Today is Sunday, May 10, 2026
LOUISVILLE, Ky.–All eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s volleyball teams have collected the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award, sponsored by INTENT, for the 2024-25 season.
The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, recognizes teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining a year-long grade point average of 3.30 or better on a 4.00 scale or 4.10 on a 5.00 scale.
UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls were cited for Team Academic Honor Roll recognition by representing the top 20 percent of team grade point averages in NCAA Division III.
Editor’s note: This announcement was published on the WIAC website.
Gunner Schlender, a Physical Education major from Brillion, WI at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is one of 31 student-athletes from Warhawk teams who were named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) for the 2025 spring season. Schlender completed his student teaching at Whitewater High School during the 2024-2025 school year.
The CSC Academic All-District teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom.
To be eligible, student-athletes must be of at least sophomore status and carry a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50. Golf, tennis, and wrestling student-athletes must have been in their team’s lineup for 70 percent of the total matches that include team scores to be eligible for nomination. Track and field student-athletes must have been ranked among the top 50 in the nation in an individual event according to TFRRS rankings. Baseball and softball student-athletes must have competed in 90 percent of their institution’s games/contests played or must have started in at least 66 percent of their institution’s games/contests (pitchers must have accumulated 17 appearances or 25 innings pitched). Gymnastics nominees must have been ranked among the top 75 in at least one event according to Road To Nationals rankings. Bowling nominees must have competed in a minimum of four competitions or had at least one top-eight finish at a conference championships meet.
The following UW-Whitewater student-athletes, by team, were selected Academic All-District:
Men’s tennis:
- Theo Billson (Lindfield, England/BHASVIC) – Academic All-America finalist
- Will Ulrich (Lincoln, Neb./Pius X)
Women’s tennis:
- Molly Asfeld (Waukesha, Wis./West)
- Sarah Ferguson (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek)
Softball:
- Rhiann Dick (Palatine, Ill./Palatine)
- Josie Hammen (Combined Locks, Wis./Kimberly) – Academic All-America finalist
- Brooke Hock (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) – Academic All-America finalist
- Kiarra Kostroski (Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson) – Academic All-America finalist
- Kaitlyn Weidemann (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township)
Baseball:
- Logan Eisenbarth (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) – Academic All-America finalist
- Aaron Holland (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) – Academic All-America finalist
- Darryl Jackson (Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King)
- Matt Scolan (Downers Grove, Ill./South) – Academic All-America finalist
- Andy Thies (Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles) – Academic All-America finalist
Bowling (women):
- Kayla Devine (Minneapolis, Minn.)
- Dani Swaisgood (Burbank, Calif./John Burroughs)
Golf (women):
- Ellie Johnson (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) – Academic All-America finalist
- Kallie Lux (Janesville, Wis./Craig)
Gymnastics (women):
- Tegan Haberstock (Alberta, Canada/National Sport School)
- Kelsey Kollhoff (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) – Academic All-America finalist
Wrestling (men):
- Gavin Kohel (River Falls, Wis./River Falls)
Men’s cross country/track and field:
- Dan Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./McDonell)
- Caleb Beightol (Belgium, Wis./Cedar Grove-Belgium) – Academic All-America finalist
- Nick McFadden (Waukesha, Wis./Pewaukee)
- Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) – Academic All-America finalist
- Andy VanZile (New Berlin, Wis./West)
Women’s cross country/track and field:
- Ryleigh Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego)
- Ari De La Cerda (Milwaukee, Wis./Pewaukee)
- Paige Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
- Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) – Academic All-America finalist
- Danielle Pouska (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs)
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its 60th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Former student-athletes Lauren Cruz Battersby ’10 (softball), Austin Bautista ’11 (wrestling), Brooke Bell Burns ’16 (track and field), Dan Gnatzig ’05 (baseball), Justine Weyer Goodman ’10 (gymnastics), Garry and Larry Grimes (basketball), Kelsey Hendrickson ’10 (basketball), Justin Jacobs ’07 (football), Alison Miller Tanking ’07 (volleyball) and Jim Winkler (tennis) will be inducted. Brian Borland who served in multiple roles with the Warhawk track and field and football programs will be inducted under the category of staff/coach, while former tennis student-athlete and longtime UW-Whitewater supporter John Buckley will be inducted for his distinguished service to the institution.
All 13 individuals will be recognized for their contributions to Warhawk Athletics as part of the UW-Whitewater football team’s game against UW-Platteville on Saturday, October 25, at 1 p.m. Inductees will be part of the Homecoming Parade, which begins at 10 a.m., will be honored at halftime of the football game and at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet, which begins following the contest at 4:30 p.m. at the University Center’s Hamilton Room.
More information on the Hall of Fame Banquet, including registration, will be posted in August.
Class Includes Whitewater High School Alum and Current Staff Member Dan Gnatzig
Dan Gnatzig was a member of the UW-Whitewater baseball team from 2002-05. A model of consistency, Gnatzig was a staple in the outfield for all four years of his career. He helped lead UW-Whitewater to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as league tournament titles in 2003 and 2004. Gnatzig made three NCAA Tournament appearances and two Division III World Series appearances, helping the Warhawks to a national title in 2005. Gnatzig is a two-time all-region honoree (2004, 2005) and a two-time All-WIAC pick (2003, 2005). He is ranked among the top ten in the program record book in multiple season categories. In the program’s career record book, Gnatzig is ranked third in runs (187), sixth in at bats (619), eighth in hits (215) and eleventh in runs batted in (141). A native of Whitewater, Wisconsin and a graduate of Whitewater High School, Gnatzig earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a health licensure in 2005. Gnatzig currently teaches physical education at Whitewater High School.
For more information on each inductee: https://uwwsports.com/news/2025/6/23/general-uw-whitewater-athletics-announces-hall-of-fame-class-of-2025.aspx
In an electrifying championship match at the USTA National Campus, the University of North Carolina’s dynamic duo, Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton, staged an impressive comeback for the second day in a row! Facing off against Auburn’s formidable pair, DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar, Brantmeier and Hamilton battled through intense rallies to clinch victory with a nail-biting score of 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (10-5). The tension was palpable as they triumphed in the decisive tiebreak, showcasing their grit and determination! By winning the championship match of the American Collegiate Wildcard Playoffs Championship, the duo punched their ticket to play in the U.S. Open in New York City!
Come meet Reese at the Reese Brantmeier Project Opening on July 12th!
WHEN: JULY 12th, 2025, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
WHERE: 506 E Main St, Whitewater
Join us for an afternoon of tennis, games, prizes, exhibitions, booths, food, and so much more! Entry is free, and there will be fun for all ages and skill levels. There will be opportunities to meet local professional, collegiate, and high school tennis players, including Whitewater native and project founder Reese Brantmeier. Come to connect with our local tennis community, celebrate the efforts of so many supporters, and have a great time!
At 1:00 pm on July 12, there will be a welcome, ribbon cutting, and dedication, followed by an afternoon of fun and games. The full itinerary is available at www.reesebrantmeierproject.com
Please contact brantmeierb@gmail.com with any questions about the event.
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