Competing in McFarland at the WIAA Track and Field Sectional on Friday in perfect conditions, the Whippets had a strong day that included several PRs and two state qualifiers.

The day started with Langdon Coburn in the pole vault. Having a superb day on the runway, he blew right past his previous best and the school record he set on Tuesday, clearing 14’6″ on his second attempt. When the bar moved to 15 feet, he had three strong attempts but was unable to clear it, along with Cole Kiefenheim from Winnebago Lutheran. Due to clearing 14’6″ on his second attempt while his competitor needed three attempts, Langdon won the sectional title on fewer misses and punched his ticket to state. This will be Langdon’s first trip to LaCrosse as a competitor. 

Next up were Sydney Schilt and Emery Kachel in the 100-meter prelims. Emery competed in heat one and ran her best when it counted, posting a season-best time of 13.15. Running 12.62 in the prelims, Sydney found herself seeded fifth entering the finals. After about a 25-minute break, the 100-meter final was back on the track. Staying cool, calm, and collected, she stormed down the track like a lightning bolt and finished runner-up with a time of 12.42. Her time is now the third-fastest ever run by a Whippet in the event, passing Jane Bailey’s 12.54 from 1977.

Virginia Nelson was next on the track in the 1600. With a bold race strategy in mind, she went for it and came away with a new lifetime PR of 5:39.11. The performance was a nine-second personal best as she placed 11th overall.

Emery Kachel appeared again in the 400-meter dash, running in heat two. Competing in a strong, savvy race, she finished just .18 seconds off her lifetime best with a time of 61.67 and was one spot short of state qualification, placing fifth overall. Emery has grown tremendously in this event, and her performance at this level of competition is indicative of that growth.

Tyler Carollo made his sectional debut in the 1600 as a freshman and gained valuable experience while also earning a few more days of training and seeing what the next level looks like. Tyler finished 16th with his second-best time of the season at 5:05.62. Within a 72-hour period, Tyler ran his lifetime best to qualify and then followed it up with his second-best performance of the year. A very solid freshman season.

Next up were Ty Bucholtz and Cason Boudreau in the 300-meter hurdles. Cason competed in heat one and, much like Tyler, gained incredible experience competing at sectionals as a freshman. Running to a lifetime best on the day, Cason stopped the clock at 43.48 and placed 15th. A tremendous freshman campaign. Ty competed in heat two and, although he did not have the race he was hoping for, still finished with the second-best time of his career at 41.91 and placed ninth overall.

Sydney Schilt was back on the track again as she stepped into the blocks for the second heat of the 200-meter dash. Absolutely slinging off the curve, Sydney looked strong down the home stretch as she finished third overall with a new personal best of 25.41. This not only punched her ticket to the state meet in another event, but also moved her ahead of Maddie Buehler on the all-time top-10 list for another top-three mark in Whippet track and field history.

Ty Bucholtz had little time to rest after his 300H race as he doubled back in the 200. As he came out of the blocks, he competed well in his heat and stopped the clock in 23.55, nearly beating his lifetime best in the event. He placed 12th overall. 

Virginia returned in the 3200 to run the distance double for the first time in her young sophomore career. Looking to set two new personal bests on the day, she accomplished just that as she closed in 1:24 on her final lap to finish 15th with a new lifetime best of 12:52.91, a seven-second PR. Advancing in one event last year to the sectional meet and now doubling while running lifetime bests in both events is a strong sign of growth.

To wrap up the evening, the girls’ 4×400 relay team of Emery Kachel, Emma Maas, Emy Islas, and Sydney Schilt gave it everything they had. The relay battled throughout all four legs and ran a season-best time of 4:12.85, improving by more than two seconds from Tuesday’s regional performance. The group placed sixth overall. This relay is the fastest girls’ 4×400 team the program has seen in several years and restored the excitement that this event brings to the sport of track and field.

Langdon and Sydney will compete at the WIAA State Meet on Friday, June 5, at UW-La Crosse. Division 2 competition will take place during the second session, with Langdon competing on Friday in the pole vault and Sydney running prelims in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes, looking to earn a spot in Saturday’s finals on June 6.

Full sectional results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/667518/results/all

Article and Photos Submitted by WHS Track Staff

Saturday, May 30 features a Community Youth Sports Day at Whitewater High School from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event is free to all children with soccer games, a bike rodeo and more.

This event is sponsored by Whitewater United FC, the Whitewater Police Department and the Immigrant Support Coalition.

Updated 5/28/26 @ 12:15 p.m. to add a Culver’s lemon ice cooler promotion at the bottom of this post.

Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is set to welcome thousands of Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes, volunteers, and fans to the Whitewater campus for the fourth consecutive year.

The State Summer Games are slated for June 4-6 at UW-Whitewater’s indoor and outdoor athletics facilities, including Perkins Stadium, Kachel Fieldhouse, and the university’s intramural fields. Due to construction this summer at Rex Foster Track, track and field events will take place at Palmyra-Eagle Middle / High School, located at 123 Burr Oak St., Palmyra, WI, 53156.

“Accessibility is central to our university mission, and this event gives Special Olympics Wisconsin athletes from around the state an opportunity to compete and have fun in a positive, inclusive environment,” said Chancellor Corey A. King. “We are excited to welcome these athletes and their families and friends to Whitewater. Our staff and volunteers are ready to work with Special Olympics Wisconsin to host a first-class event.”

“We are thrilled to once again partner with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to host our Summer Games, as their commitment to inclusion, excellence, and community creates an outstanding experience for our athletes,” said Chad Hershner, President and CEO of Special Olympics Wisconsin. “This collaboration allows us to deliver a premier event where athletes can compete, connect, and celebrate the power of sport in a truly welcoming environment.”

The three-day event kicks off with the Parade of Athletes and Opening Ceremony on June 4 inside Perkins Stadium. The remainder of the time includes opportunities for Special Olympics athletes to compete in track and field, cornhole, and powerlifting, engage in health and wellness activities and sessions, and participate in social events.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to run athletics events, serve meals, and assist with other aspects of the Games. Learn more about volunteering »

UW-Whitewater has hosted the State Summer Games each year since 2023. The event is part of the dozens of camps, clinics, and special events hosted every summer by Continuing Education staff.

In 2025, a record 9,041 participants were part of nearly 100 summer events at UW-Whitewater. More than 6,300 were registered for UW-Whitewater camps, which include opportunities in athletics, the arts, music and more.

The Whitewater Culver’s is participating in this promotion.