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Today is Wednesday, January 15, 2025
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Tuesday night’s WIAA regional soccer play-in game between the Whitewater Whippets and the Spartans of Martin Luther was an entertaining end to end battle for the full 80 minutes.
Martin Luther scored an early goal to give them the lead; however, seconds later, a beautiful ball in from Avery Janovec and a brilliant scissor kick finish from Victor Hernandez tied the game. The Spartans took the lead again shortly after, but a smart bottom corner shot from Sebastian Cuellar once again tied the game. The last 20 minutes of the first half were dominated by the Whippets. With some sustained pressure, Victor Hernandez assisted Chris Cortes’ first ever varsity goal to give the Whippets the lead at half time.
The second half continued just as the first and was heavily contested on all parts of the pitch. Martin Luther managed to tie the game at 3 and then take the lead 4-3 minutes later. They weren’t ahead for long because Victor Hernadez played another magnificent ball and assisted Chris Cortes again. With the score tied at 4 all, extra time and penalties looked imminent. However, with 86 seconds left in the game, Martin Luther delivered the final blow of the contest.
Despite the loss, the Whitewater Whippets can end their season with their heads held high because of their wonderful performance on a cold and windy night. We say goodbye and thank you to our seniors and wish them luck in all future endeavors. Improvement from the beginning of the season to the end is all we can really ask for, and our boys delivered. Thanks for the great season!
Article Submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
During Homecoming Week, The Whitewater Unified School District, along with Nelson’s Bus, conducted their annual “Stuff the Bus.” All the schools in the district collected food for the Whitewater Food Pantry to help them get ready for the holidays. As part of the homecoming tradition, the high school had bonus items for each class to earn extra points for their class. The Freshman class came out in first place this year, earning extra points for their class.
Each of the schools in the district worked hard collecting food throughout the week. 3,020 pounds of food were donated, loaded onto a bus, and dropped off at the Food Pantry on Friday, October 14.
Community members were also given the opportunity to donate food or money to this awesome cause. A total of $5,525 was donated with $5,000 of that coming from the Kachel Family, for which we are truly grateful!
What a great way for a community to come together for a worthwhile cause!
Article and Photos Submitted by Amy Houwers
Whitewater High School Student Council Advisor
ahouwers@wwusd.org
The Whippet Volleyball Team finished 4th at the RVC Conference tournament to place 3rd overall to finish the season behind McFarland and Brodhead. The Whippets saw East Troy first in the tournament and beat them in a 2 set sweep 25-17, 25-17.
Next up the Whippets saw Brodhead and fell in 2 sets 20-25 and 11-25. To finish the playoff round, the Whippets battled Evansville for third place. In a hard-fought match, they fell in three sets 25-21, 23-25, 10-15.
Points from finishing the conference play 8-1 and then tournament play in 4th, has the Whippets placing 3rd in the RVC behind McFarland and Brodhead.
Statistical leaders included Caleigh Yang with 24 digs, Aidyn Amundson with 5 blocks, Cali Kopecky with 4 aces, Calli Grosinske with 40 assists, and Kindyl Kilar with 41 kills and 5 blocks.
“With the conference play and tournament behind us, we look to extend our season against Monroe on Tuesday. This team has battled all season, and we want nothing more than to extend our time on the court together. We hope many will join us in the gym on Tuesday!”
The Whippets will now host Monroe to begin playoffs on Tuesday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Article Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Editor’s Note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unites Lives.
Terry Phelps is a WUL Hometown Hero “For volunteering as a firefighter for the Whitewater Fire Department for nearly 50 years.”
In addition to his volunteer work as a firefighter, Terry taught for 25 years at Gateway as an instructor in firetruck and driver operations. He managed all of that in addition to his full-time job as a machinist at Whitewater Manufacturing.
Terry was recently featured in Spectrum News 1: https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/madison/news/2022/09/07/-it-s-been-a-good-ride—whitewater-firefighter-set-to-complete-50-years-of-service-before-his-retirement
WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.
Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com
Emilia Houwers finished her season in the WIAA State Tennis Tournament at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison on Thursday, October 13. Emilia, unfortunately, lost in the first round to Sophie Vande Slunt of Saint Mary’s Spring Academy 4-6, 1-6.
What is not lost is that Emilia became one of the few WHS tennis players to qualify for the State Tennis Tournament in singles two times and is only a Junior! Congratulations, Emilia, on a great season!
On Thursday afternoon, before the team left for Madison, Whitewater High School began the tradition of the “Whippet Walk” which will be repeated for any individual or group that advances to a state-level competition in academics, athletics, the arts, or activities. The tennis team was followed through the student-lined hallways by the Whitewater High School Marching Band playing the school song.
Article and Photos Submitted by Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School
gstewart@wwusd.org
Additional Photos Courtesy of Justin Crandall
“CODA”
Tuesday, October 18, 1 p.m.
(Comedy/Drama/Music)
Rated PG-13; 1 hour, 51 minutes (2021)
As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family’s fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion at music college, and her fear of abandoning her parents. Winner of three Oscars: Best Picture, Supporting Actor and Screenplay.
| Gov. Tony Evers ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff on Sat., Oct. 15, 2022, in honor of Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day, as required by state statute, during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9 through Oct. 15, 2022. “Wisconsin firefighters exemplify the best our state has to offer, putting their health and safety on the line to take care of their neighbors and serve their communities,” said Gov. Evers. “From fire prevention education to emergency response, we are grateful for their service. On Saturday, we honor and remember the fallen heroes who are no longer with us and share our deepest condolences with their families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. The legacy of their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.” Fire Prevention Week is observed annually to recognize firefighters’ efforts to keep families and communities safe and to encourage Wisconsinites to take personal steps to have a planned and practiced home fire escape plan. The week will feature observances, ceremonies, exercises, and activities related to fire safety education and prevention. During Fire Prevention Week, the state of Wisconsin also recognizes Wisconsin Firefighters Memorial Day to honor the firefighters of this state who have made the ultimate sacrifice in performance of their duties over the course of the year. A copy of the governor’s Fire Prevention Week proclamation is available here. Previously, Gov. Evers ordered the flags to be flown at half-staff on Oct. 1, 2022, coinciding with the Final Alarm Ceremony and Silent Procession at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial Park in Wisconsin Rapids, which is hosted by Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial Inc. in recognition of Firefighter Memorial Day. Executive Order #176 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Sat., Oct. 15, 2022, and is available here. |
The Whitewater Volleyball Program hosted Johnson Creek at our Dig Pink home finish on Thursday, October 13. It was an incredibly emotional night as Cali Kopecky and Kindyl Kilar began, “During our Dig Pink event last year, we had the honor of celebrating three of our moms who were breast cancer survivors. One of our moms, Angelica Verduzco, had JUST finished her final chemotherapy treatment and rang the celebratory bell in front of our Whippet Volleyball community. Little did we know that her battle wasn’t over yet. Over the last year, Angelica continued to fight the cancer with radiation, chemotherapy, and multiple surgeries. Her grit, tenacity, and positivity never dwindled as she battled day in and day out. Sadly, Angelica lost her battle to cancer in September of this year. Her beaming smile and love will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.” Peyton Clark gave a tribute to her grandmother who is a breast cancer survivor, and Aidyn Amundson and Calli Grosinske gave a heartfelt tribute to their moms, also breast cancer survivors.
The Whippets concluded with highlighting all in the stands who have been impacted by breast cancer and presented them a pink carnation and hugs.
This team, this program, understands that there is more to volleyball than the win-loss column. We are supporting each other through the toughest of times; we are playing for causes and people whom we hold dear to our hearts. Athletics brings people together, and this team understands the impact we have. They are a true team!
The Whippet Varsity squad (8-1 conference, and 20-6 overall) then took to the court and continued their win streak against the visiting Johnson Creek Blue Jays and swept them 25-14, 25-11, 25-16.
The Whippets controlled their side of the net and were able to stay in system most of the night. “Controlling the ball to stay in system is key to running a fast offense. I felt we ran the middle well tonight, with Jenna Pope and Aidyn Amundson getting some nice swings. CC Alexander also had a solid night on the right side and had some key blocks for us. Kindyl Kilar and Cali Kopecky had great nights on the outside, and both Calli Grosinske and Marina Linos set consistently for us. Caleigh Yang continued to be a force defensively in the libero position. Everyone got some playing time, and it was great to see Caroline Skindingsrude get some key serves and digs, and Cara Yang, our lone freshman, came in hot and played some great defense!”
We are now heading into our conference tournament on Saturday. Following, we begin the playoff run seeded fourth in our regional. We will host Monroe on Tuesday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. We hope we can pack the gym with fan support!
We have been so thankful to our fans this season. They have come and supported us and created an awesome playing atmosphere!
Statistical leaders on the night included Ella Spear with 6 digs, Cali Kopecky with 6 digs and 5 aces, Calli Grosinske dished out 20 assists, and Kindyl Kilar had 21 kills and hit an outstanding .875 on the night.
Hope to see you Tuesday in the gym!
Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
Obituaries
Bradford L. “Brad” Tuttle, 75, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Brad was born on November 4, 1949 in Ohio to Charles and Jean (Homstad) Tuttle. Brad graduated from Warren G. Harding High School. After high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force. On August 3rd, 1974 he married the love of his life, Beth. They were happily married for 50 years. Brad was also employed by the City of Whitewater for over 30 years. He enjoyed rooting for his Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns with his family. He was also an … Read more
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In Loving Memory of Kandi Lynn Kincaid (Cardinal)Beloved Daughter, Sister, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kandi Lynn Kincaid, daughter of Eunice and Richard Kincaid, on December 28th at 7 PM. Kandi passed away peacefully in bed, enjoying one of her favorite pastimes—watching crime shows. Kandi was a woman of many passions. She was a devoted fan of the Chicago Bears, found joy in listening to 2Pac, and had an unwavering love for animals, always standing against cruelty of any kind. Her smile could light up a room, and her warmth … Read more
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Dr. George Harold Seeburger, 89, of Lake Mills passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Lilac Springs Assisted Living in Lake Mills. George was born on July 20, 1935 in Phillips, Wisconsin to George and Nellie (Knight) Seeburger. He graduated from Phillips High School and received an undergraduate degree from UW Stevens Point and went on to earn his PhD from the University of Georgia Athens. He was a biology professor at UW Whitewater up until his retirement. George married Nancy Carole Skalitzky on November 6, 1959 in Waukegan, Illinois. Nancy passed on November 13, 2021. They enjoyed traveling … Read more
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William J. “Bill” West, 75, of Whitewater passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at Fort Memorial Hospital in Fort Atkinson. Bill was born on September 8, 1949 to John and Bessie (Sutherland) West in Fort Atkinson. He worked at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater for twelve years. Bill enjoyed watching the Packers and NASCAR. He is survived by his girlfriend, Sandy Hahn; and many friends and family. A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 11 AM until 1 PM at Nitardy Funeral Home, 550 N. Newcomb St., Whitewater, WI 53190. Inurnment will take … Read more
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David Harold Baker Jr., beloved husband, father, stepfather, son, and brother, passed away on December 16, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 61. Born on August 10, 1963, in Beaufort, South Carolina, David was the firstborn child of David Baker Sr. and the late Betty Jean Baker (née Wickham) while his father served in the United States Marine Corps. David spent his early years in Wyoming, where the family lived until his parents divorced. In 1976, David moved to Oregon with his father, and he graduated from high school in 1982. Shortly after, he moved to Wisconsin to … Read more
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Allen C. Hicks, 85 of Whitewater passed away on Saturday, January 4th, 2025 at Huntington Memory Care in Janesville. Al, the oldest of seven boys, was born on July 5th, 1939, in Belvidere, Illinois to Walt and Laura (Keller) Hicks. A few years later, the family bought a dairy farm in Whitewater and became very active in the Whitewater community. There was always work to be done or something to be repaired on the farm which led to Al’s lifelong love of tinkering. He was very active in high school sports which continued on into his adult years playing in … Read more
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Jeanette Ila Hansen, 91, Whitewater passed away on December 24, 2024 at Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek, WI, having lived independently almost all her later life. Jeanette was born on May 12, 1933 in Whitewater, WI to Alvin and Maybell (Maasz) Cox. She married Norman Hansen on November 2, 1950 and they were married for 59 years. Jeanette enjoyed fishing, reading, indoor gardening, collecting dolls, and cooking; and she made many beautiful items with crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She was generous and seemed to have a good word to say about almost everyone she met. She especially loved … Read more
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Isaac Richard Unger left the field on Christmas Day, and is now at peace. He was born in Whitewater, WI on April 1st, 1993 to Paul and Mary Jo (née Peiffer) Unger. Isaac was born ten days late on a silly holiday, and lived his life as such–never rushed, and with a lighthearted sense of humor. Isaac graduated from Madison East High School in 2011, and then attended UW-River Falls from 2011-2016, where he studied English and philosophy. Isaac was a sports lover, not only as a spectator, but as a participant. Isaac grew up playing soccer, basketball (Badger Sporting … Read more
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John George Mack passed away into eternal glory on December 24th, 2024. John was born December 1, 1963, in Fort Atkinson, WI to Ronald and Mary Alice (Hanson) Mack of Whitewater. John was a 1982 Whitewater High School graduate. In 1983 just out of high school John started his first wood company selling wholesale through all the major gift markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York. At the time his clients included 8 out of the 10 retail chains and several thousand independent stores nationwide. John had so many wonderful customers and associates. As the wholesale gift market shifted to cheaper overseas … Read more
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Clifford Maynard Witte, age 103, of Whitewater, WI completed his earthly journey on December 24, 2024 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Clifford was born on September 13, 1921 on a farm in Mount Horeb, WI, and was the third child of Ella and Eli Witte. Clifford served his country by joining the Navy in 1942 during WWII, and served alongside his two brothers. Later he used the GI bill to attend Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, IA. There he met the love of his life, Beulah (Billie) Ohrberg, and they married on Nov 7, 1946. Shortly after … Read more
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