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The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team finished out conference in 3rd Place overall at the conference meet! So many had best times and there were a few conference medal finishes. The top 6 individuals in each event and the top 3 relays medal.
Top 16 finishes and best times include:
200 Medley Relay:
- 8th (2:04.98)-Miles Nickelsburg, David Enns, Myles Morse, Andrew O’Toole
- 12th (2:10.63) – Wyatt Esch, Caleb Kluck, Sam Nickelsburg, Xavier Ortiz
200 Free:
- Cruz Aranda is the SLC CONFERENCE CHAMPION of the 200 Freestyle, winning with a time of 1:54.26!
- Miles Nickelsburg finished 6th with a time of 2:07.65!
200 IM:
- Jack Hefty finished 5th with a time of 2:19.84. Jack dropped nearly 5 seconds. He now sits 9th on the Whippet Top 10 List.
- Wyatt Esch finished 16th with a time of 2:47.81. Wyatt dropped 7 seconds off his previous time.
- Andrew O’Toole swam a great race and finished with a best time of 2:47.98
50 Free:
- Mateo Bazeley finished 3rd with a time of 23.84. Mateo now sits 8th on the Whippet Top Ten List.
- Caleb Kluck continues to drop more time going a time of 26.82
- Angel Kilar dropped nearly a second off of his time to go a time of 33.79.
100 Butterfly:
- Langdon Coburn finished 7th with a time of 1:00.35.
- Myles Morse finished 9th with a time of 1:05.98.
- Sam Nickelsburg finished 11th with a time of 1:09.09
100 Freestyle:
- Cruz Aranda finished 4th going a season best time of 51.35.
- Mateo Bazeley finished 5th going a time of 53.26.
- Caleb Kluck dropped over a second going a time of 1:00.28
- Andrew O’Toole dropped nearly 2 seconds going a time 1:00.52
- David Enns also dropped some time going a best time of 1:03.05
500 Freestyle:
- Myles Morse finished 3rd with a time of 5:32.27. Dropping 6 seconds puts Myles 8th on the Whippet Top 10 List.
- Miles Nickelsburg finished 4th with a time of 5:47.12. Miles dropped nearly 4 seconds off his previous time.
200 Freestyle Relay:
- 3rd (1:36.02) – Jack Hefty, Langdon Coburn, Mateo Bazeley, and Cruz Aranda. All the of them posted their best relay splits this season. In the leadoff, Jack went a time of 24.15, which puts him 10th all-time on the Whippet Top 10 List.
- 12th (1:51.12) – Xavier Ortiz, David Enns, Sam Nickelsburg, Andrew O’Toole
100 Backstroke:
- Langdon Coburn finished 6th with a time of 1:01.85. Langdon now sits 8th on the Whippet Top 10 List.
- Wyatt Esch finished 16th with a time of 1:13.91.
- Xavier Ortiz had a big drop of 6 seconds to go a time of 1:24.88
100 Breaststroke:
- Jack Hefty finished 9th with a time of 1:12.87.
- Isaac Straight dropped 3 seconds to go a best time of 1:26.93
400 Freestyle Relay:
- 3rd (3:37.78) – Cruz Aranda, Mateo Bazeley, Langdon Coburn, and Jack Hefty. They dropped over 6 seconds off their seed time. Langdon (54.53) and Jack (53.84) both had season best splits.
- 6th (5:57.07) – Myles Morse, Caleb Kluck, Wyatt Esch, and Miles Nickelsburg. They dropped nearly 7 seconds off their seeded time! Each of them posted best times. Myles in the leadoff went a 58.26, Caleb went a 59.00, Wyatt went a 1:01.46, and Miles went a 58.35
The boys are having a great start to Championship season, and we can’t wait to see them compete at the WIAA Sectional Meet at Milton High School on Saturday, February 15th. Swimming starts at 1 pm; we hope to see you there!
Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Whitewater area effective from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 3 a.m. Thursday. Total anticipated “light and fluffy” snowfall is 4-6″.
The Irvin L. Young Library in Whitewater will be closing at 5:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, February 12, due to inclement weather. We will resume regular hours on Thursday, February 13th.
Editor’s note: The above announcement was provided by the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
As was previously reported in The Whitewater Banner, when emergency personnel were called to the home at 505 Ventura Lane on November 21 by the report of smoke, they located a fire that had almost self-extinguished as well as a deceased person. The individual was identified as Indumathi Chilukuri, a 71-year-old female owner of the home. Since the fire appeared to be caused by arson, it was referred to the Walworth County Fire Investigation Team. All parties have now completed their investigation, allowing the Whitewater Police Department [WPD] to close the case, with a finding that Chilukuri’s death was a suicide.
Fire personnel and the investigation team determined that the starting point of the fire was the couch in the living room and that the fire appeared to be intentionally set. Police indicated that there were no signs of recent entry into the residence and no indication of foul play on the body. The Walworth County Medical Examiner’s Office also did not find any evidence of foul play but indicated that there were signs that death had occurred from carbon monoxide inhalation. Toxicology reported that Chilukuri’s level of carbon monoxide was at 68% saturation. It was stated that lethality from carbon monoxide exposure is at a level or 40% or higher. WPD’s report concludes, “Based on the results from the toxicology report, Chilukuri’s death was caused by inhalation of Soot and Products of Combustion (Carbon Monoxide exposure) due to a house fire. The Manner of Death was listed as Suicide.”
Updated 2/9/25 @ 8 p.m. to correct the time of the WUSD legislative breakfast.
Whitewater Unified School District Legislative Breakfast – Monday @ 9 a.m.
Agenda – Click on meetings in the upper right corner.
Editor’s note: The agenda contains an incorrect listing of the area legislators. The Banner has reached out to ensure that the current legislators have been invited. Sen. Nass only represents the town of LaGrange now. Otherwise, the district is represented by Rep. Brienne Brown and Sen. Mark Spreitzer.
Public Test of the Spring Primary Election Equipment – Monday @ 10 a.m.
This notice is given to inform the Public that the City of Whitewater is holding the Public Test of the Spring Primary Election Equipment. The information follows:
When: Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: City of Whitewater Municipal Building, 2nd floor Cravath Lakefront
Conference Room, 312 W. Whitewater St.
City of Whitewater Plan & Architectural Review Commission – Monday @ 6:00 p.m.
Agenda includes Consideration to Approve and Recommend to Common Council a change in the District Zoning Map to Rezone Vacant Lots on Cedar Court from R-1 (One Family Residence District) to R-2 (One and Two Family Residence District); Discussion and possible approval of a Conditional Use Permit for an Electronic Message Monument Sign to be located at 401 S Elizabeth Street [Whitewater Middle School], Discussion and possible approval of a Conditional Use Permit for Contractor Shops to be located on Greenway Court.
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/347783733
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 347-783-733
United States: +1 (646) 749-3122
Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://meet.goto.com/install
City of Whitewater Public Works Committee – Tuesday @ 5:00 p.m.
Cravath Lakefront Room, 2nd floor, 312 W. Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
AGENDA includes Discussion and Possible Action regarding pedestrian safety crossing W. Main Street.
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone. Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89241724935?pwd=4iqX7kimmdaVc1xfcXrmhb2C2I3IYe.1
Telephone: +1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 892 4172 4935
Passcode: 758390
City of Whitewater Community Involvement and Cable TV Commission – Thursday @ 5:00 p.m.
Agenda
Whitewater Municipal Building Community Room, 312 West Whitewater St.
*In Person and Virtual
Citizens are welcome (and encouraged) to join our webinar via computer, smart phone, or telephone.
Citizen participation is welcome during topic discussion periods.
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85478113984?pwd=vJSI08WJD3u3mVjidt1pIv4bgetEPR.1
Join via audio:
+1 312 626 6799 US
Webinar ID: 854 7811 3984
Passcode: 534378
It was a great weekend of wrestling for the Whippets! The girls won the team conference championship, and the varsity boys finished only one point behind 2nd place Monroe. The JV team also wrestled well on Friday night.
Girls’ Conference Tournament:
On Saturday, February 8, the Lady Whippets had an opportunity to compete in the first ever Girls’ Rock Valley Conference Wrestling Tournament held at East Troy High School. The girls wrestled extremely well throughout the day, filling 10 of the 12 weight classes, bringing home 4 championships, 4 runner-up finishers, and the team title!
Isabelle Cantu started things off reaching the championship securing a pin in the semi-finals to advance to the finals. In the finals she had a very strong girl, dropping the match and bringing home the silver medal.
Due the tournament being new, teams were allowed to enter more than one girl per weight class. The 107-pound weight class found an all Whitewater Final with both girls securing pins in the semifinals. In the finals, Senior Adalynn Frye was able to take Ema Aranda down to her back and secure the first period pin, bringing home Whitewater’s first Girls’ Conference Champion.
Winning the title at 126 pounds was A’Lani Ross, who had a strong girl from Turner. She was able to build a big lead and then secured a second period pin to bring home the 2nd title for Whitewater.
Following A’Lani was Atreya Wilson at 132. She had a girl from Jefferson who had defeated her a week and a half ago. Atreya came out with a game plan for herself, getting the first takedown, and controlled the match from there forward. She was able to secure a pin in the second period after leading 9-2 and claimed the 3rd conference title of the day.
Coming in runner up at 138 pounds was Vivian Harris who found herself against a returning state place winner from Monroe. She is a very strong girl who has excellent technique, pinning Harris in the first period.
With a move to help the team battle for the team title, Payton Taylor wrestled up a weight class and did a great job against a strong girl from East Troy. Payton had great movement when she was on the bottom and was able to get the reversal and did a great job putting in a half nelson to the girls’ back. Payton was slow close to the pin but got just a little high on the girl and got rolled to her back in a tight hold. It was great work by Payton making adjustments. This is Payton’s first year, so just a little more mat time experience would have put her into a better position in the attempt for the pin.
Closing out the finals was Marianna Kubicz who also moved up a weight to help the team contend for the team title. Marianna was able to bring home a championship for the Whippets.
Also doing a great job after a tough semifinal loss was Silvia Harris. She came back strong in her Bronze Medal match, building a lead and then securing a 16-4 major decision to earn herself a conference medal.
Also wrestling well and helping the team in the team race was Alexa Arredondo who had a tough weight class but secured a 4th place finish. Aubrey Fuoco also wrestled tough in both the semifinals and in her 3rd place match but fell short in each of them coming home with a 4th place finish.
When the final tally came in for the team scores, the Whippet Girls found themselves on top of the conference and brought home the first ever Rock Valley Conference Team Championship. This was truly a team effort with all girls contributing to the title.
The girls are next in action when they move on to the individual portion of the season as they travel to Mukwonago for the Individual Regional Tournament on Friday, February 14, starting at 3:30. The top four wrestlers in each weight class from Friday advance to the individual sectional to be held at Whitewater High School.
Boys’ Conference Tournament:
On Saturday, February 8, the Boys’ Wrestling Team traveled to East Troy to compete in the Rock Valley Conference Wrestling Tournament. Overall, the team did very well, wrestling potentially the best they have as a team during the season to this point. When the dust settled after lots of great wrestling, the Whippets found themselves in 3rd place in the team standings behind Evansville and Monroe. The coaching staff was happy with this placement as they really competed well overall as each student competed their heart out and found themselves just outside of the top two losing to Monroe by 1 point!
Jarvis Porcaro and Connor Friend each closed out their Conference Tournament careers improving on last year’s Runner-Up finish by bringing home the championship for themselves. Jarvis had a very strong day defeating three opponents. In the finals he had great positioning over a strong student from Evansville.
Connor had found himself in the finals the last three seasons but each year just missed out on his title. He changed that today with three dominating performances, securing a 2nd period Technical Fall 18-3 in the championship.
Dropping matches early in the tournament but showing grit and true character were Jasen Porras, Traysen Thomason. and Junior Soto, each bringing home the Bronze Medal. All three of these seniors improved on their placement from last season to bring home the medal this year. Jasen had a tough semifinal loss and showed grit by coming back, getting a technical fall. Then, in the 3rd place match, he wrestled a great match against a tough competitor from Evansville winning the match in overtime, causing the Whippet crowd to erupt.
Traysen Thomason had a tough loss in the semifinals against a young man from Monroe that he has often had battles with the last two years. Traysen came back to secure a technical fall in the wrestle back and then brought home the bronze medal with a 9-3 victory.
Closing out our medalists was Junior Soto. Junior lost a tough first round match but kept his head up and battled back. He pinned his opponent from Turner and then followed that with a great match against a young man from Edgerton who had defeated him earlier in the season. He built a big lead and was able to battle through a scramble to end up pinning his opponent to reach the bronze match. In this match Junior wrestled extremely well, winning the match 6-4.
Bringing home 5th place for the Whippets were Richi Kalra and Austin Retzlaff. Richi went 4-2 on the day, getting some nice wins along the way. Austin defeated a student from Edgerton two times at the tournament, avenging an earlier season loss.
The Whippets are next in action next Saturday, February 15 when they travel to Delavan-Darien to participate in the Regional Wrestling tournament. The top four place winners at that event will advance to the Sectional Tournament the following weekend.
Articles and Photos Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Wisconsin has a rich U.S. Naval history. There have been more than 65 U.S. Navy ships named after the cities, people, and places of Wisconsin. General William “Billy” Mitchell was considered “The Father of the U.S. Air Force” and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We cannot wait to see the lasting impact these Whitewater High School students will have on the U.S. military.
Whitewater High School is proud to announce that Andrew O’Toole and Jackson Hefty were nominated for appointment to serve at a U.S. military academy by Congressman Bryan Steil.
Andrew O’Toole received a nomination for an appointment to both the US. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jackson Hefty received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy.
The process to become admitted to any of the military academies is quite rigorous. Part of the U.S. Military Academy application process includes obtaining a nomination from an authorized nomination source, such as a member of Congress.
Acceptance to an Academy is a highly competitive process, and the nomination by Congressman Bryan Steil is the first step.
Andrew has received an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy, which he will accept. Jackson recently accepted the appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy where will also be a member of the U.S. Naval Academy cross-country team.
Other WHS seniors aiming for a career in the military include Miles Nickelsburg (Army ROTC) and Isaac Straight (Marines).
Article Submitted by Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School Social Studies Teacher
gstewart@wwusd.org
UW-Whitewater and its alumni contribute more than $1.4 billion to Wisconsin’s economy each year
Findings of two new studies show the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Warhawk alumni have a significant impact on Wisconsin’s economy, to the tune of more than $1.4 billion annually.
The studies, published last month by the Fiscal and Economic Research Center (FERC), explore and quantify how UW-Whitewater’s operations — and the more than 38,000 UW-Whitewater alumni currently in the state’s workforce — affect economic activity in Wisconsin.
“It is part of our mission at UW-Whitewater to serve as an economic driver of our region and to boldly champion education, opportunity and prosperity for all,” said Corey A. King, chancellor. “We’re proud — but not surprised — by this research that shows the Warhawk family has a considerable effect on Wisconsin’s economy.”
Operational impact
Just by carrying out its day-to-day academic mission and auxiliary operations, the university attracts money, employment and volunteerism into Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties, said Russ Kashian, director of FERC. “University and student spending together account for the largest impact on the region, followed by art and entertainment events, athletics competitions, and youth camps,” he said.
All of this leads to $514,750,000 in annual economic activity and the creation of 2,680 jobs, according to the report. In addition to this regional impact, the university generates $24,465,000 in annual tax revenue for the state, including sales, income, and property tax.
Alumni impact + value of a UW-Whitewater degree
When UW-Whitewater’s alumni are considered, the benefit to Wisconsin’s financial picture is even more impactful. The 38,000 alumni currently living and working in the state have a collective economic output of $890 million. In addition, they pay $145 million more in sales and income tax than those without a college degree.
“UW-Whitewater graduates are crucial to strengthening Wisconsin’s job market,” Kashian said. “Our research revealed the average alum is earning $97,500 per year. In comparison, the average annual income of a 25- to 54-year-old high school graduate is $46,208.”
Kashian noted that every discipline at UW-Whitewater is represented in high earner categories, from arts and education to business and the social sciences.
“At a time when there is a lot of conversation about whether a college degree is a wise financial decision, it’s absolutely clear from the data that UW-Whitewater graduates are thriving in their careers. A UW-Whitewater degree is an exceptional investment, and it’s paying off faster than ever,” Kashian said.
For the UW-Whitewater class of 1995, the rate of return on their college investment took 10.3 years. For graduates in 2015, that had decreased to just 8.4 years, much faster than the national average of 13 years.
“Our alumni are our legacy, and this study confirms our Warhawk graduates are enjoying successful careers and making positive contributions to the State of Wisconsin,” said Chancellor King.
About the research
To determine the university’s economic impact, FERC used institutional spending data combined with student and visitor surveys. Respondents were asked to calculate the total amount they spend each month across various categories such as food, housing, and transportation within the local economy.
To determine the alumni economic impact, FERC used alumni survey data from the Classes of 1982-2023 combined with data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey.
The full reports are available at the Fiscal and Economic Research Center website.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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