Today is Sunday, May 10, 2026
Written by Lynn Binnie
Photos courtesy of Tom Ganser
The fulfillment of Reese Brantmeier’s dream of renovating and reopening the tennis courts located on the edge of the Washington Elementary School grounds was celebrated in a grand opening on July 12. Approximately 100 people were in attendance at the dedication, including three of her tennis coaches from North Carolina. One of the coaches remarked that he could see the courts from almost a mile away, as they are painted in “Carolina blue!”
Brantmeier remarked on how the tennis courts at Washington were the initial impetus for her love of tennis. She already competed in the U.S. Open in her junior year of high school. Her hope in rejuvenating the Washington courts was that other children will come to love the sport. She had indicated on the project’s website: “These courts and subsequent programming will introduce local children and families of all skill levels, ages, and identities to the joys and opportunities of this life-long sport. These courts would directly increase physical activity rates, cardiovascular fitness, and overall long-term health by promoting non-sedentary habits.” The library now has racquets and balls available to check out.
Additional donations still needed
Brantmeier’s project is partnered with the Patrick W. Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to promoting tennis in Southeastern Wisconsin. Her fundraising efforts were successful in garnering donations not only from the Whitewater area, but from North Carolina and other parts of the U.S., not to mention international contributions including from New Zealand. The total as of the grand opening was nearly $160,000.
According to the project website, the goal is still $200,000 with $161,768.98 having been raised. That leaves the hope of receiving an additional $37,604.02, or $17,604.02 if no lighting is installed. The remainder is needed to establish an endowment that will ensure that the courts are properly maintained for the foreseeable future. Contributions may be made online through the Patrick W. Ryan Memorial Tennis Foundation or by mail c/o Ryan Incorporated Central, 2700 E. Racine Street, Janesville, WI 53545 with a check made out to the foundation and designated for the Brantmeier project.
US Open Results
The University of North Carolina’s Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton won their U.S. Open debut doubles match together last week in an afternoon match on Thursday, topping fellow Americans Thea Frodin and Kristina Penickova, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(8), in the first round of the women’s doubles competition at the US Open. With the win, Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced to the second round, and the two won $30,000 in prize money for the first round win. (Prize money for each round posted on the U.S. Open site.)
In the second round, Brantmeier and Hamilton faced off against the fourth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens last Saturday. The pair defeated the UNC’s Brantmeier and Hamilton 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday afternoon in the second round of the 2025 US Open.
Against Kudermetova and Mertens (this year’s 2025 Wimbledon Women’s Doubles Champion), the UNC duo put up a tough fight in the early going of the first set, tying the score at 2-2 after four games. The fourth-seeded pros eventually put away Brantmeier and Hamilton, 6-3 in the first frame. Kudermetova and Mertens led, 5-0, in the second set before winning, 6-1, to take the match.
The 4th-seeded doubles team that defeated Brantmeier and Hamilton advanced all the way to the US Open women’s semifinal at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds in New York City.
Editor’s note: Our thanks to Greg Stewart for the US Open results.
The Warhawks were picked to finish fourth in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. They enter the season ranked 22nd by the American Football Coaches Association and 24th according to D3football.com.
Individually, the Warhawks return seven All-WIAC honorees to the 2025 squad. Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge), a 2024 All-American, 2025 Preseason All-American and reigning WIAC Special Teams Player of the Year is one of the top returners in Division III and also returns to the offense as a wide receiver. Two-time all-conference honoree Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) is back to lead the linebacker unit. On the offensive line, Alex Pethan (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek), a two-time all-league selection, and Evan Oberg (DeForest, Wis./DeForest), a 2024 all-conference pick, are back. Also receiving All-WIAC recognition a season ago and returning to the defense this season are Noah Moris (Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove) (defensive line), Paul Kim (Janesville, Wis./Parker) (defensive back) and Karsten Libby (Wheaton, Ill./North) (linebacker).
UWW will head to Saint Xavier University (Ill.) for a 1 p.m. kick at Deaton Field on September 13 before wrapping up the non-conference slate with an 11 a.m. kickoff against #8/8 Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas on September 20.
Following the bye week, UWW returns to Perkins for the WIAC opener against #10/11 UW-La Crosse on October 4 (1 p.m.). The game is designated the Warhawks’ annual Family Fest, Alumni Day and Shriners Day. UW-Whitewater heads to UW-Stevens Point on October 11 (1 p.m.) before returning to Whitewater to host UW-Stout for Friday Night Lights on October 17. The game, presented by Mercyhealth, is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
The Warhawks will host #14/15 UW-Platteville for the annual Homecoming, Hall of Fame and George Chryst Memorial Bowl sponsored by PremierBank on October 25 a 1 p.m. Saturday, November 1 will have UWW heading to #19/19 UW-River Falls for a showdown with the Falcons at 1 p.m.
UW-Whitewater will recognize its 2025 seniors at the final home game of the regular season on November 8 against UW-Eau Claire. The game, set for a 1 p.m. kick, is also designated the annual Military Appreciation Day presented by Wisconsin Army National Guard.
The Warhawks will wrap up the regular season slate at UW-Oshkosh on November 15.
All UW-Whitewater home games will be broadcast on the WIAC Network courtesy of UWWTV. All conference games will be streamed on the WIAC Network. Fans can listen to every game courtesy of 105.9 The Hog online or on the radio. Visit the UWW football schedule page for all live coverage links.
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater Athletics.
The Whippet Football Team fell to McFarland 55-8 on Friday, September 5 after losing both quarterbacks to injury.
Comments from Coach Bartlett:
This was not a game where we could afford mistakes and still expect to win. Unfortunately, we made too many errors, combined with some untimely injuries, which hurt our chances of coming away with a victory. McFarland is a well-coached program that capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes while minimizing their own, and they did exactly that.
Even so, I’m proud of our team’s effort and resilience. Our players never gave up, even after both of our quarterbacks went down with injuries. Senior Christian Minett stepped in to take snaps at the end of the first half, and at halftime our offense adjusted with a “let’s roll with it” mentality. In the second half, senior Casey Lyon took over at quarterback, giving great effort despite not practicing the position. He ran the ball hard and even threw his first career touchdown pass to junior Trevor Piper.
We’ll get back to work this week with a focus on cleaning up mistakes and continuing to Pound the Stone each day as we improve.
Rushing:
- #2 Casey Lyon: 7 Rushes, 72 Yards
Passing:
- #2 Casey Lyon: 1 of 2, 28 Yards, 1 Touchdown
Receiving:
- #1 Trevor Piper: 1 Catch for 28 yards, 1 TD
Notable Defensive Stats:
- #10 Hayden Armstrong: 3 Solos, 2 Assists, 1 TFL
- #50 Deavion Olson: 1 Solo, 3 TFL
Article Submitted by Sam Bartlett
Whitewater High School Head Football Coach
barsa01@wwusd.org
File Photo Courtesy of Damon Jay Photography
Editor’s note: Updated on 9/6/25 @ 10:15 p.m. to add two additional articles.
The below is excerpted from an article on the KU athletics website. A Banner post on 9/5 referenced an article about former Warhawks coach Lance Leipold, who is now head coach at University of Kansas.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Kansas Jayhawks dropped a 42-31 contest to Missouri Saturday in the 121st edition of the StorageMart Border Showdown at Faurot Field.
With the setback, Kansas moves to 2-1 on the year while Missouri improves to 2-0.
Jalon Daniels led the Jayhawks with 223 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-30 passing, while also rushing for a team-high 20 yards on nine attempts. DeShawn Hanika had a career-high six receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Trey Lathan (13) and Lyrik Rawls (10) paced the KU defense with double-digit tackles, and Austin Alexander had six tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown…….
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An article on SI.com with the headline “Kansas vs. Missouri: Lance Leipold Is To Blame for Heartbreaking Loss” blames the loss on “…. conservative play-calling from offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski and questionable decision-making by Lance Leipold.”
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This article provides comments from Coach Leipold after the game.
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