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On Thursday afternoon, February 23, Lauren Buehler and Aaron Porras had the opportunity to complete in their first appearance at the Wisconsin State Individual Wrestling meet at the Kohl Center in Madison. This is a great accomplishment for each of these two competitors as it is not an easy path to get there.
Lauren started our afternoon at state on Thursday in a great way. She started off the match with a beautiful takedown and did not look back. Up 11-3 in the second period Lauren was able to secure a pin for herself advancing her to the quarterfinal round. In her next match she ran into a young lady who is a real hammer and ended up getting pinned by her. Lauren came back on Friday morning needing to secure two wins to make the podium. Unfortunately, this year was not in the cards for Lauren, and she was defeated in her wrestle back match. Both young ladies who had defeated Lauren did making the top 6; one placed 3rd and the other 6th, so at least Lauren knows she went toe to toe with two of the top 6 students at her weight class in the state. Lauren is a junior so this was a valuable experience for her as she enters the off season.
Aaron Porras wrestled his opponent very well going with his game plan but unfortunately got into a scramble and ended up on his back and was pinned. Aaron closed out a very nice career with a 37-11 record as a senior, conference champion, Regional champion, sectional runner up and state qualifier. He ended his career with 72 wins.
Congratulations to both Lauren and Aaron on a great season as well as to the entire team as they have now concluded the 2022-23 campaign. The awards banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in the high school cafeteria.
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Schedule of Events
Theme Summary: The Chancellor’s Committee on Inclusive Excellence is pleased to center this Spring 2023 Diversity Forum on disability justice and encouraging opportunities for learning, reflection and community building. The forum will feature panel discussions, a photographic exhibit, an opening keynote by Lydia X.Z. Brown, and more.
Keynote Speaker: Lydia X.Z. Brown
Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Event Time: 3:30PM to 4:30PM
Virtual Event Details:
Click HERE for link or copy and paste the following text to the URL address bar,
https://uww.webex.com/uww/j.php?MTID=mfd398af950def0784c9741e150d0b2c3
Webinar password if requested, but not needed: Forum2023
Physical Listening Location Available: University Center 259
Description: The 2023 Spring Diversity Forum will center on disability justice and encouraging opportunities for learning, reflection and community building. Join us by welcoming the keynote speaker Lydia X.Z. Brown, an advocate, organizer, educator, attorney, strategist, and writer, whose work focuses on addressing state and interpersonal violence targeting disabled people living at the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, faith, language, and nation.
About Lydia X.Z. Brown, click here.
Closed captioning services will be provided.
Film: Code of the Freaks
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Location: University Center 76, Summer’s Auditorium
Event Time: 3:30PM to 5:30PM
Description: Code of the Freaks is a documentary that examines the representation of disabled people in Hollywood movies. A discussion will be moderated after the viewing with two special guests from the University of Illinois Chicago, film writers Alyson Patsavas and Carrie Sandahl.
Documentary Trailer
American Sign Language interpreter(s) will be present, and closed captioning services will be provided for the film.
Conversation with Author Dr. Sami Schalk
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Location: University Center 275, Old Main Ballroom
Event Time: 11:00AM to 12:15PM
Description: Dr. Schalk is an Associate Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her interdisciplinary research focuses broadly on disability, race, and gender in contemporary American literature and culture, and she is the author of the books, Bodyminds Reimagined and Black Disability Politics. Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Schalk on her recent book, that explores how issues of disability have been and continue to be central to Black activism from the 1970s to the present.
About Sami Schalk, click HERE
American Sign Language interpreter(s) will be present.
Diversity & Inclusivity Award Reception
Date: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Location: University Center 275, Old Main Ballroom
Event Time: 12:30PM to 1:15PM
Description: The Diversity and Inclusivity Awards are awarded to UW-Whitewater faculty, staff and students who have made outstanding contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts on our campus. Each award has been named after distinguished faculty and staff at UW-Whitewater, each of whom spent their careers promoting and supporting equity, inclusion and diversity on our campus, including Dr. Fannie Hicklin, Dr. Roger Pulliam and Mr. John Truesdale. The fourth award is designated for UW-Whitewater students and student organizations who have made exceptional efforts to support inclusivity and diversity at UW-Whitewater. Join us as we honor and celebrate inclusive excellence in action!
Virtual Option Details:
Click HERE for link or copy and paste the following text to the URL address bar,
https://uww.webex.com/uww/j.php?MTID=m977346fb3756ae205a446d778cca0515
Webinar password if requested, but not needed: Spring2023P
American Sign Language interpreter(s) will be present, and closed captioning services will be provided for individuals who attend virtually.
Disability History Exhibit
Dates: Tuesday, February 15 to March 5, 2023
Location: Lenox Library, UW-Whitewater at Rock County
Description: This disability history exhibit enlists photographic storytelling and archival images from advertising and the press to narrate, across 23 vivid panels, the centuries of struggles and victories fought and won by disabled persons in the United States, and the intersection of these struggles with religion, society, medical care, capitalism, scientific advancement, and their part in the broader human condition. Courtesty of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education for the State of Alaska.
More information on the pieces, click HERE
Content Warning and Language Disclaimer: This exhibit includes disturbing information and images regarding the historical treatment of individuals with disabilities. Please take care while reviewing. Additionally, text and images from this exhibit come from primary sources that may be racist, sexist, ableist, or otherwise offensive. The language is retained in this exhibit to document the ways in which disability has been viewed in these social and historical contexts.
If in need of accommodation(s), please advise us as soon as possible. Requests are confidential. UW-Whitewater provides equal opportunities in employment and programming including Title IX and ADA requirements. Please contact edi@uww.edu.
3rd time’s a charm!
It was truly a team effort! The Whippet Girls’ Basketball Team (#10) defeated Clinton (#7) 57-54 in the first round of regionals on Tuesday, February 21. Losing two close games to the Cougars in the regular season, we knew we needed to play two solid halves.
We came out on fire with two steals by Cali Grosinske resulting in a 3-point shot by Danielle DePorter in our first possession. Grosinske stole the ball and hit a shot putting us up 5-0. Clinton inched ahead 5-6, but that was the last time they would lead as Kopecky hit her first of five 3-pointers of the game, putting us up 8-6. That set the tone for us offensively. Zoe Kohl, Kindyl Kilar, and Danielle DePorter joined Kopecky in connecting on shots from the arc.
Hitting those shots from outside was important for us a to counter Clinton’s zone defense. Mayte Navejas penetrated the gaps to score and create open looks on the perimeter. Senior, Cali Kopecky connected on four of her five 3s in the first half of the game.
Going into halftime we led 34-26.
The ball wouldn’t drop for us the first 5 minutes of the second half as Clinton started to close the gap 38-34. Solid defense in the lane by Kilar, Amundson, and Gillette, as well as hitting our free throws at the end of the game helped us maintain our lead. Danielle DePorter (5-5) and Kindyl Kilar (2-2) were 100% from the free throw line. Gillette hit the final bucket with 15 seconds left to secure the win.
Cali Kopecky led the Whippets with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Danielle DePorter added 11 points, and Katie Gillette scored 8. Cali Grosinske added 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Mayte Navejas also scored 7 with 5 assists and 2 steals. Kilar scored 5 and rebounded 5.
Article Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
On Tuesday, February 20th we celebrated our Whitewater Boys’ Swim Team season accomplishments. We have been so impressed with the team this year! Every single swimmer on this team has been valuable, dedicated, and grown into a better swimmer in their own way. They all have seen possibilities of where they can go and look forward to seeing their growth both in the pool and out.
All Conference Awards:
2nd Team – Tyler Arnett
2nd Team – Jack Hefty
Honorable Mention – Cruz Aranda
Team Awards:
MVP – Jack Hefty
Most Dedicated – Tyler Arnett
Most Improved – Xavier Zei
Congratulations on an amazing season!
Article and Photos Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Girls’ Basketball team finished our regular season and honored our seniors on Friday night, February 17 when we played Clinton at home.
For game highlights, visit https://www.hudl.com/video/2/14916/63f0af0215f6020e00e861ab
The Whippets got a spark offensively early on in the game with a steal and 3-point shot by junior Danielle DePorter within the first minute of the game. Clinton answered back, hitting two/ 3-pointers in back to back possessions. Clinton packed the lane on defense making it challenging for us to get inside looks. At half we were down 27-38.
At the start of the second half, Cali Kopecky got our offense started, hitting a 3-point shot, but we got stuck at 30 while Clinton scored 11, putting us down by 19. We were able to close the gap a bit when we hit 4 consecutive 3-point shots. Our defense tightened up and forced some turnovers with our full court press and got within 3 with around 5 minutes left in the game. Clinton scored 11 of their 13 points in those last minutes on free throws to solidify the win 57-67.
Mayte Navejas led the Whippets with 16 points, followed by Danielle DePorter with 12 points, and Cali Kopecky with 10.
We play our first regional game on Tuesday, February 21 against Clinton at Clinton. Game time is 7pm.
Article and Senior Posters Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org
Action Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The spring primary election will be held on Tuesday, February 21 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The City of Whitewater has only one polling place for this election, the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street. The ballot for city residents may be viewed here. Wards 1-10 are in Walworth County; Wards 11-13 are in Jefferson County. However, aside from formatting, the ballots are identical.
State Supreme Court – Vote for One
Candidates in Ballot Order
– Janet C. Protasiewicz
– Daniel Kelly
– Everett D. Mitchell
– Jennifer R. Dorow
Updated: A nonpartisan voters guide to the Supreme Court race may be viewed here. Una guia no partidista a la elección de la Corte Suprema se puede ver aquí.
Whitewater Unified School District School Board Member – Vote for up to three; the six candidates with the highest votes will advance to the general election on April 4, with three candidates being elected.
Candidates in Ballot Order
- Christy Linse
- Joseph A. Kromholz
- Michael Bergman
- John D. Truesdale
- Daniel Dern
- Chuck Mills
- Nathan Vander Pas (Editor’s note: Vander Pas withdrew from active candidacy)
- Stephanie Hicks
- Will Dammeir
- Brian Schanen
- Thayer A. Coburn
- Lisa Huempfner
All eleven active candidates responded to a Banner questionnaire. Their responses may be viewed here.
The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area held a school board forum on January 28. Ten of the eleven candidates participated in this two hour event. The video may be viewed here.
Specific types of photo identification are required in order to vote. This website shows the acceptable forms of ID.
Citizens may register to vote at the polls. Proof of residence is required. This website shows the acceptable forms. A qualified elector is any U.S. citizen who:
- will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day.
- has resided in the ward or municipality where they wish to vote for at least 28 consecutive days before the election.
The Whitewater Wrestling Team traveled to Evansville on Saturday, February 18, to participate in the Sectional Wrestling tournament with the top three advancing to the individual state tournament. This is a competitive day with lots of emotions for students, coaches, and families. Whitewater competed hard in every match, and when the dust settled we will have two competing on Thursday at the Kohl Center.
Lauren Buehler became Whitewater’s first qualifier in the new format by securing two pins on her way to the championship. She started the day with a very fast pin and in the finals was down 4-5 going into the 3rd period, went up 10-5, and then was able to secure the pin. The excitement on her face was priceless.
Aaron Porras started out the day with a convincing 15-point victory and then followed that up with a very tough win against a strong young man from Belleville. This brought him into the championship. This was an outstanding match but unfortunately ended up in a scramble and got put to his back in a tied match. He then had to hold onto his second-place finish and did so defeating a young man who had defeated him at the Mid-States tournament.
Just missing out on a trip to state was Connor Friend who placed fourth, losing his 3rd place match 6-5.
Great job Lauren and Aaron!
Article and Photos Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
The gymnastics team competed at the conference meet on Friday night in Waterford. All the girls crushed it. Our JV team had their best meet of the season with 9 out 15 season or lifetime best scores and their highest team score!
Every single one of our JV Beam gymnasts had a lifetime best score and a season best team score of 21.1. Brooke Bazeley, Grace Coleman, and Alexa Wildenberg all scored 5.40, while Stephanie Walters scored 4.9, and Gabby Pena Perroni scored 3.6. Brooke and Alexa had no fall beam routines. Mady Hefty and Halee Peters from the varsity side also had no fall beam routines.
Although we had no season best scores on Vault – all the girls were so close to their season best scores that they earned a season best team score of 31.375.
The Floor was another strong rotation for our JV team. Stephanie Walters earned a 6.8, followed by Brooke Bazeley with a 6.4 and Payton Brautigam with a 6.10 – lifetime best scores for all three. JV scored their highest team score on floor with a 22.8. Varsity girls also had their highest team score of the season with a 30.35. Alexa Wildenberg earned herself a season best score of 6.2. The rest of the Varsity team scored very close to their bests.
The girls will be competing at sectionals at Mount Horeb High School on Thursday, February 23 at 5:30 p.m.
Article and Photos Submitted by Shawnda Peters
Whitewater High School Head Gymnastics Coach
speters@wwusd.org
Obituaries
Sally A. Schutte, age 73, of Whitewater, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 21, 2026, while at Hearthstone Memory Care in Whitewater. Sally was born on November 6, 1952, to Roy and Elsie (Rohloff) Haas. Sally married William Schutte in the spring of 2003. Sally grew up on the family farm in the Town of Hebron and graduated from Jefferson High School. She dedicated nearly her entire career to Fort HealthCare, where her hard work and versatility shone through various roles. Over the years, she served in housekeeping and medical records, Center for Dermatology. Sally … Read more
Zachariah “Zach” Schoenke, 41, of Whitewater passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. He was born April 4, 1985, to Keith W. Schoenke and Kathleen Schoenke in Fort Atkinson, WI. He grew up and graduated from Whitewater High School in 2003. Zach worked various jobs over the years but was currently working at Cracker Barrel in Janesville. He was a big Packers Fan and liked to play fantasy football. He enjoyed reading, cooking, and watching horror shows. Zach fiercely loved his son, Lincoln, his sisters, Cami and Cary, his mom and stepdad, and his aunt Robin. He will be dearly … Read more
Carla Winn, 82, died September 5, 2026. Funeral Service will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 12, 2026, at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67218, followed by a burial at 2:00 PM at White Chapel Memorial Garden 1806 N Oliver Ave. Carla is preceded in death by her parents, Vivian Dwight and Wilma Lois Krehbiel; and sister, Jennifer Krehbiel. She is survived by husband, Stephen; daughter, Ashley (Clint) Gagel, of Overland Park; siblings, Paul (Kay) Krehbiel, of Socorro, NM, Lynn (Bill) Oetting, of Wichita, Ellen (John) Querner, of Wichita, Teresa Woodson, of Lawrence, KS, … Read more
Susan Miller Celebration of Life There will be a gathering of friends and acquaintances at Susan’s Farm Store to celebrate Susan’s life on Saturday, September 19th from 2-5 p.m. at N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, Wisconsin
Our loving mother, JoAnn E Harrop, age 95, passed away on September 11, 2026. Our sorrow is deep, but we are filled with gratitude for the many years we had with her. Even as her mind was failing, she remained strong and appreciative of all who cared for her. JoAnn was born on January 13, 1931, daughter to Fred Braun and Evelyn Braun {Storck). She was raised in Whitewater, Wisconsin by her grandparents, Otto and Edith Storck. She attended Whitewater High School and helped at the Storck tavern where she met her husband Earl C. Harrop. They married on November … Read more
Russell O. Johnson “Russ,” 88, passed away on September 4, 2026 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Russell was born on July 12, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin. Russ grew up in Janesville, and after high school he joined the Air Force on May 1, 1958, serving as an aircraft mechanic until June 12, 1962. He then worked at Parker Pen in Janesville for a time, where he met his future wife, Avis. After marrying Avis Mason in April 1964, Russ worked for Gillman Manufacturing for a time, then began a career at Dana until its closing in 1980. In 1981, Russ started working … Read more
Marcia Zingg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, businesswoman, and friend, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2026, at the age of 75. Marcia will be remembered for her unwavering love, remarkable strength, generous spirit, and lifelong devotion to her family. She shared 40 wonderful years of marriage with her husband, Jeffrey Zingg, who considered her not only his wife but also his best friend, business partner, and the love of his life. Together, Marcia and Jeffrey built a successful life rooted in perseverance, hard work, laughter, and love. As entrepreneurs in Whitewater, Wisconsin, they owned and managed new car franchises and … Read more
Amanda Jean Hunter was born to Ralph and Malinda (Thomas) Hunter of Whitewater, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1976. She passed away on August 4, in Fort Worth, Texas, where she lived with her family. Amanda passed peacefully in the hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Amanda was a kind-hearted free spirit with an unmistakable hippie warmth. Generosity, spontaneity, a quick wit, a macabre sense of humor, and an open heart were traits that she embraced. She was a tireless champion of those in need, an innate characteristic that became among the best of her qualities. She proved to be a … Read more
Ellen Eichmiller, 82, of Whitewater, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Ellen was born on September 10, 1943, in Monroe, Wisconsin, to Chester “Guy” and Irene (née Holmen) Steig. She married the love of her life, Paul Eichmiller, on December 7, 1963, and together they made their home in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ellen spent much of her working life as a secretary at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, where she formed many lasting friendships and memories. Ellen cherished her family and friends and treasured the time she spent with those closest to her. She was known for her love of … Read more
Janet Quinn, age 71, of Jefferson passed away on Thursday, August 20th. Janet was born on December 22nd, 1954 in St. Joseph, MI to Robert Mounsey and Edith Christison Mounsey. She was a granddaughter to Herbert Bragg Mounsey, Charlotte Mounsey, and Ester Christison West. She married Michael Durden in 1979 and later married Eury Quinn Jr. (J.R.) in 1988. Janet grew up in Benton Harbor, MI, and subsequently lived in New York and Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin in 2016. She was a dedicated caregiver to her disabled Mother, and worked as a custodian for various employers over the years. … Read more
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