Today is Thursday, October 8, 2026
UW-Whitewater Announces Byron Balkin as Head of Tennis Program
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is proud to announce the hiring of Byron Balkin as the new head coach of the Warhawk men’s and women’s tennis programs.
A 2014 UW-Whitewater graduate, Balkin returns to his alma mater with a strong record of leadership and competitive success. He most recently served as the head tennis coach at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia from 2018-25, where he led the program to the second-highest win total in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference over that span.
Prior to his time at HSC, Balkin spent eight years in Whitewater. From 2014-18, Balkin served as the assistant under longtime head coach Frank Barnes. Balkin was also a member of the Warhawk tennis team from 2010-14.
“I am excited for Byron to become the next head coach at UW-Whitewater,” said Athletic Director Ryan Callahan. “As a former player and assistant coach here at UWW, Byron understands what it takes to continue the legacy that Ron Wangerin built and Frank Barnes continued to elevate for the past 23 years.”
As an assistant for the Warhawk tennis program, Balkin helped guide UW-Whitewater to eight NCAA Division III tournament appearances and four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. He was named the Wilson/ITA Women’s Tennis National Assistant Coach of the Year and the Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year (men’s and women’s) in 2016. That year, the UWW men’s and women’s teams advanced to the NCAA’s Round of 16 while three singles players and a women’s doubles team qualified for the NCAA Individual Championship.
“The hiring of Byron Balkin will go down as a great move for Warhawk Tennis,” added former Coach Frank Barnes. “Coach Balkin understands the culture here at UWW and knows what it takes to win here. He bleeds purple and it was only a matter of time before he returned back home to his roots. A phenomenal athlete and coach while here, he went on to elevate the program at HSC to its first national ranking when given the opportunity to run his own program. He has all the tools necessary to bring the athletes here to their full potential.”
Balkin was a standout on the court for the Warhawks. A three-time All-American, Balkin compiled over 170 singles and doubles victories during his phenomenal four-year career. He played a role in four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances including a Round of 16 finish in 2011.
Balkin earned a bachelor’s degree in integrated business and science and a Master’s in higher education with an emphasis in athletic administration — both from UW-Whitewater.
“I am honored and excited to accept the position as the next head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis programs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater,” said Balkin. “I would like to thank Chancellor Corey A. King, Athletic Director Ryan Callahan, and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity and for their confidence in me. UW-Whitewater has a storied tradition of athletic and academic excellence, and I look forward to building on that foundation with our outstanding student-athletes.”
“I also want to extend my sincere congratulations to Coach Frank Barnes on an exceptional career,” Balkin continued. “His contributions to Warhawk Tennis have been remarkable and it’s a true privilege to follow in his footsteps. I’m eager to get started and proud to be a part of the Warhawk family. Go Warhawks!”
Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by UW-Whitewater.
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
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