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Monroe is the conference leader and played very good basketball at both ends as they defeated Whitewater 89-54 on Monday, February 12.
Whitewater was led by Jaylyn Ewing with 13 points, all in the first half. James Seagraves led the Cheesemakers with 17 points.
Whitewater High School hosts Fort Atkinson at 5:40 p.m. on Thursday, February 15. This will again be a doubleheader of basketball with the girls’ varsity game against Jefferson to follow.
Article Submitted by Mike McCabe
Whitewater High School Head Boys’ Basketball Coach
mccmi01@wwusd.org
Photo courtesy of Bob Mischka
In December, Whitewater High School’s new Esports Team started their Winter season through the WIHSEA (Wisconsin High School Esports Association). Coach Justin Buntrock created 3 teams, a Varsity Rocket League team and 2 Varsity Fortnite teams. One Fortnite team played on Tuesday nights and one played on Wednesday nights.
Fortnite is an FPS Battle Royale, survival style game, where you and your teammates drop into a large map along with several other players. As time progresses in the game, the storm (large circle) continues to get smaller and smaller. This forces the players to move closer to the center of the map as they continue to battle and fight to be the last survivor.
This season, there were over 30 teams from schools across the state. WHS played in “Trios” or teams of three. Points were tallied up after every game based on placement each week and kills per team per game each week.
Whitewater’s Wednesday night team placed 5th out of over 200 teams across the state of Wisconsin, thus qualifying for State, which will be held at 4:00 p.m. on February 21st. This will be round one of potentially three to find the best team in the state!
Article Submitted by Justin Buntrock
Whitewater High School Head Esports Coach
jbuntrock@wwusd.org
The following joint statement was released on February 12 by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and Rock County Emergency Management regarding the tornado that affected the Evansville to Lake Koshkonong areas on February 8.
Rock County Emergency Management continues to conduct damage assessments using the FEMA Damage Assessment Criteria. The most current information we have follows.
Total Number of Residences Impacted: 31
▪ Destroyed: 3
▪ Major: 10
▪ Minor: 11
▪ Affected: 7
The National Weather Service surveyed the affected area on February 9, 2024, and summarized
their findings on their website at https://www.weather.gov/mkx/FebruarySevereWeather.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville awarded diplomas to nearly 500 students for the fall of 2023.
Students from this area who graduated include:
Whitewater, WI (Name, major, campus)
Allison Heckert, Health and Human Performance, UW-Platteville
Hannah Hoesly, Civil Engineering, UW-Platteville
Robert Liberto, Health and Human Performance, UW-Platteville
Sydney Treder, Industrial Engineering, UW-Platteville
The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team closed out the season with some exciting and fast racing at the WIAA Division 2 Sectionals at Whitefish Bay on Saturday, February 10th.
The meet started off with the 200 Medley Relay, where Wyatt Esch, David Enns, Miles Nickelsburg, and Onyx Thompson bettered their seed time by 1 second. David Enns had a great split in the 50 breaststroke going a 36.82!
Miles Nickelsburg dropped 2 seconds in his 200 Freestyle to go a new time of 2:11.53 and finished 14th overall! Cruz Aranda, a heat later, bettered his time by 1 second going a time of 1:59.09 to finish 11th overall. Cruz is now 6th on the Whippet Top 10 List!
All the 50 Freestylers on the day went best times. David Enns went a 29.25, Wyatt Esch went a 26.86, Myles Morse went a 25.90 to place 16th overall, and Langdon Coburn went a 25.19 to place 14th overall!
Jack Hefty and Cruz Aranda both swam fast in their 100 freestyles. Jack finished 12th overall and Cruz finished 14th overall!
Wyatt Esch went a best time in the 500 by 2 seconds, going a new time of 6:34.33 and placing 15th overall! Myles Morse swam a strong 500 to finish 10th overall!
The 200 Freestyle relay had an exciting race as they battled against conference opponents Elkhorn and Delavan-Darien. Jack Hefty led off the relay with a 24.33, Cruz Aranda split a 24.32, Langdon Coburn split a 24.33 and Myles Morse brought it home with a 25.51. The team dropped 2 seconds off their time from last weekend at Conference!
Langdon Coburn had a 9th place finish in the 100 Backstroke, going a time of 1:02.58. He is now 9th on the Whippet Top 10 List. Miles Nickelsburg had a 13th place finish with a new time of 1:08.34.
David Enns and Jack Hefty both had best times in the 100 Breaststroke. David Enns dropped 3 seconds to go a time of 1:22.71. Jack finished 10th overall with a time of 1:13.95 and is 10th on the Whippet Top 10 List!
The 400 Freestyle Relay of Cruz Aranda, Langdon Coburn, Myles Morse, and Jack Hefty finished 6th overall with a time of 3:47.38.
The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team had an amazing season! We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next year!
Article and Photo Collage Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
On Saturday, February 10, the Whitewater Wrestling Team traveled to Clinton to participate in the 13 team Regional Wrestling Tournament, which is the first phase of the state tournament series. This is an individual tournament where the top four competitors in each weight class advance next weekend to Campbellsport for the Sectional Tournament. Team scores are also kept during this event based on individual success and the top two teams advance to the Team Sectional to be hosted by Whitewater High School on Tuesday night, February 13.
After the dust settled, the Whippets found themselves with 9 competitors advancing to the individual sectional next Saturday, and the team finished at the top of the heap to be able to compete in their home gym on Tuesday night.
Individually, Jasen Porras (113), Connor Friend (138), and Sebastian Cuellar (165) all won their weight classes. Jasen had outstanding 3rd periods in his open match and in the championship to come away victorious having 2 pins and a decision on the day. Connor Friend started the day with two pins and then a well wrestled 4-0 win in the championship. Closing out the champions, Sebastian Cuellar had a pin, technical fall, and a very well wrestled championship match winning 8-3.
Coming in second for the Whippets included Jarvis Porcaro (120) who had a pin and major decision on the day before falling for the second week in a row to a highly ranked student from East Troy. Odair Porras (150) dropped his semi-final match by 1 point, however battled back to take third place. Because he had not wrestled the 2nd place wrestler he got a wrestle back winning to claim the second-place position, which placement is important as it determines how you are placed at Sectionals. Also bringing home silver was Payton Lyon (190) picking up a pin and very well wrestled semi-final match winning by decision.
Closing out the Whitewater qualifiers were Brady Friend (132), who was 5-1 on the day, Traysen Thomason (144), who dropped a tough semi-final match in overtime, and Junior Soto (HWT) who had a big pin against the number 2 seed in the quarter-finals.
Just missing out on a trip to the sectional meet was JJ Gonzalez who finished the day 3-1 and in 5th place.
The Whippets will host the team sectional on Tuesday night with the semi-finals beginning at 6:00. Whitewater will face Campbellsport in the opening round. The winner of the two dual meets on Tuesday night will compete at Team State on March 2.
The individual boys who qualified as well as the girls’ team will travel to Campbellsport on Saturday, February 17, as they look to place in the top 3 for the boys and champion for the girls to advance to state.
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Graphic Courtesy of Johnny Gomez
LORETTO, PA — Congratulations to Emma Allamian from Whitewater, WI for being named to the Dean’s List at Saint Francis University. Allamian, majoring in Psychology, was among 801 students who earned a spot on one of the honors lists (President’s and Dean’s) for the Fall 2023 semester.
To earn an honors list distinction a student must have full-time status with a quality point average of 4.000 (President’s) or 3.500 (Dean’s) on 12 or more credits during a single semester, with no continuing or incomplete grades.
Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States. Its mission is to help students grow into compassionate, successful professionals through a culture of faith, generosity, respect, discovery, and joy. Saint Francis University offers traditional campus-based learning and competitive online and graduate degree offerings.
Obituaries
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
Leo E. Wurzer, 65, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at his home. Leo was born on April 15, 1961 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to Cyril and Shirley (McNeil) Wurzer. He grew up between Pleasant Prairie and Antigo, spending his childhood summers on his uncle’s farm where he discovered his love for all things tractors. Although he never had a farm of his own, he was able to partially fulfill his dream by working as a driver for Robin’s Trucking in Whitewater, WI in his last days and collecting miniature Tonka toys. He began his career … Read more
Lois Cummings, 99, of Fond du Lac, WI (formerly of Janesville, WI, Fort Atkinson, WI, Fountain Hills, AZ, and Green Valley, AZ) passed away peacefully on May 5, 2026 at the Meadows Senior Residence in Fond du Lac surrounded by family. Lois was born on February 17, 1927 in Fort Atkinson to Edward and Clarice (Roseth) Stevens. The middle child of 9 children, she attended Fort Atkinson schools and graduated in 1944. On September 11, 1948 Lois married Grant Cummings at Saint Andrew Catholic Church in Delavan, WI. Together they had 3 children, Gary, Colleen (Tom) Sabel, and Patty (Paul) … Read more
Come celebrate William Kincaid’s Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 30th at 1 pm at Trippe Lake Park Pavillion in Whitewater. He truly enjoyed gatherings where his favorite foods and music could be enjoyed with some of his closest friends and family. We will honor him by carrying on one of his favorite traditions. Please bring your own beverages and chairs. There is limited seating. See you all there!
Gladys Jean (Riley) Hildebrandt, age 89, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 23, 2026. Gladys was born on December 26, 1936, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Theresa Egnoski Riley. She was married to Walter Sobolik Sr., and later married James A. Hildebrandt in 1976. Gladys was a hardworking woman who spent her life caring for others. She worked in school kitchens, restaurants, factories, and cleaning services. She concluded her working career as a full-time nanny. In that role, she lovingly cared for Andrew, Daniel, and Kaitlyn Drzewiecki, who became part of her chosen family. Gladys is survived by her sons, Wally … Read more
WHITEWATER – Nan Rowley died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 90. She was born on September 4, 1935, in a little house on the prairie in the Town of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Wayne L. Wilbur and Florence (McQuillen) Wilbur. Nan attended primary schools in the towns of Johnstown and Richmond and in the City of Whitewater. Nan graduated with honors from Whitewater City High School. On June 19, 1954, Nancy and Ken Rowley were united in marriage in Whitewater and went to live on the Rowley family farm in Richmond. Over the years, Nan served … Read more
Marion H. Gorniak (nee Pfeiffer), 74, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026. She was born on October 24, 1951, to the late Harvey and Loraine (nee Drifke) Pfeiffer in Fort Atkinson, WI. On June 2, 1969, she was united in marriage to Alan Gorniak. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and cooking, especially her rhubarb pies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her. Those Marion leaves behind to cherish her memory include her husband, Alan Gorniak; stepson, Alan Bauer; sister, Sue Ann Schultz, other relatives and friends. … Read more
Ruth Irene (Phelps) Justis, 88, of Appleton City, Missouri, passed away Friday morning, April 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Warrensburg, MO, with her family by her side. Ruth was born June 3, 1937 in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Charles and Ada Mae (Maly) Phelps. She joined the Marine Corps in 1956. During her time there, she met and married her husband, Forest Wayne “Wayne” Justis in 1957. They shared 62 years of marriage and to this union, 2 children, Charles and Dorene, were born. Ruth grew up in Whitewater, WI., the oldest of three children. Ruth graduated from … Read more
Dorothy C. Kau, age 101, of Eagle, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Fort Memorial Hospital. Dorothy was born on March 18, 1925 in Eagle on the family farm, the daughter of John and Katherine (Faestel) VonRueden. Dorothy was a 1942 graduate of Palmyra High School. On May 21, 1949, Dorothy was united in marriage to Alvin E. Kau at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Eagle and the Lord blessed their union with 8 children. Alvin and Dorothy enjoyed 50 years of marriage together until Alvin’s death in the year 2000. Dorothy enjoyed being a farm … Read more
Dorothy E. McCracken, 95, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025, in Sarasota, Florida. Born on April 14, 1930, in Whitewater, Wisconsin, to Carl and Joyce Meyer, Dorothy grew up in Whitewater and graduated from Whitewater High School. She then worked for a photographer and hand painted his first colored portraits, until she got married. She and her first husband, Bernard Wafle, owned and operated a 179-acre dairy farm in Helenville, Wisconsin, for 25 years before relocating to Ocala, Florida, in 1979. Dorothy later married Earl McCracken, in Ocala, Fl. She also shared a special companionship later in life with … Read more
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