At the end of each calendar year, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff reflects back on the 10 most intriguing headlines that surrounded the baseball scene in the Badger State. Through the end of the month, we will break down the most impactful storylines from an eventful 2025 campaign, ending with our No. 1 story revealed Dec. 31.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has long been known as one of the top Division III baseball programs in the country. This past summer, the Warhawks secured their third national championship in program history. This was the ninth world series appearance in the program's history, most recently in 2024 where they fell in game three of the championship to Misericordia. The Warhawks are led by head coach John Vodenlich, who has been leading the program for over 20 seasons. The 2025 Division III World Series was a loud one for Whitewater as they scored 74 runs over the course of five games at the World Series tournament in Eastlake, Ohio which is a Division III record.

The 2025 roster featured 18 Badger State natives, four of which were every day starters for the Warhawks, highlighted below:

The offense was led by Adam Cootway (Fox River Lutheran, 2020), Cootway hit .424 with 92 hits, 22 home runs, 19 doubles, and 72 RBIs. SS Darryl Jackson (King, 2021) hit .366 with 68 hits, 16 doubles, 35 walks, and 15 stolen bases. Eli Frank (Bay Port, 2021) was in the lineup every day, hitting .344 with 78 hits, 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 60 RBIs. Dominik McVay (Mineral Point, 2022) was the final Wisconsin native in the every day lineup. McVay hit .293 with 49 hits, 10 doubles, seven home runs, and 12 stolen bases.

On the mound, RHP Max Huseboe (Ripon, 2020) collected the second most innings with 76.2 IP. In those 76+ innings, Huseboe allowed just 29 ER, six walks, and struck out 82 hitters. Husebow had a 6-1 record on the year. RHP Ben Lee (Amherst, 2022) started nine games for the Warhawks, tossing 52 innings, allowing 14 ER, 18 walks, and 45 strikeouts. Lee also finished the year with a 6-1 record. LHP Ethan Wickman (River Valley, 2022) collected the most innings out of relief for Whitewater with 26 IP, allowed 11 ER and held opposing hitters to a .220 average against. RHP Brady Malkow (Brodhead, 2022) allowed just five ER in 25.1 innings of work, striking out 31 and walking 12.

The Warhawks finished the season with a record of 49-6, ending the season on a six game win streak and out-scoring opponents 74 to 19 in the World Series tournament and 569 to 211 on the year. As a team, Whitewater hit .365 with 128 doubles, 21 triples, and 111 homers. The team's fielding percentage was .970, making just 60 errors on the season. The team swiped 99 bags in 125 attempts. Another impressive stat, the pitching staff collected 450 strikeouts and walked just 144. The Warhawks put together a historical season, collecting their third national championship and are looking to make their third straight appearance in the World Series over the past three seasons.

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