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By Angela Kelm
Asst. Athletic Director for Sports Information
Box Score | The UW-Whitewater football team [#11 d3football.com] opened Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 21-14 win over UW-Oshkosh [#17] in front of a record crowd at Perkins Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Warhawks set the Division III record (for games played on a college campus) and WIAC attendance record for the third consecutive season with 21,233 visiting The Perk Saturday. The mark breaks last year’s record by more than 1,000 fans.
The Titans struck first scoring on their first drive of the contest on a 33-yard touchdown pass. From that point, the Warhawk defense shut out the UWO offense until early in the fourth.
It took a few drives for the UWW offense to settle in, but the Warhawks got on the board early in the second quarter. In the team’s third drive of the game, Jason Ceniti found Steven Hein for a 16-yard gain up to the Warhawk 38. Tamir Thomas burst up the middle for a seven-yard gain on the next play – the final of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, a late hit by the Titans on Ceniti resulted in a 15-yard gain to put the Warhawks in UWO territory. Three plays later, UWO was flagged once again, this time for a late hit out of bounds on Ceniti that gave UWW a 1st-and-10 at the Titan 14. Thomas was tapped for back-to-back carries before Drake Martin punched it in from two yards out. Jackson Fox split the uprights on the extra point to knot the game 7-7.
UW-Whitewater added seven on a long drive before the end of the half. The drive started with a 50-yard Ceniti to Brian Wilterdink connection. Ceniti capped the five-minute drive with his feet and the help of a big push from the backfield for a one-yard touchdown run. Fox’s point after made it 14-7.
The Warhawk defense came up with a quick stop to give UWW 46 seconds before the break, but the drive stalled near midfield as the teams went into the intermission with the seven-point margin.
UW-Oshkosh gained some momentum early in the third with an interception followed by a punt that rolled out of bounds at the UWW one-yard-line. Deep in their own territory, the Warhawks got some breathing room off of the goal line but were still forced to punt. Kamrin Hutt booted a 65-yard bomb to flip the field and push the Titans back to their own 25.
After a pair of short completions, Jakob Simmons burst through the line and got his hand on the Titan quarterback pulling him to the ground for a sack and a loss of nine on third down. The UWO punt was downed at the UWW 43.
The Warhawk backs in Thomas and Brian Stanton took over with six consecutive carries to end the quarter. Martin was tabbed for the carry to open the fourth and burst up the middle for five yards. Thomas broke loose on the next play making Titan tacklers miss before leaping over a defender at the goal line for the 16-yard touchdown. Fox nailed the extra point to give UWW a 21-7 advantage.
Oshkosh responded on their next drive with a touchdown as a short reception turned into a big gain and a score to narrow the gap to seven, 21-14.
The defense stole all of the momentum from the Titans on UWO’s next, and final, drive of the game. On 2nd-and-10, Paul Kim came flying off the edge for the sack, jarring the ball loose on the hit. The Titans recovered but faced 3rd-and-19. Simmons nearly got to the quarterback on the next play, forcing him to throw the ball away to avoid a sack.
Following a 45-yard punt, the Warhawks took over at their own 10 with 4:41 on the clock. UWW pounded the rock picking up a first down and forcing a UWO timeout. Another seven-yard gain had the Titans calling their final timeout with 2:42 remaining. Martin took the handoff on 3rd-and-1 and was stood up at the line of scrimmage as the clock ticked down to the two-minute warning.
Martin got the call again and this time he carried defenders forward for a three-yard gain and a first down. From there UWW was able to kneel out the clock to secure the win.
Ceniti was 8-18 for 119 yards. Thomas paced the Warhawks on the ground with 123 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown. Six receivers hauled in passes from Ceniti in the game with Steven Hein and Tyler Vasey recording a pair of catches each.
Defensively, Kim was phenomenal with seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
UW-Whitewater will be on the road at UW-Stout next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. in Menomonie. The Warhawks return to Perkins for a Friday game under the lights on October 18 when UWW will host UW-Stevens Point for a 7 p.m. kickoff
What ages are eligible to join 4-H? Per their website, “Youth in 5K (five-year-old Kindergarten) AND who are 5 years old by September 1 or older are eligible to be 4-H members. 4-H membership cannot exceed one year beyond high school graduation and cannot extend beyond the age of 19 as of December 31 of the enrollment year.”
The Friends of Lorine Niedecker and Write On, Door County announce the Lorine Niedecker Fellowship. The fellowship is offered every two years to an established or emerging poet familiar with the work of the 20th century American poet, Lorine Niedecker. The fellowship encourages research into Niedecker’s life and writing and promotes new work that deals with the poetry of place.
The fellowship comes with a $1,000 stipend, as well as additional funds to assist with travel and food. A two-week residency is included in the fellowship, with one week at Write On, located on the northeastern peninsula of Wisconsin, and one week in Niedecker’s hometown of Fort Atkinson. The dates for the 2025 fellowship are May 4 through 11 at Write On and May 11 – 18 in Fort Atkinson.
The successful applicant must show an understanding and appreciation of Lorine Niedecker’s work and her place in 20th century poetics, as well as a publishing history, whether in poetry journals, full-length book, chapbook, monograph, or academic articles.
During the fellowship period, the successful applicant will give two public programs, to be arranged by the sponsors, and write one article for FOLN’s “The Solitary Plover.”
Applications must be submitted online via Submittable. The application consists of 10-12 pages of poetry, a 300-500-word statement of purpose, a C.V. or resume, and two references. Links to past publications should be included in the application. There is a $40 non-refundable application fee. Applications will be accepted October 15 through December 15, 2024. Applicants will be notified of their status by February 1, 2025.To apply, please visit writeondoorcounty.org.
Libero Jaedynn Evans digs a ball against UW-Eau Claire Friday night (Olivia Zinanni)
Box Score | The No. 4 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater volleyball team swept UW-Eau Claire 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-11) on the team’s annual Dig Panici Night in Russell Arena Friday.
The nation’s top blocking team registered a hefty advantage at the net with 12 total blocks in the match compared to just three for the Blugolds. Hannah Proctor and Abbie Dix, the Warhawk middles, combined for a solo and ten block assists. Setter Aubrie Krzus turned away seven UWEC attack attempts with a solo and six assist blocks in the match.
UW-Whitewater jumped out to early leads in each of the three sets. In the closest set of the evening, the Blugolds were able to pull within one, 22-21, but the Warhawks grabbed the next two points on UWEC miscues to push set point. Alayna Jansky hammered down a kill for the 25-22 set two victory.
Jansky put the finishing touches on the match in the third. On match point, a tough UWEC serve went to Jansky. Krzus was able to push the difficult pass back to Jansky on the outside off of the net. Her roll shot hit the tape and sneaked over the net and down to the floor for the final point of the match.
Dix and Jansky shared team-high honors with nine kills each. Jansky hit .348 in the match with just one attack error. Fellow outside Jenna Weinfurt pounded down seven kills.
Krzus tallied 26 assists and added 4 kills to her 7-block night. Jansky also led UWW in digs with 15 followed by 14 from libero Jaedynn Evans.
Each year, the UW-Whitewater honors former Warhawk Lisa Panici with the annual Dig Panici Night. Lisa was an integral part of the team from the moment she set foot on campus. Sadly, she was diagnosed with brain cancer her freshman year and lost a two-year battle with the disease in 2012. To read more about Lisa and her story click here.
UW-W Chancellor Corey A. King (R) greets Harry Coker Jr. UW-Whitewater photos/Craig Schreiner
By Chris Lindeke
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Marketing and Communications Manager
University Marketing and Communications
A growing major at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — cybersecurity — was the topic of conversation on the Whitewater campus during a visit from the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Representatives from the White House, including National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr., and Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Rob Shriver, joined UW-Whitewater students, faculty and staff for a day of engagement, discussion and learning.
The visit included meetings with campus leadership, a tour of facilities, a student panel discussion, remarks from both White House and university representatives, roundtable discussions, and a visit to UW-Whitewater’s annual Hawk Internship and Career Fair.
A student panel discussion included information technology major MayLin Frietag, information technology and marketing major Paige Lenz, and cybersecurity major Shamik Patro. The panel was moderated by Michael Rose, who earned a BBA in information technology and an M.S. in cybersecurity from UW-Whitewater and is currently the director of information technology at St. John’s Northwestern Academies in Delafield.
Coker lauded the work of UW-Whitewater in the cybersecurity space, especially with small businesses and rural agribusinesses in Wisconsin that are often targets of malware attacks.
“I’ve learned even more about how strong this institution is,” Coker said. “You all ought to be proud of your accomplishments … I’m so proud of what you’re doing and so grateful, particularly to students whom I met with this morning. Believe me when I tell you, I’m now even more encouraged about our nation’s future. I’m inspired to be at UW-Whitewater.”
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for information security analysts are expected to grow by 33 percent between 2023-33 – the fifth-fastest rate in the nation.
According to Coker, there are nearly 500,000 job openings in cybersecurity in the nation, including 5,000 in Wisconsin. In the southern part of the state alone – including the Janesville, Madison and Milwaukee areas – a total of 3,000 cybersecurity roles are open.
UW-Whitewater is addressing the need head on. The number of degree-seeking cybersecurity majors at the school nearly doubled between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years. The university’s undergraduate major and minor programs related to cybersecurity, combined with the master’s and certificate programs, have risen steadily since 2019-20, including an 11 percent jump between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
UW-Whitewater is aligned with the National Security Agency’s National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program requirements.
“Cybersecurity is a growing challenge, affecting industries, schools, and businesses of all sizes,” said Jason Janke, dean of the College of Letters and Sciences. “We offer comprehensive undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity programs that are directly aligned with the demands of the workforce.”
UW-Whitewater’s B.S. in cybersecurity, offered through the College of Letters and Sciences, focuses on identifying, preventing, detecting, and responding to security attacks that endanger the safety of property and people.
The university’s BBA in information technology with emphasis in networking and security, a program in the College of Business and Economics, tackles the same focus areas while exploring the relationship between cybersecurity and business.
“Cybersecurity is more than just an IT issue – it’s a business imperative,” said Paul Ambrose, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “We are leading the way in ensuring our students have the knowledge and skills to protect organizations from evolving cyber threats.”
Students in both majors engage in the UW-Whitewater Cybersecurity Center for Business (CCB). Housed in the business school, the CCB offers cybersecurity education, research, and outreach for organizations and learners in Wisconsin. Current and past partners include the U.S. Department of Defense and the Wisconsin Emergency Management Cyber Response Team.
“I didn’t know what cybersecurity was until I joined the cybersecurity club,” said Lenz, a junior from Bloomington, Illinois. “You get to learn theory, get to do hands-on experiences, and get to compete in competitions. It’s helped me a lot with my experiences here.”
“The Cybersecurity Center for Business complements the curriculum initiatives through education, research and outreach initiatives in cybersecurity,” said Balaji Sankaranarayanan, CCB director and professor of information technology and supply chain management.
Graduates can also enroll at UW-Whitewater for additional learning on the topic – other academic programs include an M.S. in cybersecurity, a cybersecurity certificate, and a cybersecurity management certificate. All three programs are fully online, offering convenience and flexibility for professionals to build their skills and enhance their knowledge.
Students in the cybersecurity programs provide free Cyber Preparedness Assessments to rural K-12 school districts and agribusinesses, which are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks.
During the upcoming Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5 Cyber Lucrezia exercise, UW-Whitewater students will shadow professionals in real-time cyber defense.
They’re all part of the hands-on learning that has become commonplace on campus.
“You get classes on the computer science side to learn theory and classes on the IT side where you get hands-on experiences, and the bow on top is the cybersecurity classes,” said Patro, a senior from Verona. “Capstone classes focus on hands-on learning where you go out to local companies and schools and perform actual cybersecurity related tasks. It’s a phenomenal experience.”
The visit also occurred during Cyber Awareness Month, an annual initiative to raise cybersecurity awareness in the United States and around the world.
The day closed at the university’s Hawk Internship and Career Fair, where nearly 200 employers engaged with students and alumni seeking internship and employment opportunities. Approximately 20 of the organizations on hand were recruiting for cybersecurity related roles.
October is a month for the macabre, mysterious moans, mammoth monsters…and Halloween! Three movies to induce mayhem!
“Matinee”
Tuesday, October 8, 1 pm
(Comedy/Drama) Rated PG; 1 hour, 39 minutes, (1993)
Remember “The Fly,” “The Mole People,” and “The Alligator Man”? In a deft spoof of 50’s-60’s horror films, John Goodman portrays a B-movie producer of low–budget monster flicks, sneak-previewing his latest schlocky monster mash of a movie at a Key West theater—-on the weekend of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. A real hoot! Wait ‘til you see “The Mant”! (half man/half ant)…
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/
Paul Jhona writes, “This Spring a tall lilac got hit by a storm. Damaged. New sprouts all Summer. This past week saw these blooming up high [see photo below.] Lilacs in September and October.
Our thanks to Paul Jhona for sharing his surprise with us.
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com. Thanks for thinking about this!
Trees in front of the school were all “TP’d.”
By 11 a.m. there sometimes was almost more toilet paper on the ground than in the trees. [Binnie photos]
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
In the past it was often popular to toilet paper the trees at fellow high school students’ homes for Homecoming, but this year the focus seemed to be on the high school itself. As students and staff arrived for school on Friday, October 4, they found that essentially every tree or large bush in the front and sides of the high school had been toilet papered. While traditionally the goal seemed to be to cover each tree as thoroughly as possible, in this case the objective seemed to be how many trees could be minimally decorated. Approximately fifty trees were targeted.
Principal Brent Mansky and Athletic Director Justin Crandall displayed no irritation while cruising the campus in a golf cart to retrieve paper from the lawn on Friday afternoon. “They have to learn to do it better,” Mansky told The Banner. Noting how the perpetrators seemed to hit each tree only once, he continued, “Next year we’re going to make it into a competition between the classes; each grade will be assigned a section. They’ll have to clean up what’s on the lawn by Friday evening.”
Principal Brent Mansky (L) and Athletic Director Justin Crandall recovered paper from the lawn on Friday afternoon.
Justin Crandall demonstrating his mastery of the grabber
Editor’s note: The Banner wishes to thank Kay Robers for the news tip.
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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