Today is Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Editor’s note: The following was posted on February 10 to the UW-W website.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team led NCAA Division III in both cumulative and average attendance during the 2021 season, drawing nearly 70,000 fans to Perkins Stadium for home games.
The Warhawks averaged a nation-leading 6,975 fans over 10 home games, including six in the regular season and four in the NCAA Playoffs.
The team’s total attendance of 69,754 was nearly 18,000 more than its closest peer and is believed to be the most in one season in school history, passing the 2016 team, which drew 51,459 fans.
UW-Whitewater has now finished among the top 10 in the nation in attendance in each of the last 15 seasons. Perkins Stadium’s unique atmosphere, highlighted in this video, includes fan tailgating, the “Cannon Guy” firing off the cannon after each Warhawk scoring play, one of the best bands in NCAA Division III under the direction of Dr. Glenn Hayes and a winning tradition that includes six national championships and 10 trips to the Stagg Bowl since 2005.
“I get the chills every time,” defensive lineman Mackenzie Balanganayi (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) said on the Inside Warhawk Athletics podcast in 2020 regarding the Perkins Stadium atmosphere. “It’s different anywhere else, you don’t get that anywhere else. You feel unbeatable.”
Former UW-W head coach Bob Berezowitz, who coached the Warhawks from 1985-2006, spoke of the fan experience for a 2020 story on the 50th anniversary of the venue.
“I feel UW-W has the best tailgating gathering in Division III football,” Berezowitz said. “I am so excited every Saturday to be at Perkins Stadium to see everyone getting ready for a great game. Attendance just keeps increasing each year.”
More than 11,000 fans walked through the Perkins Stadium gates three times during the 2021 season:
15,406 against UW-Platteville on Oct. 9 – ninth-highest single-game attendance in Division III history according to D3football.com (sixth highest on-campus attendance) and second-highest single-game attendance in program history
11,248 against UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 30 – ranks among the top 50 in single-game attendance in Division III history according to D3football.com
11,991 against UW-La Crosse on Nov. 6 – ninth-highest single-game attendance in program history and among the top 30 in Division III history according to D3football.com
UW-Whitewater’s three other regular season games each drew more than 7,000 fans:
7,423 against Carthage on Sept. 4
8,102 against Berry (Ga.) on Sept. 18
8,963 against UW-Stout on Oct. 2
The Whitewater Gymnasts took on Waterford in their last dual meet of the season on Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
Halee Peters had a great night as she took 2nd in All-Around with a score of 30.825. She stomped it in Vault, taking 1st place, took 2nd in Bars with her difficult routine, and had a career best score of 8.275 with her sassy Floor routine, which also earned her 2nd place. Halee tied for 3rd place on Beam with Makayla Bazeley. Makayla also had a strong night and placed in the top 8 for all the events, taking 5th in All-Around and 5th on her solid Bars routine.
Myia Cobbs showed everyone how tough of a competitor she is as she took on Bars for the first time ever. She also scored a season best on the Vault with a 7.25, tied her season best score on Floor, and competed in All-Around for the very first time, and scored a 23.30! We love seeing how much she has grown as a gymnast since the first meet! She meets every challenge head on and is a determined gymnast!
Miyu Takeda scored a season best on Vault as she continues to push herself to learn new skills.
The team heads to Platteville for their last invitational on Saturday, February 12th, and then will move on to Conference and Sectionals the following two Fridays. Wish them luck as they finish their season strong!
Article and Photos Submitted by Shawnda Peters
Whitewater High School Head Gymnastics Coach
speters@wwusd.org
The Whitewater Boys’ Basketball Team competed in two hotly-contested games to begin the week. Unfortunately, they came up a little short in both, losing to Lake Geneva Badger, 41-39, on Monday, February 7th, and 62-48 to Beloit Turner on Tuesday, February 8th.
In Monday’s game, Lake Geneva scored the first two points, but that was their only lead of the first half, as Whitewater took control of the game with their aggressive 1-3-1 zone defense. The Whippets built a seven-point lead with five minutes left, but couldn’t increase it, as Badger closed the gap to 21-18 at the half. The second half was close throughout, with Whitewater keeping the lead until Lake Geneva hit a basket to take a 30-29 lead with 8 and a half minutes left. After that, it went back and forth until the end. With the score tied 39-39 and four seconds left, Badger center Nathan Buntrock broke free to score and win the game.
Whitewater was led by Jon Aron with 12 points, Wyatt Nickels with 8 points and 9 rebounds, and Arno Crowley with 7 points and 3 steals. Sam Brown also contributed 3 steals, as Whitewater stole the ball 10 times.
Tuesday’s game did not start well for the Whippets, as Beloit Turner built a 19-2 lead in the first 10 minutes of this make-up game. Whitewater’s offense finally kicked in, and with their aggressive defense getting steals (a total of 19 steals for the game), the Whippets stormed back. When Arno Crowley hit a 3 pointer at the end of the first half, the Turner lead was down to two, 31-29. Whitewater stayed close throughout the second half. Every time Turner would widen their lead, the Whippets would reel it back in. However, they couldn’t make that last run to take the lead, and with the score at 52-48 with two and a half minutes left, Turner scored the last 10 points for the final.
Whitewater was again led in scoring by Jon Aron with 12 points and Wyatt Nickels’ 5 rebounds. Arno Crowley had 8 points and 6 steals, and Ramon Wence had 4 steals (two of which were crucial to start Whitewater’s first half comeback.)
The Whippets next play at Jefferson on Thursday, February 10th.
Article Submitted by Dwayne Lange
File Photo Courtesy of Bob Mischka
The Whitewater Girls’ Basketball Team hosted Edgerton for a conference game on Tuesday, February 8th. The Whippets fell to the Tide 40-85.
Gwen Truesdale led the Whippets with 14 points and 4 rebounds. Josie Treder added 9 points and 7 rebounds. Kindyl Kilar and Danielle Deporter each contributed 6 points, and Cali Kopecky added 5.
Whitewater will travel to Brodhead on Friday, February 11th.
Article Submitted by Kristen Lippens
Whitewater High School Head Girls’ Basketball Coach
klippens@wwusd.org
Upcoming Events
