Today is Thursday, June 5, 2025
Per a Facebook post, “Whitewater Softball is Sectional final bound!!!!!! Whippets with a 6-5 win at Pewaukee! We now play in the sectional final at our house!!!! Game time 5pm vs Whitnall tomorrow [Thursday, 6/5]!”
More than 1,200 athletes from across the state will compete in Cornhole, Powerlifting, Soccer, Tennis, and Track & Field at the 2025 Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) Summer Games, held at UW-Whitewater June 5-7. Several health-focused activities will complement Friday and Saturday competition, providing free oral, vision, podiatry, hearing, and fitness screenings.
The public is welcome to watch the competition and cheer on the participants.
UW-Whitewater Athletics Facilities (907 Schwager Dr.)
WHEN: Thursday, June 5
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Parade of Athletes & Opening Ceremony – Perkins Stadium
Friday, June 6
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Cornhole & Soccer competition – Kachel Fieldhouse
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Track & Field competition – Foster Track
Saturday, June 7
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Powerlifting, Tennis, & Soccer competition – Kachel Fieldhouse
8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Track & Field competition concludes – Foster Track
Summer Games is one of four Special Olympics Wisconsin State-level Games held throughout the year and one of nearly 200 sporting events held annually.
SOWI Summer Games returns to Whitewater for the third consecutive year. It is made possible by support from Jersey Mike’s; Knights of Columbus; Dunkin’; Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation; Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Wisconsin; Kriete Truck Centers; WisPact Foundation; Ho Chunk Gaming; Spartan Nash Foundation; and OUR TEAM partners Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Admirals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
About Special Olympics Wisconsin
Special Olympics Wisconsin has empowered people with intellectual disabilities for more than 50 years, providing year-round sports training and competition, health and wellness programs, school-based inclusion initiatives, and leadership development. Learn more about how together we can create a more inclusive Wisconsin at SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org.
By Broderick Frye
Asst. Sports Information Director
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team made a huge statement to take the 1-0 series lead in the NCAA Division III Final against Messiah University. The Warhawk offense blasted 20 hits en route to an 18-3 win. Ben Lee (Amherst, Wis./Amherst) did his work on the mound, picking up the win in 7.0 innings of work.
The Warhawks took the field first as the designated home team. A 1-2-3 inning was highlighted by a run-down catch in right field from Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville).
Messiah did the same feat, closing down the Warhawk offense in the first inning with their own three-up-three-down inning. But the Warhawks were still the first to strike, with Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) sending in the first runner with a single.
The Warhawks started to break the game open with four runs in the fourth. Back-to-back singles moved the runners forward, with Hopper scoring off a fielding error. Dominic McVay capped off the inning with a three-run shot to put the Warhawks up 5-0.
Messiah ended the shutout with an RBI single in the top of the 5th. The Warhawks quickly grabbed the run back with Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) hitting a solo shot to lead off the offensive half. Hopper gapped a hit that the left fielder wasn’t able to catch up to, scoring another run to give UWW a 7-1 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the 6th, but Messiah added their second run on a solo homer to lead off the 7th inning.
The Warhawks apparently made the most of the 7th-inning stretch, seemingly putting the game away for good with a 9-run frame.
Back-to-back singles for Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) & Danny Hopper (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) started the ending. Sam Paden (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) scored Frank on an RBI double for the first run of the inning.
Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King) drew a five-pitch walk, forcing a mound visit and the first pitching change for the Falcons. McVay had a productive out with a sacrifice fly against the new arm.
Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) drew a four pitch walk to load the bases, followed by a 2-RBI single from Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) to add another couple runs on the board. A double for Adam Cootway (DePere, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) scored the 5th run of the inning and drew the next arm out of the bullpen.
Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) fought at the plate for another walk to get the bases loaded once again. Eli Frank (Bayport, Wis./Bay Port) made the most of it, hitting a Grand Slam to clean the bases off and cap off the crooked inning.
With a 16-2 lead, the Warhawks added another two in the bottom of the 8th for a little extra insurance. Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) scored an RBI single followed by an RBI-single from Cootway. Befitting of his number, Cootway hit in the 18th Warhawk run of the game.
Down to their final three outs, Messiah added a base runner after a walk. The runner scored after a double from Messiah’s Martinez. The Warhawk defense grabbed the final out in the same play, catching Martinez in a pickle as he tried to push three.
With the 18-3 win, the Warhawks take a 1-0 series lead heading into the second day of the Finals. Game Two will start at 11 am (ET) tomorrow morning.
Editor’s note: Since the Finals is “best of three,” the Warhawks will be the champs if they win game two, which begins at 10 a.m. CDT If, however, the Falcons pull off a win, the decisive third game is scheduled to begin just 45 minutes after the conclusion of game two. The livestream(s) for the game(s) may be found here.
This article which was published on the Banner on June 2 provides background on both teams.
Congratulations to the Whitewater High School Boys’ Golf Team for finishing 2nd at the WIAA Regional Meet hosted by Delavan-Darien at Delbrook Country Club! Their strong showing punches their ticket to the Sectional Meet!
Top Performers:
- Reece Condon – 2nd place, shot a 78
- Devin McKevitt – 5th place, shot an 80
- Archie Briggs – shot an 86
- Anakin Knudson – shot a 96
- Aiden Meyer – shot a 109
The boys will compete in Tuesday’s Sectional Meet at Dodge Point Country Club in Mineral Point, WI.
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