A September 29, 2024 article in the Royal Purple includes the following news regarding the installation of lights onthe UW-Whitewater softball field. The complete article may be found here.

“The sun set over Van Steenderen Softball Complex while a cotton candy September sky graced the background. Excitement filled the brisk Thursday evening air while players wrapped up their final warm-ups before taking the field – this time under a new circumstance.

The Warhawks played under the lights for the first time at home.

UW-Whitewater softball unveiled their new lighting system in the team’s Sept. 26 purple and black scrimmage. The lighting system allows Warhawk softball to host night games, eliminating previous issues where games were called due to player safety.

“It opens up so many more opportunities for our program,” head coach Brenda Volk said. “Our goal is always to provide the best experience possible for our student-athletes and I think this is just one more thing that can do just that.”

The lighting system provides an added flexibility when softball hosts WIAC or NCAA tournament games, as previous games needed proper scheduling times to avoid calling games short.

“We have had a handful of games over the years that have been called due to darkness,” Volk said. “It’s just a relief to know that won’t ever have to happen again.”

The Whippet Cross Country Teams traveled to Janesville to compete in the 86th annual Midwest Invitational hosted by Janesville Craig at Blackhawk Golf Course on Saturday, September 28. In this exceptional invite, 51 teams toed the starting line for some very large race fields and elite-level competition. This meet has roughly 3,000 athletes compete in 7 races (including MS) and is the oldest inter-state meet in the country. On the girls’ side, there were thirteen teams ranked across all divisions and from out-of-state competition. On the boys’ side, this meet included fourteen ranked teams from the state. This competition tends to bring out the best in everyone, and Whitewater didn’t disappoint. Several athletes were able to walk away with lifetime bests, season bests, or running one of the fastest times of the year. This was all despite some pretty warm weather conditions and running in races with over 500 runners which doesn’t allow for much movement within the race itself.

On the varsity girls’ side, Athena Soto led the team with Carley Boudreau not far behind. Despite having an issue with her shoe, Mady Hefty toughed out her race and was the team’s 3rd runner. Other runners who had a particularly strong day were Ema Aranda who was able to run her lifetime best today and Sami Van Daele not far off her personal best. Lucy Troxel rounded out the varsity squad with her lifetime best as well. It was a good showing by the girls’ team which placed 35th out of 51 teams. In the White race, Delaney Hammack was able to carve out her lifetime best with a strong start and riding the wave to a time of 25:39. 

Girls’ Varsity Race – 35th with 970 points

• Athena Soto 167th 22:13
• Carley Boudreau 180th 22:23
• Mady Hefty 192nd 22:42
• Nola Coburn 224th 23;20
• Ema Aranda 245th 24:02
• Sami Van Daele 254th 24:30
• Lucy Troxel 266th 24:55

Girls’ White Race – No team score

• Delaney Hammack 51st 25:39
• Silvia Harris 162nd 28:04
• Payton Brautigam 283rd 31:28

On the boys’ side, Jack Hefty led the team with a top 10 finish. This super impressive finish also led to a new lifetime best of 15:46. Miles Nickelsburg is putting things together at the right time and was able to dip under 18 minutes for the first time this season. Andrew O’Toole raced to a new lifetime best along with Onyx Thompson and Isaac Straight. Overall, it was a really good day for the varsity boys’ team. In the Blue race, Marcus Roselle ran his second straight lifetime best of the three from our team that entered this race. Finally, leading the Whippets in the White race was Isaiah Mendez who has been battling an ankle injury and was the team’s top finisher despite some very warm temperatures for their race.

Boys’ Varsity Race – 32nd with 843 points

• Jack Hefty 10th 15:46
• Miles Nicklesburg 176th 17:49
• Luc Pomazak 209th 18:17
• Andrew O’Toole 210th 18:19
• Onyx Thompson 245th 18:44
• Isaac Straight 289th 19:23

Boys’ Blue Race – No Team Score

• Quinton O’Toole 348th 20:50
• Wyatt Esch 367th 21:12
• Marcus Roselle 377th 21:37

Boys’ White Race – No team score

• Isaiah Mendez 135th 22:10
• Angel Kilar 400th 27:17
• Sam Nickelsburg 402nd 27:28
• Alex Clarksen 425 29:31

Next up for the team will be the October 4 Nightfall Classic which will be held in Lake Mills at the Lake Mills Golf Club. This race will be entirely contested under the lights in an atmosphere unlike any other meet we attend. The D1/D2 Girls race is set to go off at 8:25 and the Boys D1/D2 race is slated to begin at 9:00. For meet info visit: https://www.adesports.com/lake-mills-nightfall-608

Article Submitted by Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Head Cross Country Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
Photo credits Angel Van Daele and Chad Carstens

The Whippet Girls’ Swim Team hosted Badger and Platteville/Lancaster in their first home meet of the season on Tuesday, September 24! The night was filled with lots of best times and some new races for individuals!

Maggie Maas put on a gutsy performance in the 200 Freestyle. She won the event against Platteville/Lancaster and pushed the Badger swimmers until the very end. Maggie’s performance was a lifetime best for her, going a time of 2:24.76! Lucy Davis has really found her niche in the 200 Freestyle and continues to knock more and more time off; she swam a stellar 2:31.30!

In the 200 IM, Grace Coleman took on the battle for the first time and crushed it! We are excited to see her improvement in this event moving forward in the season. Makayla Bazeley also swam a great race winning the event against Platteville/Lancaster; she went a time of 2:19.54.

Laken DePorter went 4/4 on the night. She dropped nearly 2 seconds in her 50 Freestyle going a 35.75, she broke the 1:30 mark in her 100 Freestyle going a time of 1:28.38, and she also improved her 50 free relay split time and 100 free relay split time!

Charlotte Hajewski continues to improve on her 500. She won the event against Platteville/Lancaster with a time of 6:26.29.

Both of our 200 Freestyle Relays had some great races. Some notable splits came from Lucy Davis who led off the relay to go a lifetime best in the 50 Free with a time of 32.93, Atreya Wilson who went a 34.57 in her 50 free split, Maya Davis who also led off to race against her sister posting a best time in the 50 free with a time of 37.64, and Caitlin Alford who continues to improve her time!

In the 100 Backstroke, Marijose Verduzco swam a close race against Platteville/Lancaster taking second and improved her time by 4 seconds!

In the 400 Freestyle Relay consisting of Makayla Bazeley, Lucy Davis, Charlotte Hajewski, and Emerson Dunham, all swimmers posted new best times for the season! Makayla led off with a 55.64, Lucy split a 1:09.63, Charlotte split a 1:09.30, and Emerson anchored with a 1:06.15.

The girls travel to Jefferson High School to compete in the EagleJay Invite on Saturday, September 28. The meet starts at 10 am. We hope to see you there!

Article and Photo Submitted by Sarah Reynolds
Whitewater High School Head Swim Coach
ReynoldsSM07@uww.edu

Monroe defeated the Whippet Football Team 39-6 on Friday, September 20.

Coach Sam Bartlett stated, “Monroe is one of those teams that plays extremely hard and disciplined. When you play with both of those it leads to a lot of success, which is evident. Coach Witt is doing a great job with them. They came out of the gates ready to go.

We came out with fire but did not start the game off disciplined. Our discipline improved throughout the game. We also played with fire and energy the entire game. I was extremely proud of our talk to teammates being positive and constructive. Those are traits that will serve us well these next couple of weeks.

We have work to do to improve on the field. A big focus of practice this week will be great effort and discipline in all areas. If we focus on those two areas, we will be successful. I look forward to our game against East Troy and look forward to the competition.”

Article and Photos Submitted by Sam Bartlett
Whitewater High School Head Football Coach
barsa01@wwusd.org