Today is Thursday, November 28, 2024
MADISON, Wis.–University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending conference co-champion, and winner of 14 of the last 17 titles, has been picked to secure the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.
The Warhawks, who have posted 39 first-place finishes in program history, enter the 2023 campaign ranked ninth in the Lindy’s Sports NCAA Division III Preseason Poll and No. 11 by D3football.com. UW-Whitewater has secured four consecutive NCAA postseason bids. Jace Rindahl takes over the head coaching duties after serving as an assistant coach with the program for the last eight seasons. He played for the Warhawks from 2005-08, helping the program to its first NCAA Division III title in 2007.
UW-La Crosse, ranked fifth by Lindy’s Sports and No. 12 by D3football.com, is pegged for second in the conference standings. The Eagles shared the WIAC title with UW-Whitewater a season ago and appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season – and 13th time in program archives. UW-La Crosse has compiled 18 wins in the last two seasons, matching its best two-year stretch since 1996-97.
UW-Oshkosh begins the 2023 season ranked No. 21 by D3football.com and is predicted to finish third in the WIAC. The Titans have secured 11 conference titles, with the most recent in 2019.
UW-River Falls, selected fourth in the conference race, has represented the WIAC in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl the past two seasons. The Falcons have totaled 16 victories in 2021 and 2022, for their best two-year stint since 1995-96 (17 wins). UW-River Falls is ranked No. 23 by D3football.com.
The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Platteville; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.
Rob Erickson is the new head coach at UW-Eau Claire. A UW-Platteville alum (1996-99), he most recently served as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University since 2020. Erickson has also been an assistant coach at UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and Aurora University (Ill.).
The 2023 season is set to begin Aug. 31, with the conference slate kicking-off Sept. 30.
The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the third consecutive season against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 18.
2023 Preseason Predictions–Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
| 2022 Record | |
| 1. UW-Whitewater | (8-3 overall, 6-1 WIAC) |
| 2. UW-La Crosse | (9-2, 6-1) |
| 3. UW-Oshkosh | (6-4, 4-3) |
| 4. UW-River Falls | (7-4, 4-3) |
| 5. UW-Platteville | (5-5, 4-3) |
| 6. UW-Stout | (5-5, 3-4) |
| 7. UW-Eau Claire | (2-8, 1-6) |
| 8. UW-Stevens Point | (1-9, 0-7) |
UW-Whitewater
Head Coach: Jace Rindahl; 1st season at UWW
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense: 31/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense: 32/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker: 3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense: 4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense: 7/4
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker: 2/0
Returning All-WIAC: Reed Farrington, Jr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Egon Hein, Sr., DB (2021-First, 2022-First); Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire, So., K (2022-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Drake Martin, Jr., RB (2022-First); Zach Sherman, Sr., TE (2022-Second); Tamir Thomas, Jr., RB (2022-Second)
Notable Returning Offensive Players: Tommy Coates, Jr., WR; Addison DeShambo, Jr., OL; Steven Hein, Jr., WR; John Pekar, Jr., OL
Notable Returning Defensive Players: Parker Breunig, Jr., DB; Matt Burba, Jr., DL; Hawk Heffner, Sr., LB; Kyle Koelblinger, Jr., DB
Notable Returning Special Teams Players: Nate Custer, Sr., K/P
Editor’s note: The above information was posted to the WIAC website.
From the Whippet Athletics Facebook page: The Whippets started the season off with a big win in front of a great home crowd. Final score 26-14!! #1Family #Thestandard
From the Daily Jefferson County Union:
Nate Black leads Whitewater’s football team to 26-14 season-opening victory over Big Foot
WHITEWATER — Senior Nate Black scored three touchdowns as Whitewater’s football program ushered in the Samuel Bartlett era in style by earning a 26-14 home victory over Big Foot at WHS on Friday in nonconference play.
The win marks Whitewater’s first on its new turf playing field and the program’s first non-forfeit win since a season-opening home win over Big Foot in 2021.
“It was amazing and very special for the kids,” Bartlett said of the win. “With the turf field being relatively new, it’s their first win on that turf field at home. A lot of our guys feeling that victory broke down and were overcome with emotion because it was such a monumental moment for them.
“It was special. I told them to make sure they enjoy that first win because we are going to be working to get a lot more this year.”
The Whippet Volleyball Team hosted a quadrangular preseason event with Catholic Central, Stoughton, and Sun Prairie East on Tuesday, August 22.
After graduating 5 of the 6 members of the starting lineup from last season, the Whippets are young and looking for underclassmen to fill some openings on the roster. Preseason events like this are used to work various rosters and see how teams begin to play together. “I don’t look for dominating wins at this point, rather, I am working many different line ups and trying athletes in different spots to see who might be ready to lead the team in these positions.”
And the Whippets did just that. Facing Catholic Central first, the Whippets had a 3 set battle (19-25, 25-18 and 5-15). “From the scores alone, you can see our younger nature. We have moments of greatness and owning the court to moments of lapses in mental toughness and leadership.” In this match the Whippets were led in kills by Calli Grosinske with 10, Marina Linos in assists with 7, and Ella Spear with 5 digs.
Next the Whippets faced Stoughton (24-26, 12-25) and again held tight in sets, and costly errors affected the outcome. “Things we control, like serving, blocking errors, and stretches of unanswered points hurt us tonight. On the night we had over 20 service errors alone. We shore those things up, and we are a different squad.” Stat leaders included Calli Grosinske with 5 kills, Marina Linos with 8 assists, and Calli Grosinske with 5 digs.
The final team the Whippets faced was Sun Prairie East (8-25, 25-27). Stat leaders were Calli Grosinske with 5 kills, Falyn Krahn and Ella Spear with 8 digs apiece, Calli Grosinske with 5 assists, and Meg Roselle and Emmanuella Mbifi with 1 block apiece.
Now we get back in the gym and commit to getting better each play. As you can see by the inconsistent scores, we are young, and as we get back in the gym and work on the areas we need to, the sky’s the limit!
Article and Photo Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
Whitewater High School Cross Country will be hosting the 21st Annual Dirk Seibold Alumni Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 26th. Participation in this event requires entrants to be current athletes on the team, alumni of the program, WUSD staff, or family members of current or former Whippet CC athletes. The race is totally free; all you need to do is show up ready to run, and a bib number will be issued to you before your event. It is free for all to spectate and socialize with all in attendance.
Registration begins at 9:00, the boys’/men’s race will be at 10:15 followed by the girls’/women’s race at 10:50. It will be conducted on the campus of UW-Whitewater, with the start/finish lines in the intramural fields near the Kachel Fieldhouse. Look for giant start/finish banners that are in red to know you are in the right spot. Be sure to park in Lot 8, which is free. The race will once again be 5000m in length. Check out the course video here.
Questions can be directed to Coach Chad Carstens at ccarstens@wwusd.org.
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