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Today is Friday, January 10, 2025
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By Angela Kelm
Aast Athletics Director for Sports Information
Whitewater, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team punched its ticket to Salem with a sweep in the Sweet 16 over UW-Platteville 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-19) Saturday evening in Russell Arena.
The NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship will be held at the Cregger Center in Salem, Virginia beginning with quarterfinal matchups on December 4. The championship match is slated for December 7.
It was a memorable night in Russell Arena Saturday as the Warhawks dominated to hoist the Regional Championship trophy. UWW hit .337 in the match while holding the Pioneers to just .085 – much to the credit of the Warhawks’ huge block. UW-Whitewater registered 15 blocks in the contest compared to just 3 for UWP.
The defensive prowess at the net was a factor from the opening serve. UWW rattled off the first seven points of the match with Chloe Werner and Abbie Dix teaming up for a block and Jenna Weinfurt hammering down a pair of kills in the run. The Pioneers narrowed the gap to three, 14-11, but that’s as close as UWW would allow. A four-point run late handed the Warhawks their largest lead of the set, 22-13. A three-point spurt sealed set one as Alayna Jansky tallied a kill on each side of a Werner/Hannah Proctor block.
Set two went back-and-forth until UW-Whitewater ran off five straight to open up a 10-4 advantage. Werner and Proctor turned away a pair of Pioneer attack attempts in the run. From that point, UWW cruised to a 2-0 advantage in the match.
A massive triple block opened and put the finishing touches on set three. Werner, Weinfurt and Dix created a wall for the bookend blocks to send the Warhawks into the Final 8.
Jansky and Werner paced UWW offensively with 10 kills each. Weinfurt added nine and Proctor posted eight. True to form, the blocking stats were impressive Saturday — Werner tallied nine, Dix had eight, Proctor added five while Weinfurt and Krzus each had three.
Jaedynn Evans led UWW in the digs column with 13 while Jansky added 12. Krzus registered 35 assists adding three kills on the night.
Following the conclusion of the match, Dix was named the Most Outstanding Player of the regional. Krzus and Jansky were also selected to the 2024 NCAA Volleyball Whitewater Regional All-Tournament Team.
It’s no surprise that UW-Whitewater’s block was one of the main components of the regional … after all matches have gone final across all regionals, the Warhawks remain atop the national rankings with a jaw-dropping 3.14 blocks per set – the next closest in Division III is 2.85 per set. In regional action alone, UWW averaged an incredible 4.83 blocks per set. Dix became the nation’s top blocker along the way, averaging 1.59 per set. That mark ballooned to 2.67 per set in the three regional matches.
The Warhawks are one of two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference programs to advance this weekend as UW-Oshkosh will also compete in Salem. The other six teams include Hope, Johns Hopkins, Emory, Washington & Lee, La Verne and Juniata. The Final 8 are re-seeded after the completion of all regional rounds.
UW-Whitewater is no stranger to the postseason as the Warhawks are amid their 35th appearance in the national tournament. UWW has won two national titles, finished as the national runner-up three times, placed third twice and fourth once along the way. This will be the first appearance for the Warhawks in the Final 8 since 2007.
More information on the national championship will be posted next week.
Nathan M. Bond, Lt Col. US Army Retired, has announced his resignation as Walworth County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) at the end of January 2025. Bond has served in this vital role since July 2016, following confirmation of his appointment by the Walworth County Board of Supervisors. He began his tenure with Walworth County on March 3, 2014, as the Veterans Service Specialist.
During his time as CVSO, Bond was instrumental in providing assistance, advice, and advocacy for veterans and their families throughout the county. His commitment to improving the lives of veterans has left a lasting impact on the community, ensuring that those who have served our nation receive the support and resources they need.
Bond is stepping down from his position to pursue Command of The Wisconsin American Legion, where he aims to continue his dedication to serving veterans at a broader level.
“I am pleased with the work we have accomplished in Walworth County to support our veterans and their families,” says Bond. “It has been an honor to serve as CVSO and advocate for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. I look forward to taking on new challenges with The Wisconsin American Legion and continuing my mission to serve veterans.”
Walworth County thanks Colonel Bond for his service and unwavering commitment to veterans. His leadership and advocacy have made a significant difference in the lives of many, and he will be greatly missed.
For more information or inquiries, please contact the Walworth County Veterans Service Office at (262) 741-4222.
The final performance of “White Christmas” is on Sunday at 1 pm, James M. Stewart Auditorium at the high school.
General tickets ($7 for students and $10 for adults) are available at the box office one hour before the performance.
The WHS Players production showcases the talents of a cast of 30, a crew of 18, and a live band of 11.
Before the curtain opening, Tom Ganser’s photos of the WHS Players productions of “Footloose” (2021), “Beauty and the Beast” (2022), and “Mean Girls” (2023) will be shown.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Music invites the community to its highly anticipated Annual Gala Concert on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at The Young, 930 W. Main Street. This cherished holiday tradition showcases the extraordinary talents of nearly every student ensemble in the department, offering an evening of festive music and celebration.
The festivities begin with pre-concert performances at 6:45 p.m., as small ensembles fill the building with joyous sounds. The main concert will follow at 7:30 p.m., featuring dynamic performances from large ensembles that promise to inspire and delight audiences of all ages. Adding to the charm, small ensembles will continue to perform throughout the venue during intermission and after the concert.
All proceeds from this special event support the Department of Music Scholarship Fund, helping to nurture the next generation of musicians.
Tickets ($30 for adults, $25 for those age 65+, $20 for under age 18) are now available and can be purchased in advance by calling 262-472-2222 or visiting tickets.uww.edu. There is a $2 surcharge for tickets purchased at the door.
Don’t miss this magical evening filled with music, community, and the holiday spirit. Join us at The Young, UW-Whitewater’s performing arts center, to celebrate the season and support the arts!
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Location: The Young, UW-Whitewater
- Pre-Concert Ensembles: 6:45 p.m.
- Main Concert: 7:30 p.m.
- Tickets: Call 262-472-2222 or visit tickets.uww.edu
For additional information, or to make a donation to the Department of Music Scholarship Fund please visit uww.edu/coac/gala-benefit-concert.
Walworth County is seeking input about its transportation services to better meet community needs. Residents are invited to participate in a brief, five-minute survey to provide feedback on the County’s Wal-to-Wal Dial-a-Ride Shared-Ride Taxi and Walworth County Specialized Transportation services.
“This is an exciting time for our transportation services, and we want to ensure we’re offering options that truly benefit our residents,” says Walworth County Mobility Program Manager Gene Bobier. “Residents’ feedback will be invaluable as we work to enhance and expand the transportation options we provide.”
To thank participants for their time, Walworth County is offering the chance to win a $25 Kwik Trip gift card. The survey can be accessed at https://bit.ly/WalCoTransportation.
Walworth County transportation services are vital resources for residents of all ages, and this initiative aims to ensure these programs continue to meet the evolving needs of the community. To learn more about Walworth County transportation services, please visit www.wal-to-wal.com.
By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Whitewater, Wis. — The No. 6 UW-Whitewater volleyball team secured their spot in the regional championship match for the third consecutive season Friday night. The Warhawks swept league-foe UW-Eau Claire 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-21) to advance to the title match.
The regional championship will be another Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown as UW-Platteville took down Washington University in St. Louis in the first match Friday to advance. The Pioneers will make their second appearance in the regional championship in program history while the Warhawks will make their seventh under Head Coach Stacy Boudreau as the teams square off Saturday at 5 PM in Russell Arena. The first 100 UW-Whitewater students (with ID) will get in free to tomorrow evening’s regional championship match. Doors open at 4 PM.
The Warhawks were dominant early in Friday’s match against the Blugolds. Like much of the season, the UWW block provided a huge advantage for the Warhawks and continuously swayed momentum in Whitewater’s favor.
A six-point run for UWW midset gave the Warhawks a 17-9 lead. Three blocks bolstered that run and led to a lopsided first set win.
UW-Whitewater jumped out to a 7-1 lead in set two, but the Blugolds whittled away at the margin making it a battle late. UW-Eau Claire rattled off four in a row to knot the set at 21-21. The squads traded points with ties at 22-22 and 23-23. A Blugold service error gave UWW set point. Aubrie Krzus registered one of her six kills to cap the set and give UW-Whitewater a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Blugolds held an early lead in set three until a four-point run for UWW gave the Warhawks a 20-17 advantage. The last three points of that run came on blocks for UWW – Chloe Werner and Abbie Dix tallied the bookend blocks while Dix teamed with Jenna Weinfurt for the second of the run.
A few points later, with UWW leading 22-19, Dix and Krzus turned away a Blugold attack attempt. The defensive powerhouses at the net made it back-to-back blocks on the next rally for match point. UWEC pushed for an additional match point before Alayna Jansky punched UW-Whitewater ticket to the title match with a kill.
Janky led UWW offensively with nine kills. Defense was the difference as Dix posted nine blocks in the contest. Krzus added five blocks to her six kills without an attack error and 26 assists. Werner registered four blocks, a mark that Weinfurt matched.
Jaedynn Evans posted 19 digs with Ally Longden adding 13. At the service line, Weinfurt and Emma Bludgen each tallied a pair of aces.
“The Magic Flute”
Tuesday, November 26, 1 pm
(Opera/Mozart/Musical) Rated PG
1 hour, 55 minutes (2022).
Now for something completely different!
A modern retelling of Mozart’s world famous opera, featuring F. Murray Abraham.
Come for the music, stay for the story, costumes and The Magic Flute. A quietly beautiful, fantasy of a film!
Seniors in the Park is located in Starin Park, 504 W. Starin Road. Although there is no charge to attend, regular participants are encouraged to join Seniors in the Park. The annual fee for residents of the Whitewater Unified School District is $10 and non-residents is $15. The funds support about half of the cost of our front desk staff person for 15 hours per week. The rest comes our of our fundraising monies. If you cannot afford the fee, we have a fund that will cover it for you. Fees are accepted at the Starin Park Community Building or online at https://schedulesplus.com/wwtr/kiosk/
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Fort Atkinson beat Whitewater 46-38 in non-conference girls’ basketball action on Thursday night, November 21. Both teams were looking for the season’s first win, and Whitewater jumped out to an early 14-4 lead. By halftime, Fort Atkinson was back to within one point and started to pull away with a few minutes remaining in the game. Whitewater had a chance to cut it to three with just over two minutes remaining but could not take advantage, and Fort was able to seal the win.
Article Submitted by Mike Dowden
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
dowmi01@wwusd.org
Photo courtesy of Bob and Peter Mischka.
Obituaries
In Loving Memory of Kandi Lynn Kincaid (Cardinal)Beloved Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kandi Lynn Kincaid, daughter of Eunice and Richard Kincaid, on December 28th at 7 PM. Kandi passed away peacefully in bed, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes—watching crime shows. Kandi was a woman of many passions. She was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears, found joy in listening to 2Pac, and had an unwavering love for animals, always standing against cruelty of any kind. Her smile could light up a room, and her warmth … Read more
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William J. “Bill” West, 75, of Whitewater passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson. Bill was born on September 8, 1949 to John and Bessie (Sutherland) West in Fort Atkinson. He worked at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for twelve years. Bill enjoyed watching the Packers and NASCAR. He is survived by his girlfriend, Sandy Hahn; and many friends and family. A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 11 AM until 1 PM at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Inurnment will take … Read more
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David Harold Baker Jr., beloved husband, father, stepfather, son, and brother, passed away on December 16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 61. Born on August 10, 1963, in Beaufort, South Carolina, David was the firstborn child of David Baker Sr. and the late Betty Jean Baker (née Wickham) while his father served in the United States Marine Corps. David spent his early years in Wyoming, where the family lived until his parents divorced. In 1976, David moved to Oregon with his father, and he graduated from high school in 1982. Shortly after, he moved to Wisconsin to … Read more
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Allen C. Hicks, 85 of Whitewater passed away on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Huntington Memory Care in Janesville. Al, the oldest of seven boys, was born on July 5th, 1939, in Belvidere, Illinois to Walt and Laura (Keller) Hicks. A few years later, the family bought a dairy farm in Whitewater and became very active in the Whitewater community. There was always work to be done or something to be repaired on the farm which led to Al’s lifelong love of tinkering. He was very active in high school sports which continued on into his adult years playing in … Read more
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Jeanette Ila Hansen, 91, Whitewater passed away on December 24, 2024 at Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek, WI, having lived independently almost all her later life. Jeanette was born on May 12, 1933 in Whitewater, WI to Alvin and Maybell (Maasz) Cox. She married Norman Hansen on November 2, 1950 and they were married for 59 years. Jeanette enjoyed fishing, reading, indoor gardening, collecting dolls, and cooking; and she made many beautiful items with crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She was generous and seemed to have a good word to say about almost everyone she met. She especially loved … Read more
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Isaac Richard Unger left the field on Christmas Day, and is now at peace. He was born in Whitewater, WI on April 1st, 1993 to Paul and Mary Jo (née Peiffer) Unger. Isaac was born ten days late on a silly holiday, and lived his life as such–never rushed, and with a lighthearted sense of humor. Isaac graduated from Madison East High School in 2011, and then attended UW-River Falls from 2011-2016, where he studied English and philosophy. Isaac was a sports lover, not only as a spectator, but as a participant. Isaac grew up playing soccer, basketball (Badger Sporting … Read more
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John George Mack passed away into eternal glory on December 24th, 2024. John was born December 1, 1963, in Fort Atkinson, WI to Ronald and Mary Alice (Hanson) Mack of Whitewater. John was a 1982 Whitewater High School graduate. In 1983 just out of high school John started his first wood company selling wholesale through all the major gift markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York. At the time his clients included 8 out of the 10 retail chains and several thousand independent stores nationwide. John had so many wonderful customers and associates. As the wholesale gift market shifted to cheaper overseas … Read more
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Clifford Maynard Witte, age 103, of Whitewater, WI completed his earthly journey on December 24, 2024 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Clifford was born on September 13, 1921 on a farm in Mount Horeb, WI, and was the third child of Ella and Eli Witte. Clifford served his country by joining the Navy in 1942 during WWII, and served alongside his two brothers. Later he used the GI bill to attend Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, IA. There he met the love of his life, Beulah (Billie) Ohrberg, and they married on Nov 7, 1946. Shortly after … Read more
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Mary Ann Burkhardt, 79, passed away December 24, 2024, at Edgerton Hospital, surrounded by loved ones following a brief illness. Mary was born on September 14, 1945, in Chicago, IL, to Raymond and Helen (Pasternak) Burkhardt. She attended elementary school in Chicago and Good Counsel Catholic Girls High School, before her family moved to Whitewater where she graduated from WHS in 1963. She worked at Gus’s Pizza Palace, Whitewater Products, and finally, Jones Dairy Farm until her retirement 33 years later. She enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling, boating, golf, riding her motorcycle, and playing softball for the Long Branch Saloon. She was … Read more
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Jean Lucile Zuill, 98, of Whitewater passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at Hearthstone Memory Care. Jean was born on April 20, 1926 in the Town of Lima to Howard and Florence (VanDuser) Hunt. Along with her brother Van, she grew up on their family farm in Lima. She graduated from Whitewater High School in 1944. For a short time, Jean worked at the Parker Pen Company in Janesville. She married David “Dave” Zuill on August 9, 1947 in Whitewater. Upon marriage and having their two daughters, Janet and Mary, Jean undertook the meaningful job of mother and homemaker. … Read more
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