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The Whippet Boys’ Swim Team finished out their last home meet of the season with a win against the Delavan-Darien Comets Tuesday night, January 17.
Tyler Arnett continues to swim strong in the 200 and 500 Freestyle, going right on his season best times and winning both events.
Miles Nickelsburg had an impressive night taking a 2nd place finish in the 200 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. Miles dropped 10 seconds in his 100 Freestyle going a 1:03.80.
Jack Hefty won the 200 IM going a new best time of 2:30.72. Jack continues to swim fast and went on to win the 100 Freestyle with a new best time of 57.43. He also had a new 50 Butterfly split of 28.92.
Andrew O’Toole went a best time in 50 FR of 28.35 and then went on to lead off the 200 FR relay and dropped more time in his 50 going a 28.23. Andrew also dropped 8 seconds in the 100 Backstroke with a new time of 1:21.98.
Xavier Zei continues to drop more time in the 100 Breaststroke going a new best time of 1:31.97. That’s a 3 second drop from just last week! He also improved his 50 FR relay split by 4 seconds!
Myles Morse brought home the win in the 50 Freestyle going a best time of 28.25. Myles also swam the 500 Freestyle for the first time this season going a time of 6:50.83.
Cruz Aranda had strong races in the 100 Butterfly and 100 Backstroke winning and going best times in both events! He dropped 2 seconds in his 100 Butterfly with a new time of 1:08.21.
David Enns continues to improve his technique in the 100 Backstroke. He went a solid time of 1:37.40.
Onyx Thompson swam a great race in the 100 Freestyle and 200 Freestyle going right on his season best times.
The Whippets are up again next week Tuesday, January 24th, at 5:30 p.m. against Jefferson/Cambridge in Jefferson. Hope to see you there!
Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
Over the last week, from January 10 through the 13th, the Whitewater Wrestling Team had the opportunity to continue to see success on the mat, going 3-0 in dual meets.
On Tuesday night, the Whippets hosted the Oregon Panthers. Whippet Alum Brian Hookstead brought his team to his old stomping grounds. Coach Hookstead has a very nice team this year with some hardnosed wrestlers. It was truly a night of wrestling as the youth club from Oregon also came down, setting up 18 matches showing their skills. Overall each team won about half their matches so it was a good experience for the 3rd – 7th grade students. The JV wrestled very well, winning 48-30 in their contested matches with Oregon.
Coming up with nice wins for the Whippets on Varsity included Jasen Porras (Decision), CJ Tomomitsu (pin), Traysen Thomason (pin), Sebastian Cuellar (pin), Hector Arnodo (pin), and Richard Franco (decision). Also winning by forfeits included Connor Friend, Aaron Porras, and Jesus Barajas to help the Whippets win the dual 48-30.
On Friday night, the team traveled to Evansville to participate in the Rock Valley Conference Duals. This included three rounds of wrestling with Whitewater competing in two of those rounds. In their first dual the Whippets had Brodhead/Juda. Although Brodhead does not field a full team, their students are very tough. Whitewater did very well, including those matches that were not in our favor. Whitewater won this dual 54-30.
In round 3 of the RVC Duals, Whitewater defeated Big Foot 63-16. Going 2-0 on the night were Jasen Porras, Jason Villegas, CJ Tomomitsu, Connor Friend, Sebastian Cuellar, Aaron Porras, and Payton Lyon. Going 1-1 included Jarvis Porcaro, Traysen Thomason, Odair Porras, Avi Kalra, Hector Arnodo, and Deavion Olson.
Sprinkled in throughout the night the JV team also had the opportunity to compete. They did extremely well as it is proof that if you do the basics really well you will see success.
The varsity wrestling team is now 8-0 overall, 7-0 in the RVC. The team is next in action when they travel to the highly competitive Monroe Invitational on Saturday, January 21. On Tuesday, January 24, they host Evansville with each team being 7-0 in the conference.
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
Last Saturday, January 7, the Women’s Wrestling Team traveled to Kenosha Bradford to participate in the program’s first ever women’s tournament. The team wrestled very well with them coming home with a 2nd place team finish.
Leading the way for the ladies were Lauren Buehler and Ashly Xochipa. Each of these ladies took runner up in their weight classes. Both of them had two very nice wins on the day with their only losses coming to very good girls from Whitefish Bay. Ashly improved to 12-2 on the season and Lauren improved to 8-6.
Taking third place for the Lady Whippets were Khloe Meyer and Odeling Gonzales. This was the first time each of these ladies has medaled in a tournament, and they are really starting to put things together on the mat.
Finishing out placement for the Whippets was Athena Soto taking fourth place in her first tournament ever, as well as Stephanie Wence also taking fourth place.
Besides Ashly, wrestling is very new for our ladies as they have never competed before. The coaches are very impressed with the growth they are all making each day in practice, and it shows when they compete. Whitewater is fortunate to have enough ladies on the team so they have enough to have practice partners in the room. The goal is to keep those numbers growing.
The ladies are next in action when they all travel to Wausau West High School on January 21 to complete in the WWCA Women’s State Finals.
Article and Photo Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
Last Saturday, January 7, the Whitewater Wrestling team hosted a huge wrestling tournament at Whitewater High School called the WWCA JV Challenge Series Regional. This is a tournament sponsored by the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association and provides the junior varsity wrestlers an opportunity to compete for a state championship through the coaches’ association. It is a great opportunity for the JV wrestlers around the state to get some extremely great competition.
Whitewater was the host for 28 schools traveling from as far away as River Valley to Oconomowoc. The tournament is all one division, so students from division 3 to division 1 all descended into Whitewater on Saturday. These 28 schools brought 277 wrestlers to compete in this event with as many as 34-person brackets to work through in an attempt to place in the top 3 and earn the right to advance to the state finals in Wausau.
The Whitewater team did very well all weekend, from Friday evening with setting up 6 mats, Saturday competition, and then finally the cleanup of the entire area on Saturday evening. On the mat, Whitewater wrestlers did very well. There were not any disappointments as far as how the team competed. Sure, there were disappointments in not qualifying for the top 3, but there was outstanding competition to work through, and nearly everyone secured at least one win on the day. Whitewater placed 9 of their 14 wrestlers in the top 5 at their weights.
Highlights of the day included the Whippets having two bring home a Championship, one Runner-Up, and two 3rd place finishes, all qualifying for Wausau. There were two more members of the team who took 4th and were named alternates. Prior to writing this article Coach Schimming got a phone call from Wausau asking for those two students to also come, so Whitewater will have 7 students participating on Saturday, January 21, at Wausau West High School.
Bringing home championships for the Whippets were JJ Gonzalez at 160 and Jesus Barajas at 170 lbs. Both of these athletes wrestled very well throughout the day on their way to the championship.
Coming in runner up for the Whippets was Richi Kalra at 170. Richi wrestled very well all day before falling to teammate Barajas in the finals.
Two students won their final match of the day to come in 3rd place and earn their automatic bid. Curtis Rossmiller at 126 lbs and Nate Black at 152 both wrestled very well losing tough matches in the semi-finals before securing their spot at Wausau with their win at 3rd.
Reaching the semi-finals before suffering their first lost were Keenan Sheffield at 145 and Christian Minett at 152. Keenan lost his 3rd place match to finish in fourth. Christian defaulted his match to teammate Nate Black due to a recurring injury. Fortunately for each of them they will still qualify based on a competitor ahead of them not going.
Finishing in 5th place on the day with a record of 5-1 included Max Babcock and Avi Kalra. Each of them lost early in the day, and based on the design of the bracket the best they could do was 5th place. Each did the best they could after the early loss which was great to see.
Closing out placements was Kane Obregon who took 7th. Kane is in his first year ever wrestling and has done very well losing a couple of close matches over the course of the day.
As an entire program the coaches could not be prouder of the effort given by the team, wrestlers and managers, putting this event on. The group not competing had the daunting task of working tables, which can get to be a very long day for them. They did absolutely outstanding with their job, and when the tournament was over did an outstanding job with the cleanup of the 6 mats that were used and picking up garbage in the stands. The wrestlers and managers should be commended for giving up an entire Saturday so Junior Varsity wrestlers around our area had this opportunity.
Article Submitted by John Schimming
Whitewater High School Head Wrestling Coach
jschimming@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whippets hosted McFarland in girls’ basketball on Friday, January 13. In the first half, McFarland came out on fire, hitting nearly every shot they took. That put the Whippets in a deficit early in the game. We fought back and connected on some 3-point shots to give us a spark. We went into half down 23-49.
In the second half, we inched back little by little and went on a scoring run midway through, closing the gap to within 14, but McFarland fired back beating us 82-49.
Calli Grosinske led the team with 11 points, followed by Mayte Navejas with 9. Danielle DePorter and Katie Gillette both added 8.
Article Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whitewater Boys’ Swim Team competed against Platteville/Lancaster & PSC on Tuesday, January 10th.
Best Times on the night include:
200 Medley Relay (some notable splits):
- Andrew O’Toole – 29.25 (50 FR)
- Onyx Thompson – 41.17 (50 BA)
- Xavier Zei – 41.43 (50 BR)
- Myles Morse – 37.40 (50 Fly)
200 Freestyle
- Tyler Arnett went a 2:00.83 which puts him 8th overall on the Whippet Top 10 List.
- Myles Morse dropped 9 seconds going a 2:39.45
200 IM
- Miles Nickelsburg went a best time of 2:56.65
- Andrew O’Toole dropped 10 seconds to go a time of 3:02.09
50 Freestyle
- Cruz Aranda goes a new best time of 26.10
- Xavier Zei drops 6 seconds going a time of 33.86
100 Fly
- Jack Hefty drops 3 seconds going a time of 1:07.92
100 Freestyle
- Cruz Aranda drops 3 seconds going a time of 58.86
- Onyx Thompson drops 5 seconds going a time of 1:17.82
500 Freestyle
- David Enns tried out the 500 Freestyle for the first time this season and had a great swim!
- Tyler Arnett continues to swim right on his season best time!
200 Freestyle Relay (notable splits)
- Myles Morse – 30.68 (50 FR)
- Andrew O’Toole – 28.37 (50 FR)
100 Backstroke
- Miles Nickelsburg goes a new best time of 1:16.15
- Onyx Thompson continues to drop time going a 1:33.21
100 Breaststroke
- Jack Hefty continues to drop time going a time of 1:16.22
- Xavier Zei drops 12 seconds going a time of 1:34.26
- Andrew O’Toole goes a new best time of 1:40.14
400 Freestyle Relay (notable splits)
- Cruz Aranda – 1:00.24 (100 FR)
- Miles Nickelsburg – 1:05.10 (100 FR)
- Jack Hefty – 59.49 (100 FR)
The Boys are back in action at home on Tuesday, January 17th at 5:30 p.m. against Delavan-Darien.
Article Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Co-Head Boys’ Swim Coach
sreynolds@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week we feature another of the Henry Scholl glass plate images from c.1900. This winter image shows the north side of the 600 block of Main Street. It must have been after a recent snowfall because the sidewalk is snow covered but looks like it was shoveled in the past. I wonder if the city had snow shoveling ordinances in c.1900?
Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.
(3572GP, Whitewater Historical Society)
Tuesday evening, January 11, was an exciting evening at Whitewater High School. Senior Anderson Waelchli presented a voice recital in the WHS auditorium. Dr. Sarah Read Gehrenbeck served as the collaborative keyboard artist.
Some of the pieces performed included art songs such as Die Forelle and I’ll Sail Upon the Dog Star as well as musical theatre selections “Heaven on Their Minds” from Jesus Christ Superstar and “Sadder but Wiser Girl” from The Music Man. Contemporary pieces included “Just the Two of Us” and the jazz standard, “I Thought About You.”
Waelchli’s performance was presented in partial fulfillment of his Independent Study in Vocal Performance with WHS Music Educator, Karen Tordera. The recital was well-attended and included a reception following the performance.
Article Submitted by Karen Tordera
Whitewater High School Vocal Music Teacher
ktordera@wwusd.org
Photos Courtesy of Tom Ganser
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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