UW-W Athletes of the Week graphic

UWW Kwik Trip Athletes of the Week (Jan. 20)

Basketball

Bara, Luke

Men’s Basketball – Luke Bara – Senior – Guard – Muskego, Wis./Muskego

Luke Bara scored a team-high 22 points in the Warhawks win over 18th-ranked UW-La Crosse. The senior hit three three-pointers and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line in the contest. Bara also recorded three steals in the contest.

Gillis, Mia

Women’s Basketball: Mia Gillis – Junior – Forward – Mundelein, Ill./Carmel Catholic

Mia Gillis averaged 16.5 points in 21.5 minutes per game in the Warhawks’ pair of contests last week. After posting 12 points against UW-La Crosse Wednesday, Gillis capped the week with 21 points on 50-percent shooting in Saturday’s win at UW-Stout. The junior hit 7-9 from the charity stripe and added four rebounds against the Blue Devils.

Gymnastics

Specialist: Juliette Rider – Freshman – San Antonio, Texas/Acellus Academy

Juliette Rider helped lead UW-Whitewater to a dual meet win at Simpson on Saturday. The freshman registered the top floor performance at the meet – a routine scoring 9.800 for gold in the event. The Warhawks topped the Storm 191.275-188.875

Multi-Event: Siena Vavala – Freshman – Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada/King City Secondary School

In her first collegiate competition, Siena Vavala helped lead UW-Whitewater to a win at Simpson College Saturday. The freshman claimed second on the balance beam with a score of 9.65. She added a vault of 9.675 to secure fourth on the apparatus at the meet. The Warhawks topped the Storm 191.275-188.875.

Track & Field

Beightol, Caleb

Men's Track: Caleb Beightol — Junior — Belgium, Wis./Cedar Grove-Belgium

After running the fastest time in the 55m preliminaries at the Firebird First Invitational, Caleb Beightol improved on his personal best in the finals with a 6.35 first-place finish for the best time at the Invite.

UW-Whitewater Warhawk lol

Men's Field: Daniel Nickel — Freshman — Marshall, Wis./Marshall

Daniel Nickel placed first overall in the men's high jump at the Firebird First Invitational. The freshman cleared the 1.95m (6-04.75) bar on his second attempt at that height to take the top spot in the meet.

Huerta, Kelly

Women's Track: Kelly Huerta — Sophomore — McHenry, Ill./McHenry

Kelly Huerta took first overall in the 55m at the Firebird First Invitational, timing in with a 7.33 in the finals. Huerta also had the fastest time in the preliminaries, with a 7.31-second finish to head to the finals

Burr, Abby

Women's Field: Abby Burr — Sophomore — Lancaster, Wis./Lancaster

Abby Burr took second overall in the women's high jump at the Carthage Firebird First Invitational. The sophomore was able to clear the 1.60m (5-03.00) bar on her third attempt for a new personal best.

Wrestling

Byal, Aden

Aden Byal – Junior – 157 Pounds – Chatham, Ill./Glenwood

Aden Byal led UW-Whitewater to a fourth-place finish at the Al Hanke Invitational Saturday. The 157-pounder went 4-1 to secure silver in his weight class. He opened the tournament with back-to-back technical falls including a 19-3 win over Trinity’s Austin Crowder in 2:55 and a three-minute victory of UWSP’s Gavin Madson by a score of 17-1. Byal registered a 4-2 decision over Chicago’s Daniel Gunlogson before advancing to the title bout with an 8-2 decision over Harper’s Maguire Hoeksema. Byal’s sole loss on the day came in the championship - a 4-1 decision to Carthage’s Zaren Anderson.