Early City Motto "The Banner Inland City of the Midwest"
The Banner has been serving Whitewater, Wisconsin since August 1, 2006
Today is Friday, June 12, 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 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
Whitewater Unified School District School Board – Monday @ 6:00 p.m. (Closed session) – 7:00 p.m. (Open session)
Whitewater High School Library
534 South Elizabeth Street, Whitewater, Wisconsin
6:00 p.m.
———————————————–
6:00 p.m. via Zoom Online
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85117905403?pwd=ZElNaTZhTHJNblJkWmJNM0psdUNOUT09
– Passcode: 560518
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 851 1790 5403
– Passcode: 560518
———————————————-
Closed Session
———————————————-
7:00 p.m. via Zoom Online Open Session
Agenda (click on “meetings” in upper right corner) includes approval of 2022-23 budget
– URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84457153947?pwd=SzdueGowTDR5ZVJubnFlQ0VkQW10Zz09
– Passcode: 686050
———————————————-
– Dial-in: 1-312-626-6799
– Webinar ID: 844 5715 3947
City of Whitewater Finance Committee – Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.
Agenda includes 2023 budget timeline
City of Whitewater Municipal Building
Cravath Lakefront Conference Room – 2nd Floor
312 W. Whitewater St.
This will be a blended meeting (both in person and virtual options). To join from your computer, tablet or
smartphone, please use the below link:
https://meet.goto.com/369513277
You can also dial in using your phone.
1 (571) 317-3112
Access Code: 369-513-277
Whitewater University Technology Park Board – Wednesday @ 8:00 a.m.
Conference Rm. 105 (WebEx is optional if desired)
Agenda
Optional: WebEx Connection Information:
https://uww.webex.com/uww/j.php?MTID=m37fc1ab0101d7b8a2ab6f77f722a6480
Meeting number: 2464 751 9042
Password: hPdpHZ3Yg85
Join by phone
1-415-655-0001
Access code: 246 475 19042
For the Whitewater High School JV Girls’ Tennis Team, pink shirts and tennis balls were the color of choice in hosting the Whitewater JV Invitational Tournament.
The event was held at the tennis courts of Whitewater High School and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on August 19. Participating in the tournament this year were teams from East Troy, Hartford Union, Beloit Memorial, Jefferson, Lodi, Union Grove, and Westosha Central High School.
WHS Head Coach Baron West along with JV Coach Stacey Hamman would like to thank all of the coaches and players for making this event possible.
Article and Photos Submitted by Greg Stewart
Whitewater High School
gstewart@wwusd.org
As part of the Welcome Week for UW-Whitewater students this Fall, speaker Zach Mercurio will be visiting campus on August 24. He will be giving a presentation on Creating a Culture where Everyone Matters. This presentation is open to all staff and students on campus, as well as the community. There will be free parking in lots 1 & 2 from 9:30-12:30 for this event.
Information Submitted by Stephanie Hartmann
HR Manager – Benefits, Wellness, FMLA
Human Resources & Diversity – Administrative Affairs Division
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
hartmans@uww.edu
Obituaries
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
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
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.
