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Editor’s note: The following information was provided by the J-Hawk Aquatic Club.
The J-Hawk Aquatic Club would like to thank our sponsors and participants for making a difference in the lives of our youth in Whitewater and surrounding communities. The J-Hawk Aquatic Club (501(c)3) provides both swim lessons and competitive swimming. It is the mission of the J-Hawks to be able to provide this programming to all youth. No child is ever turned away due to financial constraints. For youth on free or reduced lunches in their district, they receive free or reduced lessons or competitive swimming respectively.
By hosting runs such as the Summer Sizzler and a Run Into Fall 10K/5K in October, along with the Earlybird and Latebird Triathlons, we are able to hire instructors and coaches to make this mission possible.
On July 10, 2021, the J-Hawks hosted a 10k Run and 5K Run/Walk. 77 participants took part.
The J-Hawks would like to thank the City of Whitewater, Fairhaven Senior Living, Whitewater Register, Whitewater Banner, sponsors, and those who donated for making a difference.
Congratulations to our overall male and female runners: 10K Overall Male: Connor Hackett 35:38.1; 10K Overall Female: Heidi Mane: 44:16.1; 5K Overall Male: Cameron Lenz: 19:16.8; 5K Overall Female: Mychelle Ehlei 19:53.1.
Full results can be found at https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Whitewater/JHawk5KRunWalk
For additional information on the J-Hawk Aquatic Club go to www.j-hawks.org
Editor’s note: The following information was provided by UW-Whitewater.
Becca Murray, a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alumna and national champion women’s wheelchair basketball athlete, was named Best Athlete with a Disability in Women’s Sports at the 2021 ESPY Awards at Pier 17 in New York City on July 10.
Murray was picked from four finalists, all of them Paralympians: Sam Bosco, cycling; Oksana Masters, Nordic and cycling; and Leanne Smith, swimming.
“I guess I never took myself to be one of those athletes,” said Murray of other wheelchair basketball athletes who have been ESPY nominees. “So I was super excited to find out I was nominated.”
The ESPY Award is presented by the American broadcast television network ABC, and previously by ESPN, to recognize individual and team athletic achievements and other sports-related performances. Nominees in other sports categories in 2021 included Simone Biles, Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Naomi Osaka, Phil Mickelson and LaMelo Ball.
After a tumultuous year for sports, catharsis was in the air and a sense of purpose in the speeches at the 2021 ESPYs. Like many nominees, Murray did not travel to the event and instead posted a 19-second video on the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Facebook page thanking her wheelchair basketball “family.”
“Being good at basketball gets your name out there, but I’ve always wanted to be that athlete who brought their teammates along with them,” said Murray, several days after the awards ceremony. “That makes the difference between a good basketball player and a player who is remembered.”
The quiet athlete from Germantown came to UW-Whitewater as a freshman in 2008, already a member of Team USA, which had gold-medaled that September at the Paralympic Games in Beijing. Murray, a special education major, became a cornerstone of a newly established women’s wheelchair basketball team at the university.
The UW-Whitewater men’s wheelchair basketball team had sprung from the university’s mission to serve students with disabilities, established in the 1970s. By the early 2000s, the men’s program was enjoying both national respect and support from the campus and community, propelled first by former Head Coach Tracy Chynoweth. It was time to expand the wheelchair basketball franchise to a women’s team.
What followed was a remarkable team-building effort that resulted in three straight collegiate women’s wheelchair basketball national championships, international competitions and, for Murray, two more Paralympic Games including a gold medal in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. Through those years, the UW-Whitewater wheelchair basketball program added athletes from the U.S. and around the world, attracted by the reputation of its program, and talent developed in summer camps on campus. By 2014, UW-Whitewater was the national capital of collegiate wheelchair basketball when both the women’s and men’s teams won national titles under Head Coaches Dan Price and Opie Lade, respectively.
“I have tons of role models,” said Murray, laughing when asked to cite only one. “I couldn’t name them all. That Whitewater family is where a lot of that came from. Opie has always been a big influence, like a brother. Tracy Chynoweth is the reason I got to play at Whitewater. He asked me to help start a team. I’m forever grateful to him for starting that women’s team.”
As a player for the Warhawks, Murray was patient, unflappable and as essential to the team as the hub is to a wheel. Her individual statistics confounded one coach, who noticed she posted higher percentages in games, where she had real opponents, than in practices, where she did not. Murray didn’t fold under pressure — she got better. One close friend, another Warhawk athlete, at first felt intimidated by all of that talent, which surprises Murray.
“It is funny when I hear those stories because I don’t see myself as intimidating,” she said. “No one is better than another person. And so I take the time when people approach me and want to talk. And they see I’m just a down-to-earth person.”
Murray, who graduated in 2014, works as a clinical assistant at Rogers Behavioral Health in Brown Deer, Wisconsin. For the 2021 Paralympic Games held in Tokyo Aug. 25-Sept. 5, she plans to take a two-week vacation just to view the live broadcasts of Team USA, which will likely air in the middle of the night, local time.
In the fall she will return to basketball, playing for the Division 1 Milwaukee Bucks men’s wheelchair basketball team and the women’s counterpart, the Lady Bucks. Retired from playing basketball on the world stage, she recently bought a condo in New Berlin to be closer to the Whitewater campus, where both Bucks teams practice at the Roseman Building. The move also brings her closer to Edgerton, where her friends AJ Messmer, a former wheelchair basketball athlete who just succeeded Lade as head coach, and Lydia Messmer, a former teammate and women’s assistant coach, have their home. It would never do to be too far from your family.
“I enjoyed my time at UW-Whitewater and being a part of that wheelchair basketball family,” said Murray. “There was something special about that team. There are always your highs and lows. But we would always pull together, and that would make us stronger.”
The following information was provided by the City Market.
Hey — it’s almost market day! We’ll be at the Depot 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, with a full array of summer produce. Tomatoes and corn are just starting, so shop early if you want to pick some up! This week we’ll be celebrating Taco Tuesday by welcoming family-owned and-run Mama Maria’s to the market.
MUSIC: Keith Minikel
CRAFT BEER: Kolsch, rhubarb IPA, amber, raspberry ginger sour
FOOD CARTS: Mama Maria’s, Yang House of Rolls
OUT THIS WEEK: Fremont Sweets, Mr. P’s Grilled Cheese, Sunny Brook Farm
HERE THIS WEEK:
Amanda Miller Baking ● a variety of sweet treats, always made from scratch & with love!
Books and Art by Kimberly Vogel ● Wisconsin fiction author & illustrator of characters, animals
Bowers Lake Coffee ● locally roasted and brewed organic coffee & coffee beans 
Caroline’s Cupboard ● beets, green beans, kale, zucchini, onions, wildflowers
Clark Family Farms ● lion’s mane mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms, pink oyster mushrooms, blue oyster mushrooms, microgreens;
Creek Farm LLC ● local lavender farm bringing you handcrafted products made in small batches at the farm
FunLooping ● a fun & nerd-oriented collection of pendants, keychains, jewelry, figurines & assortment of miscellanies
Helena’s Plant Closet & Whitewater Egg Delivery ● eggs, air plants & houseplants
Johnson Family Produce ● fresh asparagus
Kettle Moraine Honey ● local honey, beeswax products, scented soaps
Komboocho Brewing ● quality kombucha using organic & local ingredients. Rotating flavors available.
Kristie’s Creative Kitchen ● jams, jellies, pickled items
Mama Maria’s ● breakfast burrito, tortas, quesadillas, tacos, empanadas (beef and potato, tinga), sopes, homemade pico de gallo
Margie Hammerl ● eggs, Black Angus beef, lamb, chicken 
Mudders Dream ● wheel-thrown & handbuilt functional & sculptural pottery
My Farm ● spinach, eggs, fresh lamb, fresh beef, greens mix New Beginnings APFV ● comprehensive, compassionate support & services to people affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking
Pops Kettle Corn ● State Fair-ribbon-winning gourmet popcorn in flavors like Birthday Cake, Muskego Mix, Dragon Breath and Brandy Old-fashioned
Rushing Springs Farm ● locally grown fresh vegetables
Seeds of Hope ● plants & annual flower baskets grown by individuals with developmental disabilities
Soap of the Earth ● local, handcrafted soaps & lotions
Stepani’s Spot ● garden preserves, baked goods, salsa, mustards, sauces
Studio 84 ● a variety of products, including notecards and mugs, created by a nonprofit art studio, gallery and store that fosters the creative & vocational development of people with disabilities
Sunshine Cookies ● bright, festive & colorful hand-decorated sugar cookies
Taproot Designs ● unique wooden home decor from repurposed wood
Theresa Lynn Costuming & Quilting ● comfortable face masks in all sorts of colors, sizes, including kid sizes
Tilla’s Next Ride ● K-9 fundraising support
Toad Cottage Creations ● handmade candles with a hint of nature
Urban Forestry Commission ● information
Vang C & C Farms ● local produce
The Vegetable Stand ● local produce
W3 ● promoting healthy eating through Power of Produce, activities for kids, health/wellness related handouts
Whitewater Dems ● information
Whitewater Grocery Co ● your (future) friendly neighborhood grocer, supporting fresh and local products
Wild Cherry Creations ● seasonal & home decor, wine glasses, coffee cups
Wood Street Bakery ● mocha chip scones; white chocolate cherry scones; organic kernel bread, sourdough bread, cranberry walnut bread & multigrain bread; assorted granolas: cranberry almond, silly nut nut, cinnamon apple walnut, dark chocolate cherry, Hawaiian delight
Yang House of Rolls ● Thai egg rolls, curries, local produceYoung
Young Auditorium ● promoting the venue’s 2021-22 in-person and BroadwayHD subscription offerings
Zo-Sharp ● knife-sharpening on site
Our Whippet volleyball team was recognized by the Marines and The American Volleyball Coaches Association for academic excellence this past spring! Super proud of all their hard work in the classroom and on the court!
Team Members were:
CC Alexander, Lexi Juoni, Avery Hintz, Amanda Tovar, Kiyla Kopecky, Kindyl Kilar, Emme Bullis, Cora Linos, Caleigh Yang and Cali Kopecky!
Editor’s note: the following information has been provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Congratulations to Lucy Davis for being Whitewater Unified School District’s Reading All Star this week!! Lucy, we are honored to have you as our Reading All Star! Keep up your love of reading!
Our thanks to Steve Watson for sharing these beautiful pictures. Steve writes, “Sunday, July 9. This lone pelican on Trippe Lake by the swimmin hole. Only stayed one day. I watched it for about 20 minutes, then I moved on. It was gone by the next morning.”
— Our Readers Share: We hope that you might have something that you’d be willing to share. Anything that’s been created by someone else should, of course, be credited, and you should ask their permission if you’re able. We cannot post copyrighted material without permission. We can’t guarantee that we’ll have space for all submissions, and contributions will be subject to editorial board approval. The one definite exclusion is anything politically oriented. We will assume that you’re willing for us to include your name as the submitter unless you indicate that you prefer to remain anonymous. Send to whitewaterbanner@gmail.com or click on “submit a story” near the top right of our homepage. Thanks for thinking about this!
Whitewater United FC formerly known as Whitewater Youth Soccer Club (WYSC) would like to invite kids from four years old through the 8th grade to join the 2021-2022 soccer season. Registration is now open until July 31 for Recreational and Select (*If you received an offer letter.) For more information or to register please check out https://www.whitewatersoccer.com/
The Whitewater United FC Soccer Club is the local soccer club for children ages 4 to 14 in the Whitewater area. The club is volunteer-run and season are played in the fall and spring. Our home fields are at Moraine View Park.
The image on the homepage, “Soccer Ball” by faungg’s photos is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Editor’s note: the following information has been provided by the Whitewater Unified School District.
Congratulations to Maya Davis for being Whitewater Unified School District’s Reading All Star this week!! Maya, we are honored to have you as our Reading All Star! Keep up your love of reading!
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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