2025-26 was yet another strong athletic year for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, adding to their legacy as one of the most successful athletic departments in Division III. 11 of the school’s 20 intercollegiate teams made it into the top 25 at some point during their respective seasons.
Now is the time to highlight some of the best moments from this year, voted on by the Whitewater community. The top five best moments from both men’s and women’s sports have been compiled into one top 10 list.
Men’s soccer head coach Tony Guinn made history for the Warhawks, securing his 165th win as the front man for the Warhawks in a dominating 5-2 victory over Millikin Oct. 22, 2025, at Robert Fiskum Field. In a week where the team had to play four games in five days, the Warhawks went undefeated, securing Guinn’s spot in Warhawk history.
In a dominant showing on the road, softball pitchers Josie Hammen and Kaitlyn Marsh delivered back-to-back complete game shutouts in a doubleheader sweep at UW-Stevens Point. The duo controlled their games from start to finish, limiting scoring opportunities and setting the tone for the Warhawks. Their performances highlighted the strength of the pitching staff and served as a key moment in conference play.
After a successful regular season, the UW-W football program hosted a second round playoff bout against DePauw University Nov. 29, 2025, at Perkins Stadium. All Division III football playoff games are broadcasted to ESPN+, and the student broadcasting team at UWW-TV got to fully produce the ESPN+ broadcast, putting their talent on display. The Warhawks ultimately fell in a snowy battle, 26-23, but the student broadcasters weathered the storm and even conducted on-field interviews despite blizzard-like conditions.
The Warhawks delivered one of the strongest meets in program history during a win over Hamline University, recording the second-highest team score ever. Strong, consistent routines across all four rotations highlighted the team’s depth and execution. The performance stood out as a defining moment of the season and reinforced UW-W’s position as a legitimate national contender heading into postseason competition.
In a whirlwind season for this UW-W football team, they defeated one of their top rivals, and the only rivalry the Warhawks have where hardware is on the line. In a battle for the Miner’s Axe, the Warhawks pulled through with a 29-19 victory over then top-10 ranked Platteville. Quarterback Justin Klinkner was a key contributor in the win, going 18-28 with 264 yards and two touchdowns, as well as adding another touchdown on the ground. Wide receiver Blake Haggerty was also pivotal in the win, having five catches for 75 yards and hauling in both of Klinkner’s touchdown passes, one of which was the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
Representing her hometown on one of the biggest stages in tennis, Whitewater High School graduate Reese Brantmeier competed in the U.S. Open, a rare and prestigious opportunity for a player with local ties to UW-W. Her appearance brought national attention to the Whitewater community and served as an inspiration to aspiring athletes, showing the pathway from local roots to the sport’s highest level.
Consistency continues to define Warhawk women’s basketball, as the program competed in its 10th consecutive NCAA tournament. Competing in one of DIII’s most competitive conferences, UW-W once again navigated a demanding schedule to earn a spot on the national stage. The milestone reflects the sustained success of the program and its ability to remain among the nation’s elite.
In the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) preseason poll, Whitewater was picked to finish sixth in a competitive league. Led by depth and a balanced scoring attack initiated by junior guard Collin Madson, the Warhawks were able to successfully navigate a difficult end-of-year stretch, where they defeated then-undefeated-at-home Stevens Point before defeating River Falls on Senior Night to clinch the outright regular season WIAC championship for the first time since 2012.
When this poll was published, the Warhawk baseball team was on a 24-game win streak. Less than two weeks later, the team extended that streak to 35 games. After a rocky 1-3 start, the Warhawk baseball team went on a run no other team in conference history has done. They also went 28-0 in conference, the first time a WIAC team has gone undefeated in conference play since Oshkosh did in 1995. In that time, Whitewater also broke Oshkosh’s record for longest winning streak. Pitchers Jackson Koenig and Sam Stueber have been key contributors in that, pitching back-to-back shutout outings in their starts against Stout. During that streak, the Warhawks claimed their third consecutive WIAC regular season title and 24th in program history.
The women’s basketball team is not the only consistent national competitor in UW-W athletics. The volleyball team made its 32nd NCAA tournament appearance in 33 years, a streak good enough to help them top the Royal Purple’s top athletic moments list for the second year in a row. Despite not winning the WIAC, something they had not done since 2021, they received a No. 3 seed in the national tournament. They fell to Calvin University in the regional semifinals, but the continuation of a dominating streak was enough to secure the top spot on this list.
