The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team is picked to finish second in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season. The preseason poll is conducted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
The Warhawks head into the 2024 campaign ranked third by D3football.com and sixth by
Lindy's Sports Annuals. UW-Whitewater will be led by three Preseason All-Americans on offense including center
John Pekar (Franklin, Wis./Franklin), lineman
Alex Pethan (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) and running back
Tamir Thomas (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Menomonee Falls). The Warhawks return breakout returner and wide receiver
Tyler Vasey (Crystal Lake, Ill/Prairie Ridge) - the 2023 WIAC Newcomer of the Year - to the team this season.
Kyle Koelblinger (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) returns to help lead the defense after claiming Newcomer of the Year honors in 2021 as a defensive back.
UWW returns a number of all-league players to the squad this season. Running back
Drake Martin (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander) and wide receiver
Steven Hein (St. Charles, Ill./North) join Pekar, Pethan and Thomas offensively. Defensive lineman
Matt Burba (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) and
Nehemiah Lomax (Park Forest, Ill./Crete-Monee) are joined by linebacker
Ethan Gallagher (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) in addition to Koelblinger on the defense.
Mason Stepanski (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) and Vasey head the all-conference earners returning on special teams.
UW-Whitewater finished second in the league a season ago after securing a 6-1 mark against WIAC competition. The Warhawks made a run to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals before capping the season with an 11-2 record. UWW has secured at least a share of the conference title in 14 of the last 18 seasons. The Warhawks have claimed more WIAC championships than any other team in the league -- 39.
UW-La Crosse has been picked to win the title in 2024 followed in order by the Warhawks, UW-River Falls, UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point.
Second-year head coach
Jace Rindahl will lead the Warhawks out of the tunnel at Perkins Stadium to kick off the 2024 slate on Saturday, September 7 against John Carroll University. The game is the team's annual Senior Day presented by DLK Enterprises. The first road game of the season is set for September 14th at Roosevelt University in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
UW-Whitewater returns to The Perk for the final non-conference game of the season - a September 21st matchup against Mary Hardin-Baylor (Alumni Day presented by MercyHealth). The Warhawks will host UW-Oshkosh in the WIAC opener on October 5 for UW-Whitewater's annual Family Fest and Shriners Day presented by PremierBank.
Back on the road on October 12, the Warhawks will be in Menomonie for a meeting with UW-Stout. Kickoff against the Blue Devils is slated for 2 PM. UWW will host UW-Stevens Point on Military Appreciation Day presented by the UW-Whitewater ROTC under the lights on Friday, October 18 at 7 PM. Following an October 26th matchup at UW-Platteville, the Warhawk return to Perkins Stadium to take on UW-River Falls for Homecoming and the annual Hall of Fame Game presented by Educators Credit Union on November 2.
The final two games of the 2024 regular season are set for November 9 at UW-La Crosse and November 16 at UW-Eau Claire.
