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On Thursday, September 12, the Whippet Volleyball Program traveled to Delavan-Darien to open up conference play. The Whippets fell short in the match-up at all three levels but battled until the end. Varsity scores for the match were 17-25, 9-25, 26-28.
The Whippets were led by:
- Calli Grosinske with 7 kills and 14 assists
- Ella Spear with 17 digs
- Zoe Kohl with 2 aces
The Whippets are back in action this weekend in Dodgeland for a tournament and then have their first home matches on Tuesday, September 17 against Monroe and Thursday, September 19 against Jefferson.
Come out and support your Whippet Volleyball Program.
Article Submitted by Caitlin Dowden
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
dowca01@wwusd.org
Photo courtesy of Bob Mischka
The City of Whitewater is excited to announce its first-ever Food Truck Fest, scheduled for Saturday, September 14th, from 11 AM to 7 PM at Cravath Lakefront Park. This marks the first event of its kind in our community, and we are thrilled to bring a diverse lineup of 15 food trucks to the area.
Attendees can look forward to a variety of delicious options, including tacos, donuts, and so much more! Whether you’re in the mood for a savory meal or a sweet treat, there’s something for everyone at the Food Truck Fest.
In addition to the fantastic food offerings, the City is partnering with Second Salem Brewing Company to provide a selection of local beers for the event. This collaboration promises to enhance the festivity of the day, offering a perfect pairing of food and beverages in a beautiful lakeside setting.
Join us at Cravath Lakefront Park for a day of great food, community, and fun. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the unique flavors and vibrant atmosphere of the inaugural Food Truck Fest!
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the City of Whitewater. Actually there was a food truck festival held at the library a number of years ago, but it featured about half as many trucks and no beer.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
As was previously announced on the Banner, the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library’s major renovation and expansion project is underway. On Friday, September 13 two giant burr oak trees were taken down to make room for the construction. Observers opined that the trees were likely over 200 years old. It was the price of progress, they admitted, while also acknowledging that trees don’t last forever. The event brought back memories of the relatively recent loss of the failing “Territorial Oak” at Main and Franklin Streets, as well as the controversial destruction about a decade ago of the gorgeous huge oak behind the former Olsen Funeral Home at Main and Prince Streets.
The library will be closed for approximately one month beginning Saturday, September 14. It will be open today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and materials that are checked out will be given an October 21 due date, although it is hoped that the reopening will occur by October 12. Should patrons wish to return those materials sooner than that date, they could return them at any of the Bridges System libraries, which includes Fort Atkinson, Jefferson and Palmyra. Anyone wishing to obtain materials during the library’s closure may do so by visiting one of those libraries, or by placing a hold on their desired materials on the library’s website but designating the library where they wish to pick them up. A patron’s library card is accepted at any of the system libraries.
Groundbreaking will be held on Wednesday, October 2 at 5 p.m. with speeches at 5:15. Cake and beverages will be served.
On Tuesday, September 10, the Whippet Swim Team took on Edgerton/Evansville in their first conference dual meet of the season.
The Whippets put up a close battle against Edgerton/Evansville by putting up some impressive times. Here are some highlights from the night:
In the 200 Medley Relay, Makayla Bazeley, Emerson Dunham, Charlotte Hajewski, and Maggie Maas beat out the rest of the competition by 5 seconds.
In the 50 Freestyle, Laken DePorter, Lucy Davis, and Georgia Esch all posted best times.
Charlotte Hajewski swam a lifetime best of 1:18.26 in the 100 Butterfly. And a quick shout out to Marijose Verduzco for competing in the 100 Butterfly for the first time.
In the 100 Freestyle, Maggie Maas, Maya Davis, Laken DePorter, and Caitlin Alford all posted best times. Maya Davis had an impressive 10 second time drop which puts her under 1:30. Way to go!
In the 500 Freestyle, Georgia Esch went a lifetime best time of 7:33.78. Emerson Dunham went a season best time of 6:17.82. And finally, we were so excited to see Zoe Zei back competing in the 500!
Marijose Verduzco went a lifetime best in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:34.40.
Makayla Bazeley improved in the 100 Breaststroke by going a time of 1:17.20. This secures her 8th place spot in the Whippet Top 10 list.
The Whippets are back in action on Saturday, September 14, at the Elk Invite in Elkhorn. We hope to see more red in the crowd cheering on our team!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu
It time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society.
Here is a post card image of the East Side School in the early 20th century after a large addition was made to the original building in 1906-1907. By the turn of the 20th century, the population of Whitewater had increased significantly and in 1884, a new west side “Union School” had been built; then that building became a high school building by 1893, when the Esterly School for elementary students was established, also on the west side. Finally, after 1900, the east side was addressed with an addition that doubled the size of the original building. In this configuration, the East Side school served this area of Whitewater for 50 years.
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3100PC, Whitewater Historical Society)
Courageous Conversation: Project 2025
The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area invites the public to participate in a Courageous Conversation on Project 2025, Wednesday, September 18, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Cravath Lakefront Community Center, 341 S Fremont St, in Whitewater.
Project 2025 is a series of goals and objectives shaped by the Heritage Foundation as a strategy document for the Office of the President.
An objective of the League is to engage in dialogue, deliberations, and discernment about issues that are critically important to the community. The premise of a courageous conversation is to speak your truth, experience discomfort, accept and expect non-closure, but stay engaged. The topic of Project 2025 is one that the community should discuss openly to understand its intent and proposed actions. During a presidential election year, we must stay vigilantly informed and have opportunities to deliberate through a lens of open-mindedness and freedom of expression.
The purpose of this courageous conversation is for participants to receive an overview of Project 2025, to ask questions about its intent, and to dialogue with other community members in a round table arrangement to seek understanding and to be understood. To assist in this discernment process, we have asked Dr. Eric Loepp, Associate Professor in the Department of Politics, Government, and Law and Director of Learning Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, to facilitate the discussion.
Please direct any questions about this program to League board member Dwight Watson, dwight.watsondcw@gmail.com.
______________________________
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. Visit our website at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/whitewater-area and like us on Facebook!
Hello basketball families!
Registration for the 2024-2025 Jr. Whippets basketball season is OPEN for both boys and girls in grades 3 through 8!!
Deadline to register is October 1 so don’t delay.
You can access the registration page through this link:
https://sportswwusd.sportngin.com/register/form/339853979
or scan the QR code on the attached flyer below.
Brock Grosinske, an accounting and finance major from Whitewater, WI, and graduate of Whitewater High School, is a member of the 2024 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team, which started its 2024 season last Saturday with a 34-7 victory against John Carroll (Ohio).
The Warhawks are ranked third in the nation by D3football.com and the American Football Coaches Association.
UW-Whitewater will be led by three Preseason All-Americans on offense including center John Pekar (Franklin, Wis./Franklin), lineman Alex Pethan (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) and running back Tamir Thomas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). The Warhawks return breakout returner and wide receiver Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge) – the 2023 WIAC Newcomer of the Year – to the team this season. Kyle Koelblinger (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) returns to help lead the defense after claiming Newcomer of the Year honors in 2021 as a defensive back.
UWW returns a number of all-league players to the squad this season. Running back Drake Martin (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) and wide receiver Steven Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) join Pekar, Pethan and Thomas offensively. Defensive lineman Matt Burba (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) and Nehemiah Lomax (Park Forest, Ill./Crete-Monee) are joined by linebacker Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) in addition to Koelblinger on the defense. Mason Stepanski (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) and Vasey head the all-conference earners returning on special teams.
UW-Whitewater finished second in the league a season ago after securing a 6-1 mark against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition. The Warhawks made a run to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals before capping the season with an 11-2 record. UWW has secured at least a share of the conference title in 14 of the last 18 seasons. The Warhawks have claimed more WIAC championships than any other team in the league — 39.
UW-La Crosse has been picked to win the title in 2024 followed in order by the Warhawks, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point.
The first road game of the season is set for September 14th at Roosevelt University in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
UW-Whitewater returns to The Perk for the final non-conference game of the season – a September 21 matchup against Mary Hardin-Baylor (Alumni Day presented by Mercyhealth). The Warhawks will host UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC opener on October 5 for UW-Whitewater’s annual Family Fest and Shriners Day presented by PremierBank.
Back on the road on October 12, the Warhawks will be in Menomonie for a meeting with UW-Stout. Kickoff against the Blue Devils is slated for 2 p.m. UWW will host UW-Stevens Point on Military Appreciation Day presented by the UW-Whitewater ROTC under the lights on Friday, October 18 at 7 p.m. Following an October 26 match-up at UW-Platteville, the Warhawks return to Perkins Stadium to take on UW-River Falls for Homecoming and the annual Hall of Fame Game presented by Educators Credit Union on November 2.
The final two games of the 2024 regular season are set for November 9 at UW-La Crosse and November 16 at UW-Eau Claire.
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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