After winning the national championship last season, UW-Whitewater baseball’s offseason was full of ring ceremonies, recognition events and people wanting to talk about the team’s title run. But once the new year started getting closer, the focus inside the program shifted pretty quickly. It was time to move on.
“It’s a new year, new team, new people—we’ve got to roll,” head coach John Vodenlich said.
That reset meant a lot of change, especially on the mound. Several pitchers from last year’s championship roster moved on to Division I opportunities, while new transfers came in to fill those spots.
The roster looks different, but the expectations have not changed. Whitewater still expects to compete for another championship, and pitching will play a big part in whether that happens.
Vodenlich said this year’s team stands out because of its depth. There are a lot of arms, a lot of competition and plenty of room to grow as the season goes on.
“We have a lot of depth and a lot of talent,” he said. “They’re going to be better at the end of the year than they are right now because they’re just ultra hardworking.”
Developing pitchers has always been a big part of the program. While many teams focus heavily on throwing harder, Whitewater puts a lot of emphasis on command: controlling the ball, repeating mechanics consistently and getting the count in your favor for every batter.
“If you want to be able to command it, you got to put it in the hand and you have to work it a lot,” Vodenlich said. “We have a ball in our pitchers’ hands almost every day.”
That development has helped players move on to higher levels of baseball, including DI programs and pro opportunities. Losing players is never easy, but it also shows how strong the program is.
For returning pitchers, last season’s title didn’t change the mindset, it reinforced it. Junior pitcher Brady Malkow said the championship experience was special, but it didn’t lower expectations for this year.
“Doing what you can for the team and trying to put up as many zeros as I can, put us in the best spot to win. It was awesome,” Malkow said. “But business doesn’t change. We expect to win.”
During the offseason, Malkow worked on getting stronger and improving his breaking ball, something he said has been a big focus for him. Like the rest of the pitching staff, he’s focused on doing whatever helps the team most.
Malkow also said the program’s culture plays a big role in development.
“We want to hold ourselves to the highest standard we can,” he said. “We’re here to work.”
New players are learning that quickly. Transfer pitcher Benjy Tucker came to Whitewater after playing at DI Mercer. He said the program’s winning history was the biggest reason he decided to transfer.
“My biggest reason to transfer was the legacy of winning here,” Tucker said. “I could tell this was a place with a winning culture and a gold standard.”
The adjustment hasn’t just been baseball. Tucker said getting used to Wisconsin weather has been one of the biggest differences from Georgia. But winter workouts indoors helped the team bond and build chemistry early.
On the mound, Tucker describes himself as aggressive and team-focused.
“I would describe myself as a bulldog; I like to be on the attack from the start,” he said. “Every time I step on the mound, my goal is to put the team in a spot to win the game.”
Tucker also said the coaching staff has helped him mentally by simplifying his approach and focusing on one pitch at a time. That mindset fits with the program’s overall culture.
“There’s a difference between competing for a regional and competing with the goal of a national championship,” Tucker said. “Everyone needs to do their job and push egos to the side.”
The rings from last season are already part of the program’s history. What matters now is how this group writes their next chapter. New pitchers are still settling in. Returners are stepping into bigger roles. Everyone is chasing the same goal.
The Warhawks traveled to San Antonio last week to face off against No. 9 Trinity University in a four-game series to brush off some rust. While they won the season opener 6-2, they dropped the following three games, the final two by one run each. UW-W will kick off their next set of games March 10-18 in Pensacola, Florida, at a tournament that lasts more than a week in preparation for WIAC play.
If this roster develops the way coaches expect, Whitewater won’t just be remembered for last year’s title, they’ll be back in the conversation again this spring.
