WHITEWATER — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s and women’s track and field teams are set to begin the 2022 season, which kicks off this Saturday with the annual Karl Schlender Invitational at Kachel Fieldhouse.
The Warhawk men are coming off a runner-up finish at the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship. Last year’s indoor season was shortened to five meets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UW-Whitewater’s 2022 indoor season begins with a pair of home events. The team hosts the Karl Schlender Invitational this Saturday starting at 11 a.m. as well as the two-day “Squig” Converse Invitational on Jan. 28-29 at Kachel Fieldhouse.
Following UW-Stevens Point’s Big Dawg Invite on Feb. 5, the Warhawks host the Midwest Elite Invitational on Feb. 12. The regular season concludes Feb. 18 at North Central’s F. Lee Slick Invitational.
The WIAC Indoor Championship is slated for Feb. 25-26 in Platteville. UW-W will compete in last chance meets on March 4-5 prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will take place March 11-12 in Winston-Salem, N.C.
UW-Whitewater will compete at five outdoor meets, including three at home and two at UW-Platteville. Following the outdoor season-opening Pioneer Opener on April 2, the Warhawks will host the Rex Foster Twilight meet on April 8. Other scheduled meets include the UW-Platteville Invitational on April 15, the Warhawk Invite on April 22-23 and UW-W’s annual Drake Alternative Meet on April 29.
The WIAC Outdoor Championships are set for May 6-7 in La Crosse. Following last chance meets on May 13 and May 19, the NCAA Outdoor Championships will take place May 26-28 in Geneva, Ohio.
Five of the Warhawks’ six All-WIAC selections from last indoor season are set to return this winter and spring, including 2022 outdoor All-American Christian Patzka (Wisconsin Heights). Others include David Fassbender (Slinger); Josh Krystosek (Palmyra-Eagle), Daustin Martin (Jefferson) and Curtis Pfeil (West Bend West).
Local members of the 2022 Warhawk men’s track and field team include Conner Hackett of Darlington, a senior majoring in information technology; and Brayden Zettle of Monroe, a senior majoring in finance.
