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Whitewater is at it again and had two teams, under the direction of Ms. Lynn Weilbrenner, submit culinary delights into the Whipping up Wellness Competition sponsored by the Department of Public Instruction [DPI]. Both teams spent hours brainstorming their recipes, creating a cooking schedule and nutritional information and preparing their recipes. Their final products turned out great.
Team #1 consists of Maggie Maas, Zoe Zei, and Maddi Morton, and they prepared ham and cheese pinwheels infused with garlic butter.
Team #2 consists of Jazlin Rios, Ozzy Navejas, Natalia Casillas, and Kiani Aranda. Their team prepared Loaded Potato Soup served in homemade bread bowls garnished with bacon, cheddar cheese, and parsley.
If the teams make it into the Top 5, then they will travel to Madison in May and prepare their dishes for a panel of judges, and their recipes will appear in the 2025 Whipping Up Wellness cookbook produced by DPI and distributed to all schools in Wisconsin. Good luck to both of our teams!
Article and Photos Submitted by Lynn Weilbrenner
Whitewater High School Family and Consumer Education Teacher
lweilbrenner@wwusd.org
APRIL 1 POLICE AND FIRE/EMS REFERENDUM
Sessions will provide public an opportunity to hear from Police, Fire, City officials and ask questions
The City of Whitewater announced it will host four public information sessions regarding the upcoming police and fire/EMS referendum that will appear on spring election ballots on April 1, 2025. The meetings will be hosted both in-person and virtually.
“The City of Whitewater has identified a need to add additional, full-time personnel to its Police and Fire departments,” said City Manager, John Wiedl. “These information sessions will allow us to share information and communicate the need for increased funding and additional Police and Fire staff with the greater Whitewater community.”
To accommodate as many City of Whitewater residents as possible, informational sessions will be held on
four different days at a variety of locations:
● Tuesday, February 18 at 5:00 p.m. at the Whitewater Municipal Building – 312 W. Whitewater St.
● Tuesday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Whitewater Municipal Building – 312 W Whitewater St.
● Thursday, March 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Whitewater Senior Center – 504 W Starin Rd.
● Monday, March 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the Whitewater University Innovation Center – 1221 Innovation Dr.
Spanish interpretation will be available at all information sessions. Recordings of the February 18 and March 11 information sessions will be published on the City’s website, and will include Spanish captions.
Information sessions will include a presentation, along with an opportunity for a “question and answer” discussion for residents with City Manager John Wiedl, Police Chief Dan Meyer, Fire & EMS Chief Kelly Freeman, and Assistant Fire & EMS Chief Ryan Dion.
More information about the upcoming referendum is available on the City’s website
https://www.whitewater-wi.gov/615/Police-and-Fire-EMS-Referendum.
The League of Women Voters of the Whitewater Area reminds voters in Walworth and Jefferson counties to get ready to vote in the upcoming April 1st Election. On the ballot this election are local candidates running for town, village and city offices such as municipal board members and school board members. Several Walworth and Jefferson County communities and school districts also have referendum language on the ballot. The League encourages voters to start their candidate research before they cast their ballot.
One source of nonpartisan candidate information is the League’s Voters’ Guide on VOTE411.org, where voters can go to read local and state candidates’ responses to the League’s questionnaire. By visiting the site, voters can find out what’s on their ballot and compare the candidates’ answers, which are posted verbatim. Responses received from local candidates in contested races in Walworth and Jefferson counties have been posted on VOTE411.org.
Communities and school districts impacted include:
Walworth Co: Bloomfield, Clinton, Delevan, Elkhorn, Geneva, Lake Geneva, Richmond, Sharon, Walworth, Whitewater, Williams Bay
Jefferson Co: Cambridge, Cold Spring, Fort Atkinson, Ixonia, Johnson Creek, Koshkonong, Lake Mills, Oakland, Palmyra
In addition to the Voters’ Guide on VOTE411.org, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has created factsheets for state and local elected offices. Learn what these offices are responsible for and how they impact the lives of everyday Wisconsinites. To view the factsheets, visit the WI State League website.
The League encourages voters to prepare to vote, visit VOTE411.org, and remind others about Election Day on April 1st.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
Hello, I am Jennifer Kienbaum, a mother of four boys, with my eldest son attending Whitewater High School. I am currently President of the Whitewater School Board. I have served on the school board since April 2019, and I decided to run for another term for three reasons. First, as a mother it is important for the School Board to have representation from parents who have a personal interest in improving the quality of our school district. Second, I believe in quality public education that ensures the success of ALL students. Third, serving on the Whitewater School Board allows me the opportunity to share my experiences and skills to benefit this community.
In my free time, I enjoy helping youth. I am active in Scouts, currently serving as the District Chair for Rock River District, and leader for Whitewater Pack 716. I am responsible for hosting the annual merit badge clinic at Whitewater High School for middle and high school students and Cub-a-Rama in the fall for elementary age students. I am active in 4H, helping each year at the Walworth County Fair in their youth building and hosting the Pinewood derby event. I am a member of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) currently serving as the scrip coordinator. The past three years I was a coach for Battle of the Books. I have previously held positions as a U6/U8 soccer coach and Sunday school coordinator. In 2023, I received the BSA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of my unwavering commitment to supporting and mentoring young individuals. In addition, I am also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 82.
I graduated from Port Washington High School in 1997 and attended UW-Whitewater, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with emphasis in Insurance. After graduation, I furthered my education by obtaining my securities licenses (FINRA Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 65) along with my life and health licenses. I have lived in the district for 26 years and I am currently employed full-time at FIS as a compliance manager and work part-time at Kwik Trip.
Prior to serving on the Whitewater School Board, I held numerous leadership positions on the Rock Prairie Montessori School Board of Trustees from 2011-2017. I served as the Chief Compliance Officer on the Catholic Financial Services Board from 2006-2012 and Chief Compliance Officer of the Series Portfolios Trust from 2016-2019. Since 2022, I have served as a member of the Glacier’s Edge Council Board. While the objective of each board I have served on is different, they all require someone who can create stronger ties between the board and the stakeholders. One of the most important roles as a Whitewater School Board member is to serve as the voice of the entire community, something that I take seriously.
My advocacy for our students and this District does not just happen at a Board level. I strongly support creating opportunities for students across all grade levels. When my son was in middle school, I helped obtain funding for the slot car club. In 2021, I donated two vehicles to the auto shop at Whitewater High School to provide hands-on learning experiences for our students, one of the vehicles is still being used today. Additionally, I contributed funds to purchase the Lego Mindstorm for the Washington Elementary School Lego club, and I provided a sun shade for Lakeview Elementary School’s courtyard, enhancing the students outdoor learning environment.
Over the next several years, key areas of focus for this District should include building a top notch vocation and technical education program that allows our students to graduate in a competitive career ready environment, ensuring that all needs related to Special Education and English Language Learners are met, addressing the mental health needs of our students, and improving test scores through effective curriculum, all while operating a fiscally responsible budget.
I have the ability to lead, listen to all stakeholders and bring people together. I am an advocate for children at the state and local levels. If re-elected, I will continue to focus on student achievement and implementing policies that will ensure success for ALL students. I will continue to listen to the concerns of this community, and I will represent those views when making decisions for the district. Please consider voting for me, Jennifer Kienbaum, on April 1st.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at kienbaum25@yahoo.com
Photos courtesy of Kodiak Creative
Providence, RI — Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) and Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) claimed All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships after finishing fourth and fifth respectively Saturday.
Peet opened Saturday with a semifinal matchup against third-seeded Cooper Willis of Augsburg. The 165-pounder bounced back from a 5-0 loss to Willis with a 6-0 win over Springfield’s Jake Deguire in the consolation semifinal. In the battle for third, Peet fell to second-seeded Tanner Gerber of UW-La Crosse by 15-6 major decision. Peet claimed his first All-America honor in his first NCAA Championship appearance with the fourth-place finish.
Mallinder had a tough battle against top-ranked Chase Randall (Coast Guard) in his semifinal bout at 133 pounds. After the 7-2 loss, Mallinder dropped into the fifth-place match following a close 3-2 loss to fifth-seeded Jaden Hinton (Baldwin Wallace). In his final bout of the 2025 championships, Mallinder pinned third-seeded Garrett Totten (TCNJ) in just 1:54. With the fifth-place finish, Mallinder earns his second All-America honor in as many seasons – he was sixth at 133 pounds a year ago.
Team scores are not available as the championship bouts are scheduled for 7 PM ET Saturday evening.
Friday Recap
Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) and Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) advance to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.
Jalen Dunson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) represented the Warhawks in the 125-pound weight class. Dunson opened the day with a major decision win over Connor Fiser from Loras. The junior faced conference opponent Quinten Wolbert from UWL in the second round. Dunson lost by in a close 7-5 decision. In the wrestle-back rounds, Dunson won his first by a major decision & advanced again with a take down in the overtime period against Kaden Majcher from Lycoming. His run came to an end in round in the consolation bracket to the sixth seeded Jake Craig from Southern Maine.
Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) went 3-0 in the 133 weight class to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. Mallinder secured a major decision followed by a technical fall on riding time in the first two rounds. The junior won his quarterfinal match over Connor Kidd from Luther. Mallinder will wrestle top-seeded Chase Randall from USCGA on Saturday.
Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) Joins Mallinder in the semifinal round. Peet recorded three straight decisions at the 165-pound weight class. The sophmore will face third-seeded Cooper Willis from Augsburg on Saturday.
Gavin Kohel (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) represented the Warhawks in the 184-pound weight class. Kohel seventh-seeded Tyler Winthers from Merchant Marine in the first round. In the second round of the sophmore battled but fell in a major decision.
Full Results
125 pounds – Jalen Dunson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest)
R1: won by MD over Connor Fiser (Loras), 11-2
R2: lost by DEC to Quinten Wolbert (UWL), 7-5
Cons R2: won by MD over Wyatt Kaczrowski (Augsburg), 13-4
Cons. R3: won in SV-1 over Kaden Majcher (Lycoming), 12-9
Cons. R4: lost by DEC to #6 Jake Craig (Southern Maine), 4-1
133 pounds – Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park)
R1: won by MD over Daniel Haws (Centenary), 12-2
R2: won by TF over Wyatt Magolski (UWL), 17-2 (7:00)
QF: won by DEC over Connor Kidd (Luther), 10-5
SF: lost by DEC to #1 Chase Randall (USCGA), 7-2
Cons. Semi: lost by DEC to #5 Jaden Hinton (Baldwin Wallace), 3-2
5th Place Match: won by FALL over #3 Garrett Totten (TCNJ) 1:54
165 pounds – Brayden Peet (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore)
R1: won by DEC over Konrad Parker (Ithaca), 8-2
R2: won by DEC over Mark Troni (Wash. & Lee), 8-2
QF: won by DEC over Christophe Stathopoulos (Stevens), 7-3
SF: lost by DEC to #3 Cooper Willis (Augsburg), 5-0
Cons. Semi: won by DEC over Jake Deguire (Springfield), 6-0
3rd Place Match: lost by MD to #2 Tanner Gerber (UWL), 15-6
184 pounds – Gavin Kohel (River Falls, Wis./River Falls)
R1: lost by FALL to #7 Tyler Winthers (Merchant Marine), 3:32
Cons. R1: BYE
Cons R2: lost by MD to #8 Blake Williams (Adrian), 17-4
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior guard Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) has been named a finalist for the 2025 Jostens Trophy, a national honor recognizing the most outstanding men’s and women’s Division III basketball players of the year. Sponsored by Jostens, Inc. and created by the Rotary Club of Salem, the Jostens Trophy celebrates student-athletes who exemplify excellence in basketball, academics, and community service.
Carollo, a four-time All-American, has etched her name into the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball record book in numerous categories throughout her career. During her remarkable career, Carollo has become one of the most accomplished players in program history. She was named the 2024-25 WIAC Player of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team for the third consecutive year. This season, Carollo set several program records, including career rebounds (a record that had stood for 41 years), career double-doubles, points in a season, season scoring average and three-pointers in a season. Additionally, she broke the conference record for career three-pointers.
Carollo is arguably the best all-around player in UW-Whitewater history as the only Warhawk to record at least 1,500 points, 800 rebounds, 300 assists, 200 steals, and 50 blocks. Her all-around dominance on the court has solidified her as one of the top players in Division III women’s basketball. Carollo’s career numbers are nothing short of astonishing with 1,828 points, 902 rebounds, 371 assists, 226 steals, and 58 blocks.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Carollo excels in the classroom. She holds a 3.9 cumulative GPA as an integrated business and science major, was named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators last season and earned WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar Athlete for women’s basketball honors this season. A Chancellor Scholar Athlete, she has appeared on the Dean’s List every semester and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll throughout her four years at UW-Whitewater.
Beyond basketball and academics, Carollo’s connection to the Whitewater community is deep-rooted. A Whitewater native, she has volunteered throughout her college career, contributing her time to Fairhaven Senior Services, organizing and participating in Hoops 4 Hunger events, and helping run youth basketball camps and clinics. Carollo is also a four-year member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and has completed two internships—one with UW Health Ambulatory Service Department and the other with Qualtrics Insurance Company. Moreover, she is a product of Warhawk women’s basketball, growing up the program with her mother, Keri, who serves and the head coach and her father, Joe, who is an assistant.
A leader through and through, Carollo is a vocal and positive force on the court and was integral to the Warhawks’ success the last four seasons. She was voted a team captain the last three seasons – an honor and testament to the trust and respect her peers have for her as a player and a person.
Carollo is the second Warhawk in as many seasons to be named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. Aleah Grundahl (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) was the recipient of the award last season.
Photo by Dane Sheehan
Scranton, PA — A phenomenal season for the UW-Whitewater women’s basketball team came to a close in the Sweet 16 following a 62-56 loss to UW-Stout.
The Warhawks cap the 2024-25 campaign with a 24-7 record. UWW won the WIAC Tournament title for the fourth time in program history to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 23rd time in program history. The Sweet 16 appearance is the fourth straight for UW-Whitewater and seventh under Head Coach Keri Carollo.
Friday’s game against UW-Stout marked just the second time two WIAC schools met in the Sweet 16, but it was the fourth time this season that the Warhawks and Blue Devils clashed. This game was like all of the others between the storied programs – a battle until the end.
The contest was close throughout setting up a down-to-the-wire fourth quarter. The Blue Devils pushed to a seven-point lead, 50-43, at the 6:12 mark, but the Warhawks responded. Defense turned to offense as Mia Gillis (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel Catholic) came up with a big block and defensive board. On the offensive end, Bri McCurdy (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls) found Maggie Trautsch (Sun Prairie, Wis./DeForest) for an in-rhythm three-pointer that cut the margin to four.
After a layup for UW-Stout, it was McCurdy’s turn to knock one down from deep, this time it was Kacie Carollo (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) on the dish, to cut the gap to 52-49. Carollo pulled down the defensive board, pushed the pace and was fouled. Her two free throws narrowed the margin to one, 52-51, with 4:33 on the clock.
Carollo hauled in another defensive board to put UWW back on the offensive. As the shot clock ticked down, Gillis found McCurdy who drove to the lane for a floater as the buzzer sounded. The shot hit the glass and went in with the officials immediately heading to the monitor. The play on the court stood, the jumper was good and the Warhawks claimed the lead, 53-52, for the first time since the first quarter with 3:29 remaining.
A flurry of action under the Blue Devils’ hoop on their next possession led to a layup as UW-Stout reclaimed the advantage with 2:11 on the clock.
Neither team was able to capitalize offensively for over a minute forcing UWW to foul as the clock neared the 30-second mark. The Blue Devils made a pair from the charity stripe to widen the gap to 56-53.
UW-Whitewater called timeout and advanced the ball to their bench side but couldn’t knock down the triple forcing the squad to foul immediately.
Stout made both once again to make it a five-point, 58-53, game with 24 left. The Warhawks called timeout and advanced the ball. This time Carollo drilled the three to pull UWW within two with under 20 seconds to play.
UW-Stout hit four more free throws down the stretch to seal the game.
Carollo led the Warhawks with one more double-double in her final game for UWW. The senior registered 23 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. She set the program record for points in a season and ends the season averaging 20.5 per game – another UW-Whitewater record. Katie Hildebrandt (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds with 4 blocks. Trautsch also registered double digits in the scoring column with 10.
Carollo amassed one of the greatest careers in Warhawk history with 1828 points, 902 rebounds, 371 assists, 226 steals and 58 blocks. Prior to the game Friday, Carollo was named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy – a full release will be announced Saturday.
Obituaries
Marion Jauch Burrows (Feb. 2, 1930 – June 5, 2026) Her sparkling eyes, warm laugh, and generous ways were gifts Marion brought into this world, touching family members and friends alike over the ninety-six years of her life. She was born and raised in Lombard, IL, and in the course of her life lived with her husband and growing family in Abilene, TX, St. David’s, PA, Arkadelphia, AR, Ada, OK, and Colorado Springs, CO, before settling in Whitewater, WI, in 1965. Generosity of heart, compassion toward those in need in and beyond her community, and an unwavering commitment to fairness … Read more
Patricia “Pat” Lynn Bailey, age 70, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026 with her daughter by her side. Pat was born February 21, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to John and Ruth (Hudock) Prentice. After a brief time in Ann Arbor, the Prentice family moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin, where Pat grew up as part of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater community, where her father served as University Registrar. Pat attended the University School and later graduated from UW Whitewater with a degree in Elementary Education. Although she did not pursue teaching, she built a meaningful career in Human … Read more
Gemelino Paris Esperante, 83, long time resident of Whitewater, passed away on Thursday, June 4th, 2026. He was born on January 10, 1943, to his late father and mother, Evaristo and Carmen in Spain. In 1973 he moved to the United States as a sheep herder. On August 21, 1981, he was united in marriage to Cyndie Esperante in Colorado. Gemelino also worked in Mining and construction for many years. He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, raising sheep and growing things in his garden, and flowers. He will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife … Read more
Mary Ann Warner died peacefully on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at Crestridge Assisted Living in Dodgeville. Her physical heart failed, but her actual, loving heart never did. Ann was born June 28, 1939 to Mary and Charles Kearns in Iowa. She moved to Whitewater, Wisconsin and graduated with many dear friends in the class of 1957. Ann married John Warner on September 19, 1959. They lived in Whitewater, Sturgis Michigan, and finally settled in Janesville where they built a beautiful life and raised their family. Together, they ran a business, traveled, played cards, and enjoyed their lives. When they became … Read more
Patricia Ann Jacobson (Bureau), age 81, of Whitewater, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI. Born on September 2, 1944, in Marquette, MI, to the late Donald and Margaret Bureau, Pat grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She graduated from Graveraet High School, attended Michigan State University, and later earned her bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. Pat dedicated her professional life to shaping young minds, working as an elementary and junior high school teacher in both Flint, MI, and Whitewater, WI. At the heart of Pat’s life was a beautiful, … Read more
In loving memory of Lois Lauritzen, age 92, who passed away on June 1, 2026 at Lakewood Memory Care in Brookfield. Lois led an active life full of devotion to family and friends. Born July 14th, 1933 in Silvis, IL, daughter of Harry and Elsie Wilson, she grew up in the Quad Cities with older brother Harry Wilson Jr. Lois graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in physical education. She met her husband Paul Lauritzen on the college tennis team. Their marriage on June 12th, 1955 lasted 59 years until Paul’s death on September 26th, … Read more
Donald Walter Triebold passed on to his eternal home on May 21, 2026. Don was born on April 23, 1935, in Evanston, IL, to the late Frederick W. and Mildred (nee Stecher) Triebold. Through his teen years, Don lived and worked on the family’s dairy farm, where he developed a life-long work ethic. His first eight years of education were in a one-room country schoolhouse, in which all eight grades were taught by one teacher. He graduated from Whitewater City High School in 1953 and then graduated from UW Whitewater in 1958 with a degree in Business Education. He continued his education, and earned a Master’s … Read more
William Kincaid Davis, age 84, passed away on Tuesday, May 19 at Agrace Hospice Center in Fitchburg. He was born on November 1, 1941, in Madison, Indiana, the second son of Salvation Army Officers Agnes (Dixon) and William C. Davis. He attended several schools in Indiana and Illinois, including University of Illinois Experimental High School (Champaign), and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1958. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire in 1964 and his master’s degree from UW-Whitewater in 1972. He had an expansive career in education, beginning as an English teacher in Whitehall, Thornton Township (IL) and … Read more
Magdalene “Maggie” Stetter (nee Fritz), 79, of Whitewater, Wisconsin passed from this life onto the next on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was born on January 16, 1947, to the late John and Mary (Presser) Fritz in St. Stefan, Austria. Maggie immigrated from Austria with her parents and brother, became a US citizen, and grew up and attended school in West Allis, WI and then graduated with a teaching degree from University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Maggie served as a substitute, English, and German language teacher in the Whitewater, Elkhorn, Delavan, and Palmyra schools and at Divine Word Seminary. Maggie … Read more
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
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