Today is Saturday, November 30, 2024
By Angela Kelm, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information, UW-Whitewater
The No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team fell to UW-Platteville 17-13 on the road Saturday afternoon. The Warhawks are one of three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams holding a 3-1 league mark, including UW-La Crosse and UWP.
The Pioneers have won two consecutive games against top-25 teams and take the Miner’s Axe for just the third time in 27 renditions of the George Chryst Memorial Bowl.
Statistically, UW-Whitewater outplayed the Pioneers offensively with a 14-9 advantage in first downs, a 123-58 sway in rushing yards and nearly 140 more yards of total offense. The Pioneer defense made the difference forcing four turnovers.
The defenses made an impact from the get-go. The Warhawks registered the first takeaway of the game in Platteville’s first possession. On third and five from the UWP 37, Egon Hein forced a fumble after a completed pass that was scooped up by Kyle Koelblinger who took it 27 yards to the Pioneers’ 17. UW-Whitewater turned the takeaway into points, getting it done on the ground, with Evan Lewandowski running it off the left side of the line and into the endzone for the first score of the game. Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire’s extra point made it 7-0 UWW.
The defense forced a three-and-out in UWP’s next possession, but an interception on the ensuing drive led to points for Platteville and a tie game, 7-7.
On Whitewater’s next offensive series, the Pioneer defense halted the drive at their own one-yard line with another pick. The teams traded punts throughout the quarter. The Warhawks took over after a short punt went out of bounds at the UWW 48. UW-Whitewater was moving the ball until a penalty and batted down pass made it third and long from the UWP 29. The Pioneers got to Lewandowski on the next play, but the wiley quarterback was able to get rid of the ball in time to avoid a big loss. Isotalo-McGuire put the 46-yard field goal through the uprights for a 10-7 Warhawk lead with 2:34 left before the break.
UW-Platteville reclaimed the lead with a 46-yard pick-six with a minute to go in the half. The kick made it 14-10 UWP.
UWW punted on their final possession of the half and Platteville took a knee to head into the locker rooms with a 14-10 advantage.
On the other side of the break, the teams punted on three consecutive possessions. The second of those punts was a 55-yard boot from Nate Custer that pinned UWP at their own 10. The Warhawk defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive to bring the UWW offense back onto the field starting from their own 44.
UW-Whitewater opened the drive with a 21-yard completion to Steven Hein but that’s where the drive stalled. Isotalo-McGuire nailed a 36-yard field goal to pull UWW to within one, 14-13, the only score of the third quarter.
Punts in three consecutive possessions for a second succession in the half, had the Warhawks once again starting from their own 44. The Pioneer defense came up with another big play, intercepting a Lewandowski pass on the first play. An additional penalty on the play had UWP starting at the Warhawk 23. UW-Platteville turned the takeaway into points with a field goal to extend their lead to 17-13 with 12:19 left in the game.
The Warhawks’ next drive stalled at the Plattevile 39. UWW went for it on third and eight but Lewandowski was sacked giving the Pioneers the ball back at their own 46. Once again UWW’s defense registered a clutch series forcing a three-and-out punt.
Pinned deep in their own zone and despite a pair of big pass plays, the Warhawks were unable to extend the drive and were forced to punt giving the Pioneers the ball back with less than five minutes remaining.
Another three-and-out gave the Warhawk offense another shot. UWW had two-and-a-half minutes to go 84 yards. On third and nine, Lewandowski looked for Tyler Holte near the sticks – Holte thought he had hauled in the low pass but the referees signaled incomplete. Lewandowski was sacked on fourth down for the turnover on downs. Platteville ran out the clock, taking a knee the rest of the way for the 17-13 win.
Lewandowski was 16-34 for 181 yards with four interceptions. Jaylon Edmonson tallied 16 carries for 68 yards while Tamir Thomas went for 59 yards on seven attempts on the ground. Sam DeLany was the top target with 64 yards on four receptions.
Defensively, Ryan Liszka was credited with 11 tackles including six solo adding 1.5 sacks in the contest. Kyle Gallagher also registered a sack for a loss of eight yards.
The Whippet Volleyball Team gets to compete another day with the win against visiting Mount Horeb on Thursday, October 20! The Whippets came out firing and battled Mount Horeb down to the wire in a 5-set match within an electric home gym 25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-6!
“This team came to play tonight. I have to give it to Mount Horeb; they played so tough and never gave up. This was an exciting match to be part of! However, I could see it in our eyes, that we were not going to allow us to come away with anything but a win. I know I have said this so many times before, but this team is unbelievably selfless. I have never coached a team like this before. There has not been one minute that they ever thought about anything but their team. And, they played like it!”
The Whippets saw outstanding performances at the net again from our middles. Aidyn Amundson is playing with confidence and she gave us exactly what we needed at the net! Jenna Pope was battling, and her block dominated in the 5th set with 4 blocks.
Zoe Kohl was asked to step in, and she produced! She passed outstanding and gave us the spark we needed from the bench!
“I always remind them volleyball is about putting streaks together, and minimizing errors. We did just that. If we had a few errors, they picked each other up. They are truly selfless and about the team. Caleigh Yang, Ella Spear, Cali Grosinske, Cali Kopecky, and Kindyl Kilar were outstanding on defense. There was never a ball that dropped without an all-out effort to keep it in play. CC Alexander played tough at the net, and Marina Linos was ready, and I felt played her best swinging match this season. Ella Spear is playing so consistently. She is reading hitters and digging to keep us in system”
Kilar continued, “I felt Calli Grosinske had an outstanding setting night, and finished with 40 assists. What was most impressive was her leadership. She never got down after a mistake, and that presence is exactly what we need from our setter. I was so proud of her tonight. Kindyl Kilar was our rock. She stayed level headed and led with her play both on offense and defense. She finished with another double double and had 33 kills, 24 digs, 4 aces, and 4 blocks. To add a little icing on the cake, her first swing sent her over the top into first place as all-time career kill leader as a Whippet.”
Statistical leaders on the night included Grosinske with 40 assists, Jenna Pope and Kindyl Kilar with 33 kills, 4 blocks, and 4 aces, and Kilar with 24 digs. Mount Horeb’s leaders included Ruby Dohlk with 17 kills, Sami Norton with 48 assists, Norton, Kennedy Meyers, and Jayna Schultz with 2 aces, Myers with 28 digs, and Andie Moore with 3 blocks.
Now, we set our sights on Edgewood. The Whippets will head to Edgewood on Saturday, October 22, for the Regional Final at 7:00 p.m. Thank you to all the fans who supported us; the gym definitely had a home court advantage thanks to all of you! Hope to see you on Saturday!
Article and Photos Submitted by Mary Kilar
Whitewater High School Head Volleyball Coach
mkilar@wwusd.org
October 19, 2022 – Indoor Football League (IFL) – Iowa Barnstormers News Release
DES MOINES – The Iowa Barnstormers have signed wide receiver Derek Kumerow to the 2023 roster, Head Coach Dave Mogensen announced today.
Kumerow (6-3, 215, UW-Whitewater) joins the Iowa Barnstormers for his rookie Indoor Football League (IFL) season. Collegiately, Kumerow began his career at St. Cloud State University before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In three seasons with the Warhawks, Kumerow appeared in 36 games tallying 92 receptions for 1,026 yards and eight touchdowns and earned honorable mention All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in his junior season.
Kumerow comes from a lineage of successful football players. His brother, Jake Kumerow, is currently signed to the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. His father, uncle, and cousin also have NFL experience to their resumes.
“Derek comes from a very accomplished family of football players including his brother Jake who is a Buffalo Bills receiver,” said Head Coach Mogensen. “He carved out his own career at Division III powerhouse Wisconsin-Whitewater. Derek is an elite athlete with a great frame. We expect him to come in and push for time immediately at the receiver position.”
Kumerow will enter the Iowa Barnstormers 2023 Training Camp in the Spring.
Season Tickets for the Iowa Barnstormers 2023 season are on sale now for as low as $96 per seat. Don’t miss a minute of the indoor football action! Call the Barnstormers at 515-633-2255 to lock in your seats today.
Tuesday night’s WIAA regional soccer play-in game between the Whitewater Whippets and the Spartans of Martin Luther was an entertaining end to end battle for the full 80 minutes.
Martin Luther scored an early goal to give them the lead; however, seconds later, a beautiful ball in from Avery Janovec and a brilliant scissor kick finish from Victor Hernandez tied the game. The Spartans took the lead again shortly after, but a smart bottom corner shot from Sebastian Cuellar once again tied the game. The last 20 minutes of the first half were dominated by the Whippets. With some sustained pressure, Victor Hernandez assisted Chris Cortes’ first ever varsity goal to give the Whippets the lead at half time.
The second half continued just as the first and was heavily contested on all parts of the pitch. Martin Luther managed to tie the game at 3 and then take the lead 4-3 minutes later. They weren’t ahead for long because Victor Hernadez played another magnificent ball and assisted Chris Cortes again. With the score tied at 4 all, extra time and penalties looked imminent. However, with 86 seconds left in the game, Martin Luther delivered the final blow of the contest.
Despite the loss, the Whitewater Whippets can end their season with their heads held high because of their wonderful performance on a cold and windy night. We say goodbye and thank you to our seniors and wish them luck in all future endeavors. Improvement from the beginning of the season to the end is all we can really ask for, and our boys delivered. Thanks for the great season!
Article Submitted by Sam Burns
Whitewater High School Assistant Varsity Soccer Coach
dburns@wwusd.org
Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
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