

We continue to see sparks of our young team pointing it together. Mental errors made the difference in this tournament, which saw the young squad miss 77 total serves over the course of two days. In sharing with the team this staggering stat, we discussed the fact that had we not given those points away, we would have been on the winning side of matches.

Through these mistakes we continue to see progress. This is a great group of athletes who are owning the areas needed to make us a great team. They continue to reflect, ask questions, and give 100% every day at practice. As we competed with high caliber teams, and beat Union Grove in straight sets, the Whippets saw they could put things together and do what was needed to win ball games. This confidence is what we need to build!

I was proud of their fight and their will to keep supporting one another. As we shore up the mental errors and fine tune our offensive and defensive skills, we will be ready for conference play.

Stat leaders for the Whippets included:

Prescott (14-25, 12-25) Calli Grosinske with 3 kills, 3 assists, and 1 block, Ella Spear with 6 digs, and Emmanuella Mbifi with 1 block

Monona Grove (17-25, 14-25), Calli Grosinske had 5 kills and 1 block, Ella Spear had 6 digs, Emmanuella Mbifi with 1 block, and Marina Linos led with 6 assists

Union Grove (25-23, 24-14), Calli Grosinske and Emmanuella Mbifi with 4 kills, Grosinske with 9 digs, and Marina Linos with 6 assists

Beloit Memorial (27-29, 29-27, 15-12), Calli Grosinske with 9 kills and 10 digs, Ella Spear with 10 digs, Marina Linos with 10 assists, and Falyn Krahn and Emmanuella Mbifi with 1 block

Saturday Stats:

Monona Grove (9-25, 17-25), Calli Grosinske with 5 kills and 1 block, Ella Spear with 8 digs, and Marina Linos with 6 assists

Union Grove (17-25, 12-25), Calli Grosinske with 3 kills, Falyn Krahn with 6 digs, Marina Linos with 4 assists and 1 block

Tomahawk (24-26, 25-23, 12-15), Calli Grosinske with a double-double in 10 kills and 13 digs, Marina Linos with 9 assists, and Meg Roselle with 1 block

Tremper (24-26, 25-23, 10-15), Calli Grosinske with 9 kills and 11 digs, Marina Linos with 13 assists, Emmanuella Mbifi, Falyn Krahn, Meg Roselle, and Sydney Schilt with 1 block apiece

As we look to next week, the Whippets invite all youth to YOUTH NIGHT on August 31st at home against Wilmot. JV1 and JV2 will begin at 5:00 PM and the Varsity at 6:30 PM. All youth in attendance wearing Whippet red or their VB camp shirt will receive free admission. Youth are invited to make the tunnel for the Varsity squad prior to warmups and pass with the athletes upon completion of the match. Hope to see you there!

Highlight Video

Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org

Heftys Lead Whippet Harriers at Alumni Meet

In the 21st running of the Dirk Seibold Alumni Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 26, Jack and Mady Hefty led their teams as the top finishers in the first race of the season. The event was contested with good weather and the always challenging 5000m course at UW-Whitewater. Jack cruised to a great first effort with a time of 17:30. Running very poised and together much of the race were Nate Holden and Xavier Zei who placed 2nd and 3rd with times of 18:41 and 18:49. Miles Nickelsburg nabbed a 4th place finish with a sub 20 effort to stop the clock in 19:44. In a bit of a surprise finish, Onyx Thompson and Chad Hein duked it out at the finish to take the 5th and 6th place positions with times of 21:52.3 and 21:52.7. Quincy Boudreau rounded out the top 7th by placing 7th in 22:10. The top alumni finisher was CJ Tomomitsu who placed 8th in 22:16. The current Whippets beat the Alumni with a finishing score of 15-59.

On the girls’ side, Mady Hefty looked under control and accelerated as the race rolled on. She was able to pull into 2nd overall, behind the overall winner of Whitewater Middle School staff member Maddy Blain. Mady Hefty’s time was 22:43. Nola Coburn came in 3rd for the Whippets in 23:28. Athena Soto and Carley Boudreau finished close to each other in 4th and 5th, stopping the clock in 23:21 and 23:57. Lindsey (Shulte) Taylor was the top Alumni finisher in 6th place with a time of 25:07. Isabella Aranda was the team’s 5th runner today and finished in 8th with a time of 26:28. Lauren Buehler and Silvia Harris rounded out the scoring varsity runners by placing 10th and 11th with times of 27:02 and 27:16. The current Whippets defeated the alumni with a score 17-42.

There were numerous friends of the program and alumni who attended the event that did not run. Coach Carstens would like to thank all those who came to the event and keep the running community within the Whippet CC Program strong year after year!

Next up for the Whippets will be the Bulldog Invite in West Allis at McCarty Park on Friday, September 1st. Race times are: 4:00 – Boys JV, 4:35 – Girls Varsity, 5:05 – Boys Varsity, 5:35 – Girls JV

Results: Girls, Boys

Article and Photos Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org

UW-W Selected to Win WIAC Football Title

MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending conference co-champion, and winner of 14 of the last 17 titles, has been picked to secure the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Warhawks, who have posted 39 first-place finishes in program history, enter the 2023 campaign ranked ninth in the Lindy’s Sports NCAA Division III Preseason Poll and No. 11 by D3football.com. UW-Whitewater has secured four consecutive NCAA postseason bids. Jace Rindahl takes over the head coaching duties after serving as an assistant coach with the program for the last eight seasons. He played for the Warhawks from 2005-08, helping the program to its first NCAA Division III title in 2007.

UW-La Crosse, ranked fifth by Lindy’s Sports and No. 12 by D3football.com, is pegged for second in the conference standings. The Eagles shared the WIAC title with UW-Whitewater a season ago and appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season – and 13th time in program archives. UW-La Crosse has compiled 18 wins in the last two seasons, matching its best two-year stretch since 1996-97.

UW-Oshkosh begins the 2023 season ranked No. 21 by D3football.com and is predicted to finish third in the WIAC. The Titans have secured 11 conference titles, with the most recent in 2019.

UW-River Falls, selected fourth in the conference race, has represented the WIAC in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl the past two seasons. The Falcons have totaled 16 victories in 2021 and 2022, for their best two-year stint since 1995-96 (17 wins). UW-River Falls is ranked No. 23 by D3football.com.

The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Platteville; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.

Rob Erickson is the new head coach at UW-Eau Claire. A UW-Platteville alum (1996-99), he most recently served as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University since 2020. Erickson has also been an assistant coach at UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and Aurora University (Ill.).

The 2023 season is set to begin Aug. 31, with the conference slate kicking-off Sept. 30.

The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the third consecutive season against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 18.

2023 Preseason Predictions–Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors

2022 Record
1.  UW-Whitewater(8-3 overall, 6-1 WIAC)
2.  UW-La Crosse(9-2, 6-1)
3.  UW-Oshkosh(6-4, 4-3)
4.  UW-River Falls(7-4, 4-3)
5.  UW-Platteville(5-5, 4-3)
6.  UW-Stout(5-5, 3-4)
7.  UW-Eau Claire(2-8, 1-6)
8.  UW-Stevens Point(1-9, 0-7)
Team Capsule

UW-Whitewater
Head Coach:  Jace Rindahl; 1st season at UWW
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  31/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  32/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Reed Farrington, Jr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Egon Hein, Sr., DB (2021-First, 2022-First); Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire, So., K (2022-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Drake Martin, Jr., RB (2022-First); Zach Sherman, Sr., TE (2022-Second); Tamir Thomas, Jr., RB (2022-Second)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Tommy Coates, Jr., WR; Addison DeShambo, Jr., OL; Steven Hein, Jr., WR; John Pekar, Jr., OL

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Parker Breunig, Jr., DB; Matt Burba, Jr., DL; Hawk Heffner, Sr., LB; Kyle Koelblinger, Jr., DB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Nate Custer, Sr., K/P

Editor’s note: The above information was posted to the WIAC website.

WHS Football 26-14 Over Big Foot First Win on New Field

From the Whippet Athletics Facebook page: The Whippets started the season off with a big win in front of a great home crowd. Final score 26-14!! #1Family #Thestandard

From the Daily Jefferson County Union:

Nate Black leads Whitewater’s football team to 26-14 season-opening victory over Big Foot

WHITEWATER — Senior Nate Black scored three touchdowns as Whitewater’s football program ushered in the Samuel Bartlett era in style by earning a 26-14 home victory over Big Foot at WHS on Friday in nonconference play.

The win marks Whitewater’s first on its new turf playing field and the program’s first non-forfeit win since a season-opening home win over Big Foot in 2021.

“It was amazing and very special for the kids,” Bartlett said of the win. “With the turf field being relatively new, it’s their first win on that turf field at home. A lot of our guys feeling that victory broke down and were overcome with emotion because it was such a monumental moment for them.

“It was special. I told them to make sure they enjoy that first win because we are going to be working to get a lot more this year.”

Whippets Open Home Preseason with a Quadrangular

The Whippet Volleyball Team hosted a quadrangular preseason event with Catholic Central, Stoughton, and Sun Prairie East on Tuesday, August 22.

After graduating 5 of the 6 members of the starting lineup from last season, the Whippets are young and looking for underclassmen to fill some openings on the roster. Preseason events like this are used to work various rosters and see how teams begin to play together. “I don’t look for dominating wins at this point, rather, I am working many different line ups and trying athletes in different spots to see who might be ready to lead the team in these positions.”

And the Whippets did just that. Facing Catholic Central first, the Whippets had a 3 set battle (19-25, 25-18 and 5-15). “From the scores alone, you can see our younger nature. We have moments of greatness and owning the court to moments of lapses in mental toughness and leadership.” In this match the Whippets were led in kills by Calli Grosinske with 10, Marina Linos in assists with 7, and Ella Spear with 5 digs.

Next the Whippets faced Stoughton (24-26, 12-25) and again held tight in sets, and costly errors affected the outcome. “Things we control, like serving, blocking errors, and stretches of unanswered points hurt us tonight. On the night we had over 20 service errors alone. We shore those things up, and we are a different squad.” Stat leaders included Calli Grosinske with 5 kills, Marina Linos with 8 assists, and Calli Grosinske with 5 digs.

The final team the Whippets faced was Sun Prairie East (8-25, 25-27). Stat leaders were Calli Grosinske with 5 kills, Falyn Krahn and Ella Spear with 8 digs apiece, Calli Grosinske with 5 assists, and Meg Roselle and Emmanuella Mbifi with 1 block apiece.

Now we get back in the gym and commit to getting better each play. As you can see by the inconsistent scores, we are young, and as we get back in the gym and work on the areas we need to, the sky’s the limit!

Article and Photo Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org

Whippets to Host 21st Annual Dirk Seibold Alumni Cross Country Meet

Whitewater High School Cross Country will be hosting the 21st Annual Dirk Seibold Alumni Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 26th. Participation in this event requires entrants to be current athletes on the team, alumni of the program, WUSD staff, or family members of current or former Whippet CC athletes. The race is totally free; all you need to do is show up ready to run, and a bib number will be issued to you before your event. It is free for all to spectate and socialize with all in attendance.

Registration begins at 9:00, the boys’/men’s race will be at 10:15 followed by the girls’/women’s race at 10:50. It will be conducted on the campus of UW-Whitewater, with the start/finish lines in the intramural fields near the Kachel Fieldhouse. Look for giant start/finish banners that are in red to know you are in the right spot. Be sure to park in Lot 8, which is free. The race will once again be 5000m in length. Check out the course video here.

Questions can be directed to Coach Chad Carstens at ccarstens@wwusd.org.

Discover Whitewater Series Announces New Half Marathon Teams Awards Sponsor

 

The Discover Whitewater Series (DWS): Half Marathon, Half Marathon Team Event, 5k, and W3 Fit Kid Shuffle is excited to announce that Performance Running Outfitters is the new Half Teams Award Sponsor for the 11th Annual DWS. 

The 11th annual DWS will be held on Sunday, September 17th, 2023. The DWS team has rolled out a new addition to the Half Marathon Team Event. Each team will consist of four participants (all women, all men, or co-ed: two women and two men) competing for the best combined half marathon finishing time. 

The top three teams will receive one of the amazing DWS trophies designed by Amaya Phillippi and a gift certificate to Performance Running Outfitters. Performance Running Outfitters has been a sponsor of the race in the past and are excited to contribute to the new Half Marathon Teams Event this year. 

“The Team Event for the Half Marathon brings a new competitive element to the race this year” said DWS Executive Director, Jeffery Knight, “We are excited to have Performance Running Outfitters sponsor the Team Awards and can’t wait to see the community come together for race day.” 

As the 11th Annual DWS gets closer the DWS Team Leaders are putting their final touches on for another amazing race. Be sure to look around Whitewater for all of the DWS signs and banners. With the generous help from sponsors the DWS is able to give back to the community and put on a premier running event for the city. 

To register to run or volunteer, visit  https://RunWhitewater.com/.

For further details, please contact Jeffery Knight, Executive Director at 920.728.0662 or jpk@knightpublicaffairs.com.

About the DWS

The goal of the DWS is to promote the City of Whitewater and highlight its greatest features, while keeping everyone in the community active. All the proceeds from the race are donated to local non-profit partners: Bethel House (which provides interim housing for families experiencing homelessness), Whitewater LEADS, Working for Whitewater’s Wellness (W3), and the J-Hawk Aquatic Club. The DWS partners with the city, business community, and university to make this a tremendous event that benefits all who participate. For more information about the race visit www.runwhitewater.com.

WHS Football Season Opener / Youth Night

Come support the Whippets as they open their season Friday night. WHS will be honoring our youth players. Any youth wearing their Whitewater Youth Football/Park and Rec jersey will receive free admission to the game. Youth athletes are invited onto the track pregame to form a tunnel for the Whippets as they make their way to the field. Middle School football players will be showcasing their skills at halftime through 7 on 7 competition. Make sure to stick around after the game as the youth athletes are once again welcome on the field to play catch with their favorite players!