Per an article in the July 18 Watertown Daily Times, Eli Crogan, [who coached men’s basketball at UW-W from 1970-74], and whose Hall of Fame coaching career for boys basketball included 22 seasons at Watertown High School, passed away at the age of 87 on Saturday.
Crogan suffered a stroke on Tuesday and died from complications according to his son, Craig.
His coaching career spanned 42 seasons and included several schools: Soldiers Grove (now North Crawford), Fennimore, Watertown, the men’s team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Wayland Academy. His teams won 562 games and lost 320. This included 15 conference championships, 13 regional championships, two sectional championships and three trips to the state tournaments.
He was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1996.
Editor’s note: The following press release was provided by Big Radio.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics signed a two-year agreement with Big Radio to air Warhawks football games on 105.9 FM The Hog in Janesville beginning with the 2022 season.
“We are thrilled to partner with Big Radio and 105.9 The Hog to bring Warhawk fans audio coverage of all football games for the next two years,” UW-W Director of Athletics Ryan Callahan said. “UW-Whitewater football is a staple of our campus community, and we believe this collaboration will enhance the profile of the university and bring fans high-quality coverage of this nationally-renowned program.”
All home and away games during the 2022 and 2023 seasons will air live on 105.9 The Hog, which airs in Southern Wisconsin with coverage as far north as Madison and as far south as Rockford, Ill.
Game broadcasts will also be available online at 1059thehog.com and on the Big Radio App, which is available for download on Apple and Google Play devices.
“At Big Radio our commitment to local sports in our communities is unmatched,” Big Radio CEO Ben Thompson said. “We are thrilled to be the new home of UW-Whitewater football and further expand our commitment to sports.”
Josh Golberg (Source: WCLO.com)
Big Radio Sports Director Josh Golberg, a UW-Whitewater graduate, will handle play-by-play duties and will be joined on the broadcast by color analyst Bill O’Leary, a linebacker for the Warhawks from 1970-71. O’Leary served as head football coach at both Janesville Craig and Milton.
“Getting the opportunity to broadcast games for one of the top Division III programs in the country as an alumnus is thrilling on both a professional and personal level,” Golberg said. “Bill and I will try to bring as much energy, knowledge and entertainment as we can in support of the Warhawks.”
UW-Whitewater, a six-time NCAA Division III national champion, begins the 2022 season Sept. 3 at St. John’s (Minn.). The team’s home opener is scheduled for Sept. 10 against Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) for a rematch of last season’s national semifinal.
Editor’s note: The following announcement was received on July 19 from the UW-W Athletic Department.
Tom Lange, a longtime volunteer, contributor and fan for teams at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, passed away last week of natural causes at the age of 85.
Funeral arrangements are currently pending.
Lange, a 1997 Warhawk Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, contributed significantly to the success of UW-W athletics programs for nearly half a century as a public address announcer, booster club officer and volunteer.
“Tom Lange is a Warhawk,” UW-Whitewater Director of Athletics Ryan Callahan said. “He touched countless lives over his 40-plus years working with our athletic staff and teams, pouring his time and resources into our programs while asking for nothing in return.
“I am grateful to have personally known him for the last 20 years and will remember our numerous interactions and the laughs we shared the most. I know countless alumni and friends feel the pain of this loss, but I know that Tom lived a full and happy life in this community. We are lucky to have had him on our team for the last four decades and will miss him dearly.”
Most recently, Lange served as public address announcer for the UW-W wrestling and baseball teams. He also previously volunteered for men’s and women’s basketball games and for freshman football games and was an active member of the Quarterback Club and Tip-Off Club as a longtime Whitewater resident.
Lange attended countless athletics events over the last 45 years and was one of the Warhawks’ biggest supporters.
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“Tom’s legacy lives in all of us that were truly blessed to call him our friend. His passion for the Warhawks was second to none. That passion is why we are ‘Powered By Tradition.’” – Head Football Coach Kevin Bullis
“Tommy ‘The Kid’ Lange was a unique figure in Warhawk Athletics who enhanced the student-athlete experience through his daily endeavors and his announcing. Tommy built many long-lasting and meaningful relationships with athletes and coaches. His presence, laughter and one-liners will be missed by Warhawk Wrestling and the athletics department.” – Head Wrestling Coach Matt Zwaschka
It’s not too late to sign up for the Jr. Whippet Football Camp being held next week, July 18th-21st, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the WHS Football Fields! It is probably too late to mail in registration, but don’t forget Walk Up Registrations on Monday are allowed (and all kids should still receive their T-shirt on time, including those who sign up on Monday).
If you do plan to attend and have not registered yet, it is preferred that you email Head Coach Jason Bleck at jbleck@wwusd.org to let him know and so he can get the most accurate head count possible ahead of time. Any questions can be directed to Coach Bleck as well!
Article Submitted by Jason Bleck Whitewater High School Head Football Coach jbleck@wwusd.org
Whitewater resident and Boston Marathon qualifier Heidi Mane won the female division. Photos courtesy of Robert Mischka (Mischka.pics)
Rising WHS sophomore Jack Hefty (L) and Fort Atkinson’s Spencer Agnew battled to the end, but Hefty pulled it off.
The Whippet City Mile led off the Fourth of July parade again this year with 160 runners of all ages participating. The youngest participant was 2 in the stroller division and our eldest was 72. The runners were led by a Harley Davidson motorcade consisting of Ronny Walenton, Ramsey Walenton, Owen Walenton, Steve “Uncle Scuba” Meinel, Gary Smale, and Tom Bobby. The weather was perfect for the closest finish in race history. Battling to the end was Whitewater High School distance star Jack Hefty and Fort Atkinson’s Spencer Agnew. Agnew, a former 4 minute miler for Marquette University, coaches distance events at Fort High School. Hefty pulled away in the last 15 meters for a narrow victory. The female division was led by Whitewater resident and Boston Marathon qualifier, Heidi Mane. The racers once again basked in the cheers of the thousands who lined the parade route. Thank you to Marissa Piper, Scott “Richy” Richardson, Ben Holden, and Steve Johnson for their help in the race. Special thanks to Lisa Dawsey-Smith and the rest of the 4th of the July Committee for their continued support. Appreciation also to Robert Mischka for the wonderful photos. Can’t wait till next year!
“Wisconsin-Whitewater is home to one of the most dominant sports programs the state has ever seen.
The Warhawks’ wheelchair basketball teams are national powerhouses, with the men and women combining for 16 championships since 1982.
Whitewater players and alumni are heavily represented on Team USA for international competitions, including the upcoming International Wheelchair Basketball Federation America’s Cup in São Paulo, Brazil. That event, which begins July 9, is a qualifier for the world championships in November in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Whitewater prides itself on being one of the most wheelchair-accessible campuses in the nation. The men’s wheelchair basketball team started almost 50 years ago….
The National Wheelchair Basketball Association has 12 teams in its men’s intercollegiate division, including Illinois, Arizona and Alabama.
“I think it’s kind of cool to see these other big schools that offer these huge scholarships and have these big facilities and Whitewater is just kind of blue collar and people that want to work hard,” Boie said. [John Boie is a former wheelchair basketball player who is now an academic advisor at UW-W] “If you want to get better, this is where you come to play against the best and to become the best.”
The women’s division includes six teams.
“I’m not really that old and the fact that I had to choose between really just one school that had an established women’s team about 20 years ago,” Schwab said, “And now women have the opportunity to choose between six universities and where they want to go.”
Editor’s note: The photo on the homepage is a UW-Whitewater photo.
Photos of previous Whippet City Miles courtesy of and copyright by Bob Mischka
The Whippet City Mile will be run again fifteen minutes prior to the 4th of July Parade. “This year will once again be free as there will be no T-shirts given out,” said Race Director Mark Maas. With there being no cost Maas is hoping more families will participate. “It’s all about having as many kids as possible running down Main Street before the parade.” The usual Harley Davidson procession will lead the runners down Main Street. “It’s just a great way to kick off the 4th of July Parade.” Information and registration forms can be found at whippetcitymile.com
Editor’s note: This announcement was submitted by Mark Maas.
On Monday, June 6, the Track and Field Team held their annual end-of-season banquet. With families in attendance, all Whippet athletes were spoken about by their coaches, who said a few words about each athlete’s progress, accomplishments, and of course the laughs! It was a night of celebration for the 2022 season.
Several athletes were recognized individually for their achievements. Four awards were given to a total of nine athletes. Those awards and winners were:
Up & Coming Athlete – Jake Kuhlow & Calli Grosinske
Most Improved – CJ Tomomitsu & Maddie Buehler
Field MVP’s – Connor Raupp & Izzy Dieter and Evie Troxel
Track MVP’s – Jack Hefty & Maddie Buehler and Kindyl Kilar
The Up & Coming Athlete Award was given to a first-year track athlete who demonstrated great potential, and who the coaching staff believes will be essential to the team’s future success. The Most Improved Award was given to those who demonstrated great improvement from the 2021 to the 2022 season. Finally, the Track and Field MVP Awards were presented to athletes who demonstrated the highest level of success on the track and in the field events, including varsity point scoring and top finishes at invitationals, Conference, and State Series Meets. Congratulations to each of our award winners!
Pictured from L-R: Jake Kuhlow, Connor Raupp, Jack Hefty, Izzy Dieter, Evie Troxel, Kindyl Kilar, Calli Grosinske, Maddie Buehler
In addition, special recognition was given to those athletes who notched a Top-10 all-time mark in Whitewater Track & Field history. The links below will take you to our updated Top-10 list. Alumni – you may find that your marks have moved down a spot after this season!
Pictured left to right, the athletes achieving performances on the Top-10 list in 2022 were:
Jack Hefty – Hefty, a freshman, first made his mark on the Top-10 list at the Sectional meet in the 3200-meter run. His State-qualifying time of 9:47.92 moved him into the #7 spot. But that wasn’t enough for Jack. At the State meet he improved his time significantly, running in a race that saw both the winner and 2nd place finisher break the now-previous State Record in the event. His time of 9:27.23 was good for 7th place at State, and moved him into the #3 spot all-time. In the last 25 years across all divisions, only four freshmen have run a faster 3200 at the State meet than Jack. The current school record is held by Ben Maas, who in 1996 ran 9:25.1. Congratulations, Jack!
Evie Troxel – Troxel, a junior, also made an impression on our Top-10 list at the Sectional meet, where she pole vaulted a new personal best of 9’ 9”. Our lone field event Top-10 entry of the season, Evie cleared 9’ 6” cleanly at the State meet to tie for 9th. Evie’s Sectional mark of 9’ 9” literally vaulted her into 8th place on the Whippet Top-10 list, where she is tied with Alison Matthews’ 2012 mark of the same height. The school record holder in the event is Kim Stonewerth, who leaped 11’ 8” in 2011. Congratulations, Evie!
Kindyl Kilar – Kilar, a junior, is not-so-quietly becoming one of the most common names on our Top-10 list. A three-event State Qualifier in 2022, Kilar etched her name onto the Top-10 list in FOUR events in 2022. At the Conference Meet, Kindyl surged to #5 all-time in the 400-meter dash, as her time of 1:00.72 was 2nd by only two hundredths of a second in her first and only open 400 of the season. The school record in the event is held by Lisa Lauritzen, who in 1976 ran 58.64c. Kindyl also solidified herself as #3 all-time in the 200-meter dash, as her Sectional time of 26.13 has only been bested by two other Whippet athletes – 100m dash school record holder Kailey Reynolds, and the 200m record holder, Jenny Paynter, who in 1991 ran a time of 25.64c. As you could expect, Kindyl also helped propel our Whippet relay teams to several Top-10 marks. In the 4x100m relay, the team’s time of 50.78 is #7 all-time, and in the 4x200m relay, their time of 1:46.74 is 6th all-time. Congratulations, Kindyl!
Maddie Buehler – Buehler, a junior, was also a three-event State Qualifier in 2022. Maddie added her name to the Whitewater Track Top-10 list in that same number of events in 2022. She was a member of both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams that are now ranked 7th and 6th, respectively, on the all-time lists. Individually, Maddie blazed the track at Sectionals against some fierce competition, and in the 100-meter dash she recorded an astounding time of 12.41. The time moved her into the #2 spot on the all-time list, our highest Top-10 mark of the season. She was also a State Finalist in the event. The school record holder in the 100-meter dash is Kailey Reynolds, who ran a time of 12.35 in 2015. Congratulations, Maddie!
Olive Coburn – Coburn, the only senior in this group of Top-10 athletes, made her mark on the record books in the 4x100m and 4x200m relays, joining Kilar and Buehler. The 4x100m relay’s time of 50.78 placed them #7 on the all-time list, tied with a quartet of Keri McLean, Rachel Travis, Emily Haberman, and Ellen Nosek, who in 1999 ran the same time. The school record is held by Courtney Payne, Kateley Haberman, Courtney Nelson, and Zia Okocha, who in 2004 ran a time of 50.30. Congratulations, Olive!
Emma Weigel – Weigel, a junior, was the final Top-10 member of the tremendous 2022 short sprints crew. Weigel joined Kilar, Buehler, and Coburn as the fourth member of both the 4x100m and 4x200m relay teams that made their mark on the all-time lists in spots #7 and #6. The 4x200m relay team’s time of 1:46.74, ran at the State meet’s preliminary round, was the 6th fastest time in Whitewater’s history. Serendipitously, the 4x200m relay team placed 6th in the State Finals the next day, capturing the final spot on the podium. The school record in the 4x200m relay was set in 1986 by Tina Partoll, Janet Partoll, Julie Paynter, and Samantha Reeb. Those names are perhaps the most recognizable across the WHS Girl’s Top-10 list, populating a total of 15 Top-10 spots between them in sprints, relays, hurdles, and jumps. The 1986 Whippets’ school record time of 1:43.93 stood as the Division 2 State Record for 24 years until 2010. Congratulations, Emma!
Congratulations again to our award winners, Top-10 listers, and all Track & Field athletes on a phenomenal 2022 season! I (Coach Green) would like to especially thank our seniors for their hard work for four years, all parents and community members for their support of the program, and the coaching staff for their dedication to excellence and their assistance in building both the athletic success and character of each of our athletes. See you in 2023!
On Saturday, June 4, the Whippets competed in Day 2 of the WIAA State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse, WI. The team had several competitors who had qualified for Saturday’s events during the preliminary rounds on Friday, as well as other athletes competing in distance and field events.
Day two proved to be a day to remember for the Whippets, despite the weather changing significantly from day one, which was full of sun and temps in the 70’s, to overcast skies, cooler temps, headwinds on the home stretch, and rain falling intermittently throughout the day.
Maddie Buehler was up first for the Whippets as she coiled into her blocks for the last time in the 100-Meter Dash Final. She got off to a great start and looked strong throughout in the toughest field she has faced in her career yet. She finished in 10th overall in a time of 12.94 seconds with a gritty effort. It was a great season for Maddie in this individual event, as she got to rub elbows with state finalists for the first time during the State Final. Her Sectional time of 12.41 pulled her to within .06 of the school record, good for #2 all-time in Whitewater history. Maddie’s accomplishments in the individual sprint events during the 2022 season are a lot to be proud of!
Next up was the Girls’ 4×200 Meter Relay Final, running out of lane three on the ten-lane track. The team qualified for the final by running within the top 10 teams on Friday. Maddie Buehler returned for her second race of the day, getting into the blocks to lead off the relay. She shot out of the blocks and ran a strong leadoff leg and made a clean exchange to fellow Whippet Emma Weigel. Emma came screaming down the home stretch in front of the roaring crowd of a full grandstand and got the baton to Olive Coburn early in the zone. This quick exchange saw Olive press on the gas, and she gave it her all during her last race in a Whippet uniform. Olive finished her leg of the relay strong and passed the stick to a patiently waiting Kindyl Kilar. Another smooth exchange from Olive to our anchor, and Kindyl was off like a rocket with one goal in mind: bringing home a medal. With the entire fanbase of Wisconsin Track & Field cheering the relays on down the home stretch, Kindyl brought it home and crossed the finish line in 6th place, claiming the final podium position! Their time of 1:47.00 was a hair off their best time of the season from the prelims, but at this point, it didn’t matter as their smiles on the podium said it all!
With the rainy weather conditions unsafe for vaulting outdoors, the Girls’ Division 2 Pole Vault was moved inside Mitchell Hall where Evie Troxel competed in her first ever State meet. Surrounded by her family members, teammates, and coaches, Evie used her home crowd advantage of the cheering fans to sail cleanly through the opening height of 9’ 0”. The next height of 9’ 6” was her previous goal entering the 2022 season, but as she crushed that height at sectionals, she proved that 9’ 6” is no longer a challenge for her! At State she showed that same demeanor and cleared 9’ 6” on her first attempt. With several other competitors remaining in the competition, the bar was raised 6 more inches to 10’, a height that Evie had several attempts at last week at the Sectional meet. Of her three attempts at that height, Evie had two that were very close to clearing and setting a new personal best on the biggest stage. With her ability to stay clean through the first two heights, she finished tied for 9th place and a smile a mile wide that is trademark Evie!
The final event for the Whippets was freshman Jack Hefty in the 3200-meter run. Jack had been waiting nearly two full days of competition for his event as the gun went off at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. In what were the best conditions for a distance event in years, Jack ran the most thrilling race one could imagine. The race strung out early as both the winner and runner-up would eventually break the state record in this event. He started out in 15th place at 400 meters as he knew the pace would be brisk. He stayed true to himself, controlling what he could control and made his way to 13th in two laps, 11th in three laps and 9th coming through the 1600 in 4:47.12. Jack stayed locked in on his pacing as the pack he was with chased down other runners in front of them. On the penultimate lap he pressed on the accelerator and ran a 70 second lap, and from there it was all guts as he went into overdrive and passed four runners on this final lap to come screaming home in 7th place overall and closed in 63.1 seconds! Jack cut just over 20 seconds off his previous personal best from Sectionals, nearly breaking the school record held by Ben Maas from 1996. Jack’s time catapulted him into the #3 spot all-time in the Whitewater Track and Field record books in the two-mile. His 7th place finish was one place away from the podium and scored the Whippets two points for the weekend. It was a stunning effort, and an incredible end to a stupendous freshman season for Hefty!
This concludes the 2022 Track and Field Season! It was the first “normal” season for nearly the entire program, as the team was able to resume a typical schedule full of invitationals and a two-day state meet for the first time in three years. The coaches would like to thank all the athletes, parents, fans, staff, and the Whitewater community that have supported the team through this season. We will celebrate all the athletes on Monday during our end-of-season banquet as we close the chapter on a fine season!
