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Today is Wednesday, May 13, 2026
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The Whippets faced Jefferson in their first home match of the season on Tuesday, September 16. The Whippets have continued to make great gains each match played.
At the JV2 level, the focus has been on learning the game, understanding the rotations and playing together as a team. The team has made progress in each area, showing some great 3 hit plays and hustle. Coach Miller commented, “Our team performed with perseverance. We experienced working through a rut and came back stronger in the third set. We value every opportunity to grow!”
At the JV1 level, our team played the Eagles strong. Serve receiving and getting some block touches kept us in the match. Our athletes are working together as a team and putting together some strong rallies. Coach AJ commented, “we are improving every chance we get to step out on the court. The scores don’t reflect how much improvement we have seen in our athletes. I thought our defense looked the best it has been all season and our offense is coming along.”
Although falling to the visiting Eagles 0-3, our Varsity athletes showed some moments of intense rallies and sheer grit. Never giving up, the focus on each play was intense. Unfortunately, an injury late in set 2, found the Whippets struggling to recover, losing in 3 sets.
Stat leaders:
Kills: Kaia Jones- 3
Assists: Mya Graves- Koran- 6
Aces: Mya Graves-Koran- 1
Danika Larson- 1
Digs: Jasmine Kilar- 12
The Whippets next faced East Troy at home on Thursday, September 18.
Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
This week’s photo is of “Tucker the Trucker.” Harry Tucker was Whitewater’s long-time local moving and hauling business owner. Tucker moved to Whitewater from a farm in 1933 and started his trucking business. He specialized in moving households and transporting general cartage loads. He had a side business hauling sand and gravel. In 1958, after 25 years, Tucker sold his business interests, probably retiring.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(2631P, Whitewater Historical Society)
Our Exploratory Tech students completed their 10-hour OSHA training during summer school and just received their OSHA 10 Safety Cards! We are so proud of their efforts—this certification is an important step in workplace safety and will help them with Youth Apprenticeships (YAs) and building strong resumes.
Article and Photo Submitted by Nolan Otremba
Whitewater High School Technology and Engineering Teacher
otrno01@wwusd.org
The Whippets Girls’ Tennis Team traveled to Delavan-Darien Tuesday night, September 16, for a Rock Valley Conference match. The Whippets lost 6-1. Taryn Rothwell at #1 singles was the lone winner for the Whippets. The win raised her record to 10-2.
Whitewater – 1, Delavan-Darien – 6
Singles:
No. 1 – Taryn Rothwell, Whitewater def. Sophia Szczap, Delavan-Darien, 6-4 , 7-5 , -;
No. 2 – Megan Markley, Delavan-Darien def. Aubrey Ramirez-Mendoza, Whitewater, 0-6 , 2-6 , -;
No. 3 – Jayna Kirkpatrick , Delavan-Darien def. Adamari Barajas, Whitewater, 2-6 , 0-6 , -;
No. 4 – Kaiya Logterman , Delavan-Darien def. Yareli Palomec Garcia, Whitewater, 0-6 , 2-6 , -;
Doubles:
No. 1 – Anna Smith, Delavan-Darien – Kaydence Gould , Delavan-Darien def. Kiani Aranda, Whitewater – Natalia Casillas , Whitewater, 0-6 , 0-6 , -;
No. 2 – Emily Hamlin, Delavan-Darien – Cadyn Lumkes, Delavan-Darien def. Elizabeth Lawton, Whitewater – Abigail Treder, Whitewater, 2-6 , 2-6 , -;
No. 3 – Vivienne Frenz, Delavan-Darien – Tanner Wagner, Delavan-Darien def. Ruth Lopez , Whitewater – Maria Pena-Aburto, Whitewater, 3-6 , 6-6 (7-4), -;
The Whitewater Girls’ Tennis Team would also like to thank all those who contributed to the 50/50 raffle at the most recent football game.
Article and Photos Submitted by Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Tennis Coach
gstewart@wwusd.org
Whippet Soccer faced a heartbreaking defeat Tuesday evening, September 16, as your Whitewater Whippets fell 2-1 to Tenor-Veritas.
Emiliano Olivares opened the scoring early in the first half with a brilliantly placed shot thanks to a well-timed assist from Kevin Gonzalez. Whippet soccer continued to fight hard pushing for more goals but regretfully conceded an equalizer with only minutes remaining in the half. WHS was in the ascendancy and controlled most of the first 40 minutes.
The second half was a closely contested battle that seemed to be swaying in Whitewater’s favor. A defensive lapse in the Whippet penalty box and a questionable refereeing decision saw Tenor-Veritas awarded a penalty kick with less than 4 minutes remaining. The away side converted the spot kick and went home with the victory.
Your Whippets fought hard until the very end and will take their resolve with them when they travel to Delavan-Darien on Thursday.
Article Submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Head Boys’ Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Whippets turned in a strong all-around showing at the Dana Waddell Invitational, hosted by Marshall on a very warm day at McCarthy Park on Tuesday, September 16. This year’s course change introduced more challenging hills, and when paired with the heat in the mid-80’s and no wind, it created a race atmosphere the athletes will remember for years to come.
Boys’ Varsity
Freshman Tyler Carollo continues to establish himself as one of the conference’s rising stars, racing to 8th place in a lifetime-best 18:50.5 to earn a medal. Junior Wyatt Esch followed with a career breakthrough, dipping under the 20-minute barrier for the first time to place 19th in 19:54.6 and claim one of the final medals of the day.
Seniors Quinton O’Toole (30th, 20:59.5) and Isaiah Mendez (37th, 21:56.7), along with junior Marcus Roselle (34th, 21:16.2), rounded out the scoring five for Whitewater. Together, they lifted the Whippets to 5th place with 128 points in the nine-team field.
Boys’ JV
In the JV race, freshman Jameson Rothwell led the Whippets with a 28:50.9 finish for 14th overall. Sophomore Ian Agen delivered a milestone effort of his own, setting a personal record of 29:49.1 to finish 16th and break the 30-minute mark for the first time in his career.
Girls’ Varsity
The Whitewater Girls’ Varsity placed 8th as a team with 164 points, led by sophomore Virginia Nelson, who cracked the top 10 with a 22:37.2 performance for 10th place. Senior Delaney Hammack added a season highlight, running a personal-best 23:27.6 for 19th.
Freshman Madelyn Taylor (42nd, 28:01.5), senior Payton Brautigam (53rd, 29:43.5), and senior Kelly Mayorga (57th, 33:57.2, PR) rounded out the Whippet scoring. Mayorga’s race was also her first-ever cross country competition, marking a milestone for the program.
Head Coach Chad Carstens praised his team’s resilience and race strategy:
“Given the conditions, we had a team strategy to run the first half of the race and race the back half. It seemed to pay off as many athletes from other teams clearly had not respected the terrain and temperatures of the day and paid for it. Whitewater was able to move through the field nicely and have some really nice finishes. Tyler breaking 19 again, Wyatt dipping under 20, and Delaney setting a PR were all huge moments. In addition to those athletes, Kelly Mayorga competed in her first ever race, and Ian Agen broke 30. Lots of good things are happening in Whippet CC!”
Full results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/263167/info
Article and Photo Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
NEW CLASS!
Beginning October 20th
The Healing Project: understanding life with cognitive change
A class for people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia diagnoses
Limited Space Available
The Dementia Program of The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Rock County is pleased to announce a new psychoeducational class for people with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia diagnoses. The Healing Project: understanding life with cognitive change will be offered virtually on 8 consecutive Mondays beginning October 20th from 10:30am-Noon. The class will offer education, support and resources on a variety of topics focusing on issues related to a dementia diagnosis including acceptance, understanding, coping skills, grief and loss and effective communication with loved ones. Each week participants will also learn and practice a new relaxation skill to assist with coping. Class time includes opportunities for sharing with other participants.
For more information about The Healing Project, to register for the class or to discuss any concerns related to dementia, please contact the Rock County Dementia Care Specialist, Karen Tennyson at 608/921-7165 or karen.tennyson@co.rock.wi.us
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Enactus team will celebrate its 2025 national championship and hold a send-off for the team this Thursday, Sept. 18, as it prepares to travel as the representative of the United States at the Enactus World Cup in Thailand.
The team will depart from Perkins Stadium (Lot 24) on a firetruck parade through Whitewater at 5 p.m. The parade route begins south on Warhawk Drive and continues west on Starin Road and south on Prince St., and concludes at the Center of the Arts. A reception will take place starting at 5:45 p.m. in the University Center Hamilton Room on campus.
Thursday’s event is free and open to the public. Donations to support the team’s travel are welcome here.
The Warhawks, winners of the Enactus USA national title after a year of work to support small businesses, will compete against more than 30 countries from around the world starting September 25 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Two initiatives helped UW-Whitewater’s Enactus chapter — a social entrepreneurship organization that works to revitalize local economies — claim its position as Team USA at the World Cup.
During the 2024-25 year, UW-Whitewater students and faculty helped lead RenewTowns, a project to drive sustainable economic growth and revitalization in communities. They worked with organizations and business leaders in Fort Atkinson, Cambridge, and Wauwatosa to build business pitch competitions that offer incentives to small businesses who set up in the downtown areas of those communities.
Members of the Enactus team also worked with women in Guatemala on ProChapina, a nonprofit organization that supports women through professional training programs and other services. Four students and a faculty advisor traveled to Antigua, Guatemala, in the summer of 2024 to meet with ProChapina leadership to discuss ongoing efforts in marketing and business operations.
As part of the reception, the Enactus team will preview its World Cup presentation. Click here for more details on Thursday’s event.
Obituaries
Lawrence “Larry” C. Hartung, a proud Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War, and longtime resident of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away peacefully at his home on May 1, 2026. Larry was born June 7th, 1949, to Levon and Charles Hartung in Chicago, IL. Larry enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1968 and served 3 consecutive tours in the Vietnam War. During this time, he became pen pals with his future wife, Candy, via a connection through his father. In 1970, he came home on leave to marry Candy. They celebrated 55 years of marriage on October 31st, 2025. During … Read more
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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