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The gymnastics team had their first home meet this season on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. JV competed for the first time and WON!
Emily O’Donnell and Stephanie Walters both competed for the 1st time on Vault. Stephanie Walters and Alexa Wildenberg tied for 3rd with a season best score of 6.7.
We had 3 compete on JV Bars, which hasn’t happened for a while. We are super excited to have JV girls competing in this rotation. Stephanie Walters took 4th, Grace Coleman took 3rd, and Payton Brautigam took 1st with a 4.2.
On Beam rotation, Stephanie Walters took 4th. We had two girls compete on Beam for the 1st time, Grace Coleman who took 3rd and Alexa Wildenberg who took 2nd with her no fall Beam routine.
We had a full roster on Floor with 4 out of 5 girls doing their routines for the first time. It was a 1st time performance for Grace Coleman, Payton Brautigam, Emily O’Donnell, and Stephanie Walters. Stephanie took 3rd place and Brooke Bazeley took 1st.
Stephanie Walters competed in All-around for the 1st time and scored 17.50, taking 1st place for JV.
On the Varsity side, we had several season bests and lifetime best scores. We love seeing these girls push themselves in practices and continue to improve!
On Vault, Brenda Aguilar scored a season best score of 7.15 while Nola Coburn also scored a season best score of 7.4. Mady Hefty stepped up to the plate and competed in Vault for the 1st time and posted a score of 7.7 to tie with Makayla Bazeley. Halee Peters took 1st place with a score of 8.20. The girls scored their highest team Vault score with 31.0
Mady Hefty took on Bars for the 1st time as well. Halee Peters took 3rd place on Bars. The team again had their highest team Bars score with a 23.9.
Beam proved to be difficult against a very strong Elkhorn performance. However, Makayla and Brooke Bazeley both had season best performances. Both Bazeley girls had no fall Beam routines. The team even had a season best Beam team score!
The girls had a very strong showing on the Floor rotation. Alexa Wildenberg had a season best score of 6.0. Nola Coburn had a season best score of 6.85 – very close to her lifetime best. Mady Hefty also scored a 6.85 in her Floor debut. Makayla Bazeley had a lifetime best of 7.9, while Halee Peters took 1st place with her lifetime best of 8.6. The team score of 30.2 was a season high score and makes it 4 out of 4 season best scores for the varsity team.
In All-around, Makayla Bazeley received a lifetime best of 29.95, while Halee Peters took 2nd with a 31.40.
Come watch the girls in action at their next conference meet at Jefferson High School on Tuesday, January 10. Go crush it, Whippets!
Article Submitted by Shawnda Peters
Whitewater High School Head Gymnastics Coach
speters@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka
On Tuesday evening January 10, something new is happening at Whitewater High School!
Anderson Waelchli, a senior WHS Choir student, will present a Voice Recital in the High School Auditorium at 7:00 pm. The recital is free and open to the public. There will be art songs and musical theatre songs, as well as some contemporary pieces.
This recital is presented as a result of Anderson’s work in an Independent Study in Vocal Performance this semester. We hope you can join us. It will be a night to remember!
Article Submitted by Karen Tordera
Whitewater High School Vocal Music Instructor
ktordera@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Girls’ Basketball Team played a conference game at home on Thursday night, January 5, against Evansville. It was an exciting, defensive battle throughout, ending in overtime.
Both teams battled in the first half, keeping the score low. We went into halftime down by 1, 10-11. Scoring increased for both teams in the second half, sending the game into overtime tied at 35. The Whippets fell short when Evansville connected on their free throws at end, losing 41-47.
We adjusted well to the changes Evansville made defensively, switching between a man and zone. We played with grit even when our shots wouldn’t fall. Being more patient when we have a lead late in the game is something we need to be more disciplined about.
Calli Grosinske led the Whippets with 13 points, followed by Danielle DePorter with 11, and Mayte Navejas with 8.
Article Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The WHS Players have received 14 Jerry Award nominations for their production of Beauty and the Beast! Winners will be announced in May after all participating schools have held their performances. School and student achievements are honored and featured in an awards show held at Overture Center in June, and two outstanding performers are selected to represent the program at The National High School Musical Theater Awards (The Jimmys) competition in New York City. WHS alumni Lauren Harkness was the 2019 winner who went on to represent the program in NYC.
The Jerry Awards, one of Wisconsin’s High School Musical Awards Programs, encourages, recognizes, and honors excellence in high school musical theater. Educators and industry professionals review productions at more than 85 high schools in 30 counties around the state providing valuable feedback. The program elevates the importance of musical theater within high schools.
OVERALL PRODUCTION AWARD NOMINATIONS
- Outstanding Orchestra
PERFORMER AWARD NOMINATIONS:
- Skyler Staebler – Lead – Belle
- Josh Kirley – Lead – Beast
- Brooke Mason – Lead – Mrs. Potts
- Ava Van Daele – Lead – Lefou
- Anderson Waelchli – Lead – Lumiere
- Ben McCulloch – Supporting – Maurice
- Mel Prince – Supporting – Chip
PRODUCTION TEAM NOMINATIONS
- Outstanding Direction: Jim McCulloch
- Outstanding Musical Direction: Liz Elliott
- Outstanding Choreography: Taytum Adkins
- Outstanding Scenic Design: Jim McCulloch
- Outstanding Lighting Design: Jim McCulloch
- Outstanding Costume Design: Karen McCulloch, Bobbi Wedl, Alejandra Diaz-Gallegos, Alexandra Cansino-Pena, Claire Tourdot, Maddison LaHaie, Remington Van Daele
Congratulations to all of our nominees!
WHS Players will be producing Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced” from February 23-26 at the WHS auditorium. Tickets go on sale soon.
Article Submitted by Jim McCulloch
WUSD Theater Director
jmcculloch@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Tom Ganser
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. As we have done in recent years, we are featuring some Henry Scholl glass plate images from the turn of the twentieth century with winter themes for the coldest month of the year–January. Henry Scholl took many photos in winter and they give us a look at Whitewater in c.1900 at this time of the year.
This image is of the north side of the 700 block of Center Street with the Methodist Church in the background. No street plowing in c.1900!
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3548GP, Whitewater Historical Society)
Congratulations to the Whitewater High School team of Josh Kirley, CJ Tomomitsu, Ben McCulloch, and Nick Weirich for their 7th place finish in the 1st Semester Wisconsin Stock Market Challenge!
The group finished the 10-week competition with a 17.95% return! A team from Shorewood High School won the 1st semester competition with an amazing 100.76% return. Over 300 Wisconsin high school teams participated.
The second semester competition will run from February 13-April 21st, and all WHS students are eligible to participate.
A big THANK YOU to Premier Bank for sponsoring the 1st semester teams!
Article and Photo Submitted by Brent Mansky
Whitewater High School Principal
bmansky@wwusd.org
The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team competed against Elkhorn on Tuesday, January 3rd. The boys registered 17 best times, and many tried out new events for the first time.
Some highlights include:
- Tyler Arnett edged out his competitor to win the 200 Freestyle by .04 seconds with a time 2:02.94
- David Enns had a huge time drop in the 200 Freestyle, dropping over 16 seconds.
- Cruz Aranda & Xavier Zei both going best time in 200 IM!
- Jack Hefty had a stellar night going best times and winning both individual events. Jack continues to put up a strong performance in the 50 Freestyle going a 25.68. He improved his 100 Breaststroke time by 4 seconds!
- Miles Nickelsburg had a strong performance in the 100 Freestyle dropping 6 seconds off his previous time.
- Onyx Thompson had a great night despite having all four of his events back to back. He tried out the 400 for the first time and then immediately went into the 200 Freestyle Relay where he went a season best split, then continued right into the 100 Backstroke, and then finished off the night 1 race later in the 400 Freestyle relay where he again went a season best split!
- Myles Morse swam a great race in the 100 Backstroke where he edged out his competitor by 1.08 seconds.
- Andrew O’Toole had a great 50 Freestyle going a best time of 29.45.
- Sam Nickelsburg continues to work hard and drop time in the 400 Freestyle.
The boys are back in action on Tuesday, January 10th at home against Platteville/Lancaster and PSC starting at 5:30 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Whippet Swimmers!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
A new episode of “Wisconsin Life” which will air on Thursday, January 5 at 7 p.m. features, among other stories, the Milton House Museum, the last certified underground railroad stop in Wisconsin that can be toured. Blacks traveled the Underground Railroad to escape slavery in the South in the 1800’s. PBS Wisconsin is on Channel 11 on Spectrum (Charter) and may also be viewed online at https://pbswisconsin.org/
According to an article in the Milton Courier:
“Wisconsin Life” is a show produced by PBS Wisconsin and Wisconsin Public Radio that highlights local history, but each episode details a new city or region of the state. During the production of the episode, host Angela Fitzgerald spoke with Milton House Museum Executive Director Keighton Klos about the Underground Railroad and some about the Goodrich family.”
“Fitzgerald suggested the Milton House as a potential location of the show. Fitzgerald and producer Kelly Saran spent a day at the museum last summer to work on the show.”
“What surprised me was the role Wisconsin had in the abolitionist movement and how many freedom seekers came to Wisconsin,” Saran said. “People crawled through the tunnel, and we walked through it. That was moving and was so impactful.”
Obituaries
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
Carol Ann Seebruch, 88 of Whitewater passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 3, 2026. Carol was born July 12, 1937 in Chicago IL to William and Ann Borovec. She married Marvin Seebruch on June 9, 1984. Carol and Marvin enjoyed traveling the United States making it to 48 of the 50 states. She also enjoyed her time with the Red Hat Ladies. She loved taking pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Carol is survived by her three children; Bill Anderson of Fort Atkinson, WI, Terri Laban of Whitewater, WI, and Donna (Mike) Jones of Crivitz, WI. She … Read more
Entered God’s Kingdom on Friday, April 3, 2026, age 65. Donna is survived by her cousins, other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents James and Lois (Michels) Lyons. Donna was raised in the Church of Nazarene, with her father being the assistant pastor. Religion was very important to Donna. Donna enjoyed working with the students of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where she resided. Donna also loved to travel, visiting France, Italy, and all around the United States. She also loved to paint, cross-stitch, knit, and crochet. She also loved collecting recipes and trying … Read more
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