Today is Tuesday, January 7, 2025
Photos by On Your Mark Photography
Eleven Members of the Gymhawks Youth Gymnastics Competitive Team in Whitewater recently competed at the 2018 Level 2-5 Wisconsin State Gymnastics Championships Meet held at Waukesha West High School on December 1- 2. The event was hosted by Swiss Turners Gymnastics Academy. Team members had to receive qualifying scores in prior 2018 gymnastics meets to participate at the State Level. A total of 859 gymnasts competed from throughout the state, with athletes competing against those of similar ages and skill levels.
Gymhawks Team member highlights include Level 3 gymnasts competing for the first time at a State level:
Level 3:
- Amethyst Gruennert, led the Level 3 team by scoring a Personal Best 9.525 on Balance Beam, scored in the Top Five in all 4 events (Vault, Bars, Beam, and Floor) and recorded a Personal Best All-Around Score of 37.050.
- Hannah Baldry earned two 3rd Place medals – by scoring a Personal Best 9.550 on Balance Beam and 8.950 on Floor, and recorded a Personal Best All-Around Score of 36.150.
- Bella Grassi scored Personal Best 9.450 on Balance Beam, placed in Top 8 in 3 of 4 events and earned her Personal Best All-Around Score of 35.425.
- Bailey LeRoy also scored a Personal Best 8.80 on Balance Beam and earned a place in the Top Ten in all four of her events, and earned an All-Around Score of 35.250
Level 4:
- Ava Zepezzauer led the Level 4 team, with a Personal Best 8.80 on Floor, a Top 9 placing in Vault and an All Around Score of 34.575.
- Falyn Krahn earned 1st Place for her Personal Best Balance Beam score of 9.40 and earned a Personal Best All-Around Score of 34.075.
- Loralie Arnold earned a 3rd Place medal for her Personal Best Balance Beam 9.250 and a
season high Personal Best All-Around score of 33.975. - Courtney Knox and Ava Recob rounded out the Level 4 team and both achieved Personal Bests on Bars (8.70 & 8.50) and each also earned Personal Best All-Around Scores (of 33.075 & 32.650)
Level 5:
- Rhianna Pena earned 1st Place Balance Beam medal for her 9.30 score, a Personal Best 8.825 on Vault (4th Place), and a 3rd Place All-Around Score of 34.625.
- Mickie Simmons earned a 7th Place medal for Floor with 8.625 and an All-Around Score of 32.825.
The Gymhawks competitive team currently consists of 21 team members, competing at Levels 3 – 7. While the Level 3- 5 athletes have just finished their 2018 competitive season with their performance at the State Meet, the Level 6-7 athletes are just beginning their competitive season.
The Gymhawks Gymnastics program is a developmental gymnastics program run by the UW-Whitewater Gymnastics team. Young gymnasts learn in state-of-the art facilities with professional and caring staff and train in the same facilities as the five-time NCGA Division III National Gymnastics Champions Whitewater Warhawks. Gymhawks offer recreational group sessions, private and semi-private lessons, gymnastics camps, birthday parties, and has a USAG Competitive Team.
For more information about Gymhawks Gymnastics, contact Head Coach Allison Annala at gymhawks@uww.edu or 262-472-1454, find them on Facebook under “Gymhawks Gymnastics” or at the University of Whitewater’s website http://www.uww.edu/ce/camps/athletic/gymhawks
Whitewater High School Athletic Director Jim Pease is pleased to announce Jason Bleck as the Whippets’ new football coach. Mr. Bleck takes over the whippets after being an assistant coach since 2017.
Coach Bleck played for the Whippets from 2002-2005 before he attended UW Lacrosse where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in math-Education. Coach Bleck’s coaching career began in 2010 at Watertown High School where he served as a football and basketball coach . He worked for Watertown Schools as a High School Math Teacher for 7 years . In addition to coaching football, Mr. Bleck teaches Math at Whitewater Middle School.
Pease added, “I am excited to have Jason Bleck as the new leader of the Whippet Football Program. He is the person who can lead the program toward its future goals.”
The No. 5 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team forced four turnovers and took advantage of a pair of big plays on special teams Saturday during a 26-12 victory over No. 11 Bethel (Minn.) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championship at Perkins Stadium.
The Warhawks (13-0 overall) will face No. 2 Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) next Saturday, Dec. 8, at a time and location to be determined in their 11th appearance in the national semifinals.
For the third consecutive game, junior running back Ronny Ponick (Stanley, Wis./Stanley-Boyd) and sophomore running back Alex Peete (Ringwood, Ill./Johnsburg) each rushed for 100 or more yards. Ponick carried 21 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while Peete posted 24 carries for 123 yards and one score.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football senior Harry Henschler (Janesville, Wis./Craig) was named one of 13 semifinalists for the 2018 Gagliardi Trophy, an award presented by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John’s University to the most outstanding football player in NCAA Division III.
A total of 39 ballots will be cast for the Gagliardi Trophy, with an additional 40th to be determined by a fan vote. Fans can vote here on one ballot per device between now and Monday, Dec. 3, at noon Central Time.
Henschler, a defensive lineman and captain, is a two-year starter and three-year contributor for the Warhawks. He has been a part of two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and three NCAA Playoff appearances, including a national semifinal appearance in 2015 and a national quarterfinal berth in 2016.
To vote for Henschler, 
To learn more about Henschler, see the UWWSports.com story here.
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