Early City Motto "The Banner Inland City of the Midwest"
The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Sunday, May 10, 2026
News & Events
To add an event, click here to go to the Community Calendar. Then, click on Submit Event.
Helpful Links
Search our Archives
To search our archives, enter a search term in the search box, then press enter to search.
The Whitewater volleyball program traveled to Wilmot for a contest on Tuesday night, August 30.
The JV2 team played a hard-fought battle but fell to Wilmot. Despite the loss, the team is doing some great things. We are seeing athletes begin to understand the game of volleyball, working hard on both offense and defense.
The JV1 team came out and played hard, putting some nice things together, and won the first set, lost the second set, and came back and won the third set to win the match. The JV team is finding their balance, and we’re seeing some great plays defensively and offensively. They’re learning new plays every day, and we’re proud of the growth they have made so far this season!
Capping off the night, our varsity team swept Wilmot in three straight sets. It was definitely a team effort; everyone saw playing time, and I was proud of the way we came together and finished the match. Stat leaders included Kindyl Kilar with 12 kills, Caleigh Yang and Ella Spear each with nine digs, Cali Grosinske with 15 assists and Jenna Pope with four aces and two blocks.
We will now kick off our conference play with our first home match on Thursday, September 8. This is our special event night, with our youth night and educator appreciation night. We invite everyone out to the Whitewater High School gym to help us kick off our conference season! We will face Big Foot- let’s pack the gym! JV teams start at 5 p.m. and Varsity follows at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see you all there as we honor our youth and educators who have impacted our lives!
Article Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team played a competitive back and forth game against Fort Atkinson that ended in a 3-3 draw on August 29.
The Whippets started out strong with an early goal from Victor Hernandez giving us a 1-0 lead until the half time interval. Shortly after the half, our midfield collapsed allowing Fort Atkinson a clear-cut path to goal, and they tied the game. Heavy contact in the box led to a Fort Atkinson penalty that was converted. Minutes later, following some great build up play from the Whippets, Zoheb Rakhangi played an amazing through ball to Sebastian Cuellar that was beautifully converted. Following a questionable call, Fort Atkinson was awarded another penalty that beat keeper Henry Mortimer, who had 11 saves on the day, bottom left corner. Whitewater fought back aggressively and through a defensive mistake, and high soccer IQ play from Sebastian Cuellar, the game was all tied at 3-3.
Chris Cortez played the full 80 minutes at center back and was the driving force defensively for the Whippets. Leading the midfield was Ethan Dugan who, with his teammates, was able to help dictate the pace of the game.
We look forward to more great performances at our game on Thursday vs Milton.
Article Submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Assistant Varsity Boys’ Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Reese Brantmeier, WHS class of 2022, punched her ticket to the 2022 U.S. Open with her doubles partner Clervie Ngounoue of Washington with a 6-3,4-6,6-2 win over Natalie Block of Florida and Charney Piper of South Carolina to win the Girls 18 2022 the United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Championship.
Brantmeier (second from left) is also making USTA tennis history in Wisconsin. The last players from Wisconsin to win the USTA doubles title were Tami and Teri Whitlinger of Neenah, Wisconsin, in 1986.
Brantmeier, a native of Whitewater, Wisconsin, was the No. 1 ranked player in the class of 2022, according to tennisrecruiting.net. She will be playing tennis at the University of North Carolina this fall.
This USTA tournament appearance will not be Brantmeier’s first appearance at a major. Brantmeier competed at the U.S. Open Women’s Singles in 2019 and 2021 and mixed doubles in 2021 with Nick Monroe.
You can follow the U.S. Open Women’s double tournament using ESPN plus- and this U.S. Open website. While the draw is currently found on the website, the date and time of the match have not been released. Venus and Serena Williams are also in the U.S. Open doubles as a wild card entry.
Reese Brantmeier is the daughter of Scott and Becky Brantmeier and has two older brothers, Justin and Zach. All three attended Whitewater High School.
Article and Photos Submitted by Greg Stewart
Editor’s note: Revised on 8/29 @ noon to add that Brantmeier is a WHS 2022 graduate.
The Whippet Volleyball Team battled in the two-day UWW Warhawk tournament this past weekend, which included 25 teams from around Wisconsin. The first night the Whippets faced a tough schedule with playing three matches right in a row in an extremely hot field house. That being said, they beat Lodi in the first match of the night and fell to Shorewood Lutheran and Heritage Christian in a tight three-set match, finally losing to Bloomer who finished third overall.
After a tough Friday night schedule, the Whippets bounced back to be undefeated on Saturday, winning the top silver division to place 11th.
Coach Kilar commented, “I was so proud of our determination and perseverance to come back from a tough schedule and matchups on Friday night, battling in two hard-fought three-set matches. But this team would not quit! They came back Saturday and did not drop a set, beating Bradford, Merrill, Monona Grove, and Evansville to take the silver bracket.” Kilar further commented, “I cannot say this enough, I am incredibly proud of how this team is coming together, battling for each other, committing to running a faster offense and willing to dig in on defense. They are a true team, working together and battling! To say I am proud of them is an understatement.”
The Whippet stat leaders from the tournament included a well-rounded attack and defensive line. Kindyl Kilar dominated offensively and defensively, ending the tournament with 90 kills, 18 aces, and 64 digs. However, she was not alone. Senior Jenna Pope put up huge blocking numbers and led with 14 total blocks. Sophomore Calli Grosinske dished out 118 assists, and senior Cali Kopecky tallied 7 aces on the tournament. Finally, the Whippet libero, Caleigh Yang was a force defensively, recording 60 digs on the weekend.
“Everything we do this season is about our team. We have far more weapons this year, and the athletes are embracing their potential to contribute to this team. It has been so fun to be part of their growth, and I count myself blessed to be called their coach.”
Kindyl Kilar, a Florida International University commit was also named to the 9-player All-Tournament Team. “I am so proud of the way Kindyl is leading this season, and she always gives 110%. What is so incredible though, is that I can say that about every one of our 13-person roster. They are all in this season, and I look forward to what our future holds!”
Article and Group Photo Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
Action Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whippet Cross Country Teams kicked their race schedule off Saturday, August 27, on the campus of UW-Whitewater. It was the 20th edition of the Dirk Seibold Alumni Meet. The weather was terrific for August and the course is challenging – a great combination! It’s the first rust buster of the year for the kids as they embark on their 2022 season.
The boys kicked things off first with many runners already showing nice improvement over last season. Jack Hefty led the race wire to wire and cruised to a comfortable win in 18:29. Nate Holden came in third behind Assistant Coach Quinn McKenzie with a time of 20:19. Miles Nickelsburg, CJ Tomomitsu, and Xavier Zei ran as a nice trio for much of the race with only 19 seconds separating them running in the mid 21’s. Onyx Thompson and Ben McCulloch rounded out the top 7 boys, finishing in 8th and 9th with times of 24:48 and 24:56. Jack, Nate, Miles, and Xavier all ran faster today than they did last year at the conference meet which is held on the exact same course. Xavier cut over six minutes off last year’s conference meet time! Alumni Adam Triebold, Ben Holden, Kris Kirkland, and Mark Schroeder all competed hard in the event and repped the team very well!
The girls’ race was next and featured a much different look as the team lost many seniors from last year’s group. Freshman Mady Hefty ran a nice first effort to lead the team with a third place finish overall with a time of 24:00. Athena Soto came in fourth in 24:49. Nola Coburn was the team’s third runner and placed 5th with a time of 26:02. Running together for nearly all of the race were Emma Weigel and Lauren Buehler. They finished with times of 27:17 and 27:32. Isabella Aranda ran faster than she did last year at the conference meet by placing 8th with a time of 28:04. Rounding out the top seven varsity scorers was Danielle DePorter who placed 10th in 28:34. Alumni Kristin Anderson and Teresa Stanley showed their veteran dominance by placing first and second with times of 23:17 and 23:59.
Many other athletes wore the Whippet name on their chest for the first time and did well! Many other alumni were in attendance but did not race. Coach Carstens would like to thank all those that came out for attending the 20th edition of the Alumni Meet, regardless of whether you competed or not. Mark your calendars for 2023 as we will conduct the meet on August 26th. See you then!
Article and Group Photos Courtesy of Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
Individual Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whitewater Varsity Volleyball Squad had an outstanding quadrangular with Stoughton, Sun Prairie, and Catholic Central on Tuesday night. The Whippets dominated offensively and defensively, not dropping a single set, while sweeping all three teams 2 sets to 0.
“The Whippet squad saw everyone on our 13-person roster contribute to the victories! It was a definite team win and one the entire program can be proud of. The fans were outstanding, and the gym was loud and energetic to bring home the wins,” Coach Kilar commented.
Kilar continued, “We are doing some really nice things so far this season, committing to each other, working on developing a faster offense, and putting in 110% each time we have an opportunity to be on the floor together in practice or competitions. I couldn’t be more proud of our work so far.”
The Whippets are led by seven seniors: Cali Kopecky, Kindyl Kilar, Grace Villarreal, Caroline Skindingsrude, CC Alexander, Jenna Pope, and Caleigh Yang.
Stat leaders from the quadrangular Tuesday night included Kilar with 35 kills and 21 digs, Yang with 19 digs, Calli Grosinske with 33 assists, Kopecky with 7 aces, Alexander hitting .429 on the night with no errors, and Pope hitting .625 with a no error night. Finally, our blocking was on fire with Pope and Alexander leading the way with 6 and 5 blocks respectively.
The Whippets will travel to UWW on August 26 and 27 beginning at 2:30, 3:30, 4:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Saturday play times depend on how we finish on Friday.
Special thanks to Bob Mischka for the awesome action shots!
Article Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
Action Photos Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whitewater Volleyball Program kicked off the 2022 season with a scrimmage at Union Grove (Varsity) and Elkhorn (JV1 and JV2)! The energy the Whippets brought was felt by all who attended, with both JV teams showing great improvement from start to finish! The coaches were proud of the way the athletes worked hard on the court and the positivity they brought to their teammates.
The Varsity squad showed huge improvement from last year in their ability to run a faster offense and defense. The coaching staff is excited for what the season holds! Next up is a Varsity Quadrangular at home on Tuesday, August 23rd beginning at 5:00 p.m. The JV1 team will head to East Troy for an afternoon tournament on August 24th. Rounding out the week of competition, the Varsity squad will head over to UWW for a Friday/Saturday tournament August 26 and 27.
To end a great first week of practice and competition, the entire volleyball family celebrated with a program lock-in at the High School. This included dancing, movie watching, snacks, games, and team bonding. What a great way to celebrate our first week of building our team culture for the season! Special thanks to Athletic Director, Mr. Crandall, and WHS Principal Mr. Mansky for affording us this opportunity.
Our theme this year is “All or Nothing…Contribute to the Culture.” We have many special events planned and hope to see you at our matches this season!
Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
The Whippet Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country Teams are once again selling water softener salt as the program’s fundraiser! This is a wildly popular event that you are missing out on if you haven’t tried it yet. Last year we delivered over 1,000 bags of salt in just over 2 hours!
It’s super simple and we do all the work! Purchase a minimum of 2 bags of your choice and we will deliver them to your house on the morning of September 10th. We can place them outside, in your garage, or even in your basement at your request. We will deliver even if you aren’t home on that date. A special thanks to Steve Johnson from Winchester True Value for partnering with us to make this possible!
Check out the flyer below and email Coach Carstens (ccarstens@wwusd.org) if you have any questions or would like to make a purchase. You can also purchase from a member of the CC team or pick up a flyer from Winchester True Value. We look forward to hearing from you!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RNE1_bdszMsmXri7aZB69flYgOB7PvX_9oLNju6_A0E/edit?usp=sharing
Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
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
Other Recent Posts
Click on the title to view the post. To open the post in a new tab, press Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) while clicking on the title.
