Sports
Chris Bitz | UW-Whitewater
July 14, 2025
Written by Chris Lindeke | Photos by Craig Schreiner, Fionnbharr Hartnett , UW-Whitewater Athletics
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater alum Chris Bitz has always enjoyed numbers, whether it was calculating them in a classroom, punching them into an Excel spreadsheet, or seeing them displayed after his latest pole vault attempt.
Bitz, who earned a B.S. in mathematics in 2023, was a four-year member of the Warhawk men’s track and field team. Now he is thriving as an actuarial analyst for Nationwide in downtown Milwaukee.
He’s been with the company since starting there as an intern in November of 2021, just under halfway through his junior year. He remained an intern through his senior year, focusing on manual group processes, before earning an offer to stay on full time.
“The internship helped with using Excel on a day-to-day basis,” Bitz said. “Once I got further into the internship, then it was about how I can make the right decisions based on the data, which is something UW-Whitewater helps to get at through a couple classes.”
The experience has come full circle for Bitz, who has been managing one intern for each of the last two years. (Nationwide currently employs an intern from UW-Whitewater who doesn’t report to Bitz.) Day to day, he is concentrated strategically on where the best areas of business exist and what areas the company should be targeting.
The textbook definition of what an actuary does is assess financial risk for businesses, including insurance companies, but Bitz believes it’s much more than that.
“I think there are a lot of areas within actuarial science,” he said. “For example, I work on our first-year pricing team, so groups coming to us for the first time looking for health insurance, we’ll price them as a group to see where they should be at. There’s a bunch of different fields within actuarial sciences.”
Chris Bitz is a UW-Whitewater alumnus and former Warhawk pole vaulter who is applying his mathematics education and athlete’s discipline to work at Nationwide in Milwaukee. Bitz, who earned a B.S. in mathematics in 2023, graduated cum laude. Photo taken on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (UW-Whitewater photo/Craig Schreiner)
A fulfilling Warhawk experience
Bitz took an accounting course as a freshman at Brookfield East High School and said he didn’t love it. His mother, Maria, who attended UW-Whitewater, asked him if he had heard of actuarial math and science and suggested that as a career path.
By his junior year of high school, he knew he wanted to become an actuary.
“I knew very early on that math was my thing,” Bitz said. “From a young age, I was always very good at math — I like the numbers part of it.”
Bitz’s desire to continue his athletic career as a pole vaulter in track and field — along with the university’s reputation for the actuarial science emphasis — led him to UW-Whitewater. He connected to pole vault coach Nathan Wells and head track and field coach Mike Johnson before making his decision to join the Warhawk family.
After a period of adjustment and learning, UW-Whitewater felt like home to Bitz.
“It takes a lot of time to settle in — being on your own for the first time, living in a dorm, having a roommate, all those kinds of things,” he said. “I think I finally got to a point where I was comfortable, and the campus felt like where I should be, and the team felt like family.”
Bitz found a high level of comfort — and success — as a student-athlete. He placed among the top seven in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference four times, including a sixth-place finish at the 2022 outdoor conference championship meet, and recorded his personal best mark at his second-to-last collegiate competition.
Chris Bitz clears a height in the men’s pole vault at the Midwest Elite Invitational on Feb. 15, 2020, at Kachel Fieldhouse in Whitewater. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Michael McLoone)
He served as a captain during his senior year in 2023 and was honored numerous times for academics and sportsmanship during his career. He was also recognized as a UW-Whitewater Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete and earned his third straight All-Academic award from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as a senior.
“(NCAA) Division III was a perfect mix for me,” Bitz said. “I love my sport and wanted to put a lot of time into it, and I had the ability to do that while also focusing on academics.
“UW-Whitewater did a good job of balancing the two and making it clear, saying ‘yes, you are an athlete for this track team, but you’re also a student, and that matters more.’”
Bitz said many of his current best friends — including his roommate, CJ Pfeil — were part of the track and field program. He regularly attends the program’s Alumni Meet and currently coaches track and field at Brookfield East High School, his alma mater.
While on campus, Bitz was also part of the university’s Actuarial Club, which helps future actuaries learn, network, and develop skills necessary in the profession. As part of the group, he virtually attended the Wisconsin Actuarial Collegiate Conference, where he landed his internship that led to his full-time job with Nationwide.
“It made it very easy to learn a lot more about the career and connect with people who know more,” he said. “By the time I got to my junior and senior years, I felt much more prepared having been in that club.”
Chris Bitz, a mathematics major from Brookfield, marches in the spring commencement on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (UW-Whitewater photo/Fionnbharr Hartnett)
Bitz, who was a recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship, also shouted out mathematics faculty members Geethamali Samaranayake and Wesley Hough for positively influencing his time at the university. He served as a supplemental instructor for one of Hough’s classes and was a math tutor in Campus Tutorial Services.
A promising path to career success
Bitz hopes to secure his certification from the Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and continue building his career at Nationwide to a managerial level.
He continues to put what he learned at UW-Whitewater into practice. He cited his preparation for exams — a critical part of an actuary’s career — as something the university helped him with.
There are 10 exams to pass to become fully certified as an actuary — Bitz has passed four and is waiting on results from a fifth.
“UW-Whitewater offers a couple classes that get you in the door for those exams and teach you the basics for the first two,” he said. “It gives you a grounding of where to start, and you can build on that for the next eight exams — or however many you decide to do.”
DANBURY, Conn. – Arianna Ugolini picked up another major award on Friday afternoon, earning a selection to the All-ECAC Second Team.
Ugolini’s surplus of awards include America East Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference, and an honorable mention to the AVCA All-Region team.
She led the America East in several statistical categories including kills (419), aces (43), and points (476.5). Her 419 kills and 3.99 kills/set are now the most in a single season in Bryant’s Division I history. This season, she also eclipsed 1,000 career kills and points. She became the fifth player in Bryant’s Division I history to surpass 1,000 kills.
The Longhorns also welcome welcome No. 5 seed Stanford and No. 10 seeWisconsin to the Forty Acres for the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. Friday’s match marks the Longhorn’s 42nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the 20th-straight Sweet 16 appearance under head coach Jerritt Elliott, the longest active streak in the NCAA.
The No. 4 seeded Hoosiers stand No. 15 in the AVCA rankings and are making only their sixth all-time NCAA tournament appearance and second trip to the Sweet 16. Indiana is the only Power Four program who has three different players averaging at least 3.21 kills per set this season. On 10 different occasions this year, all three of IU’s top hitters have gone for 10-plus kills each with senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles leading the Hoosiers with 3.54 kills per set. Along with Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and true freshman setter Teodora Krickovic received First-Team All-Big Ten honors. Krickovic has averaged 10.67 assists per set this year while Tatum has 353 kills and .324 hitting percentage which are both career highs. When Indiana blocks well, the Hoosiers tends to produce great results with a record of 17-1 when they record at least eight blocks in a set.
No. 1 seeded Texas ranks No. 3 in the AVCA and in the top five in multiple categories across the country, including fourth in hitting percentage (.316), third in kills per set (14.83) and third in assists per set (13.86). Outside hitter Torrey Stafford stands ninth in the country with her 4.74 kills per set average and 12th in the NCAA with 5.32 points per set alongside middle blocker Ayden Ames who holds the fifth spot in the conference with a .383 hitting percentage. Setter Ella Swindle sits ninth in the SEC in assists per set tossing 8.98 while libero Emma Halter holds the back line down ranking ninth in digs per set with 3.64.
Texas has improved its blocking in the back half of the season — in their last five matches, the Longhorns have totaled 51 blocks, compared to the previous five where they tallied only 38 with Ames at the helm with help of true freshman Taylor Harvey and sophomore Nya Bunton to total 201 of the team’s blocks.
Setter Rella Binney and outside hitters Devin Kahahawai and Cari Spears are just a few of the individuals that keep the machine running for the Longhorns. Libero Ramsey Gary, a transfer from Indiana was on the All-Big Ten second team in her first two years as a Hoosier, now faces her former team and could give some insight and understanding on the Indiana game.
First serve in Austin is at 11 a.m. Central on ESPN.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Volleyball team handled business on Friday night sweeping 4-seed Kansas (25-12, 25-11, 25, 25-12). NU will face Texas A&M in the Lincoln Regional Final playing for a spot in the final four.
The Huskers were led by Rebekah Allick who finished with 9 kills on just 9 swings, a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Andi Jackson added 9 kills as well and Harper Murray recorded 7 kills with 10 digs.
Bergen Reilly was reportedly sick throughout the week but played through the illness. True Freshman Setter, Campbell Flynn, was OUT for the match and potentially the season as the Huskers Radio Network reported she has a broken pinky finger.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night. Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe. “A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m. “Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors. Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills. Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chaseThe Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Nebraska Volleyball is back in the Elite Eight for a third straight season. The Huskers swept Kansas in the Sweet 16 in Lincoln, Neb. on Friday night.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Nebraska won set one 25-12. Nebraska continued to dominate in set two, earning a win over the Jayhawks 25 to 11. It was more of the same in set three as the Huskers earned the sweep with a 25-12 victory over their old Big 12 foe.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
“A lot of it is our mentality and how we practice,” said senior Rebekah Allick after the match. “We’re creatures of habit.”
Nebraska will play Texas A&M on Sunday in Lincoln. The match will be televised on KETV at 2 p.m.
“Here at Nebraska, we feed our middle blockers,” said middle blocker Andi Jackson. “Credit goes to our passers because they put us in great positions.”
The Huskers hit .450 while holding Kansas to .029. Nebraska had six aces and only three service errors.
Nebraska’s middle blockers had 21 kills on 28 attacks. Both Jackson and Allick led the Huskers with 9 kills.
Head coach Dani Busboom Kelly spoke with media on Thursday, stating they have a team-first mindset with one goal in mind: hanging a sixth national title banner in the Devaney Center.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nebraska volleyball is ready to take on Kansas as they continue their national title chase
The Huskers will look to advance to their third straight Final Four. They’re now three games from a sixth national title.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Nygaard and Klein are scheduled to take the stage in Costa Mesa, Calif., for the 11:20 a.m. PT slot and will be available to attending media for 20 minutes. Media unable to attend in person may submit questions via a private Zoom link. All 10 of the MPSF’s head coaches and at least one student-athlete from each program—BYU, Concordia, Jessup, Menlo, Pepperdine, Stanford, UC Merced, UCLA, USC, and Vanguard—will be available for interviews and questions.
2026 MPSF men’s volleyball media day can be viewed in its entirety through MPSF volleyball live stream partner Big Ten Plus and will be moderated by Rob Espero, who has handled play-by-play for numerous collegiate volleyball events and serves as the public address announcer for the MPSF Beach Volleyball Championship. Former AVCA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year and B1G+ color analyst Sarah Pavan will interview student-athletes.
The 2026 conference championship tournament will be held at BYU’s Smith Fieldhouse (April 22-25). The champion receives the MPSF’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship set to be played May 9-11 at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.
Since its inaugural year (1993), the MPSF has won 18 NCAA championships in men’s volleyball. The conference enters 2026 with 114 NCAA championships, which leads the nation among non-power four conferences.
2026 MPSF MEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEDIA DAY INFORMATION
Costa Mesa Marriott · Costa Mesa, Calif.
Monday, December 15, 2025 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT
9:30-9:35 a.m. MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis
9:40-10:00 a.m. VANGUARD: Brian Rofer (Head Coach) & Logan Freemon (Athlete)
10:05-10:25 a.m. JESSUP: Kyle Steele (Head Coach) & Colin Marks, CJ Osahon (Athletes)
10:30-10:50 a.m. UC MERCED: Chris Carter (Head Coach) & Kaleb Cole, Mason Stokes (Athletes)
10:55-11:15 a.m. PEPPERDINE: Jonathan Winder (Head Coach) & Jacob Reilly (Athlete)
11:20-11:40 a.m. USC: Jeff Nygaard (Head Coach) & Dillon Klein (Athlete)
11:45-12:45 p.m. Lunch break
1:00-1:20 p.m. STANFORD: John Kosty (Head Coach) & Theoren Brouillette (Athlete)
1:25-1:45 p.m. UCLA: John Hawks (Head Coach) & Andrew Rowan, Zack Rama, Sean Kelly (Athletes)
1:50-2:10 p.m. BYU: Shawn Olmstead (Head Coach) & Trent Moser, Jackson Fife, Tyler Herget (Athletes)
2:15-2:35 p.m. MENLO: Ali’i Keohohou (Head Coach) & Josh Friedman (Athlete)
2:40-3:00 p.m. CONCORDIA Jon Girten (Head Coach) & Connor Orrock (Athlete)
All times Pacific and approximate
In 2025, the Trojans (21-7) finished second in the MPSF regular-season standings (8-4) and were awarded the second seed into the conference tournament. There, USC finished as runner-up to Pepperdine, which hosted the championship in Malibu, Calif. USC opened the year with a nine-match win streak for its best start to a season since 1991 (28-0) and won 10 matches in a row (Feb. 26-April 3) for the program’s longest win streak since 2012 (18 in a row). It was the second 20-win season for head coach Jeff Nygaard and the 20th 20-win season in program history. The Trojans spent 13 weeks ranked in the top five and reached as high as No. 3 for the team’s highest ranking since it was also No. 3 in 2015. USC led the MPSF for many weeks in all statistical categories but aces and finished the season as the NCAA leader in blocks (2.86 bps) with 16 matches in double-digits. The Trojans set a new school record for hitting percentage in a match (.691 vs. Dominican, Feb. 8) and hit better than .300 in 19 matches, including north of .400 in 10 contests.
MPSF men’s volleyball information, including championship details, can be found at the conference website MPSports.org and on social media @MPSFSports. For more information on the USC men’s volleyball team, please visit USCTrojans.com/MVB. Fans of the Trojans can follow @USCmensvolley on Instagram, X, and Facebook.
Dec. 12, 2025, 8:48 p.m. ET
Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn addresses the crowd in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn (center) speaks about father, Eric, with mother, Nakia, by her side in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
The Wynns, father Eric, Pennsauken senior Sianni and mother Nakia go the Gators’ Chomp in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025,
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Father Eric Wynn and Mother Nakia watch as Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn does the Gator’s chomp in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Father Eric Wynn watches as Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn thanks her mother Nakia in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Father Eric Wynn and mother Nakie hold up a University of Florida flag behind Pennsauken senior Sianni Wynn in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
The stage is set in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Pennsauken track and field coach Clinton Tabb speaks to the crowd in the Pennsauken gymnasium where Sianni Wynn revealed her college track and field choice. Dec. 12, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
Pennsauken junior Sianni Wynn (left) crosses the finish line to win the 100 meters at the NJSIAA Track and Field Meet of Champions at Pennsauken High School. June 4, 2025
Tom Rimback/Cherry Hill Courier-Post
UGOLINI NAMED TO ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM
Here’s what Trump has to say about NIL in college sports
No. 1 seed Texas hosts No. 4 seed Indiana in the Sweet 16
Nebraska Volleyball sweeps Kansas; advances to NCAA Regional Final
Husker Volleyball dominates Kansas, advances to Elite 8
Bailey, Rodriguez garner Walter Camp All-America honors
Hillsborough Democrats announce 2026 committee slate
Concord sports memorabilia dealer admits to fraud after selling phony Willie Mays items
Allan Mark Moses – Concord Monitor
Long Beach Poly Earns First Win in League Opener vs. Millikan – The562.org
USC Men’s Volleyball Set for Inaugural MPSF Media Day
Georgia football’s Dontrell Glover, Bo Walker arrested for shoplifting
Pennsauken sprinter Sianni Wynn tabs Florida as college choice
Coach Hosack Announces Four Signings for Men’s Volleyball
Kulis of women’s track & field captures pentathlon title at Dartmouth December Invitational
First Tee Winter Registration is open
Fargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
CPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
Volleyball Recaps – November 18
F1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
Two Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
Sycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
Utah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
Redemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
Jo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
Robert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56
Texas volleyball vs Kentucky game score: Live SEC tournament updates
Bowl Projections: ESPN predicts 12-team College Football Playoff bracket, full bowl slate after Week 14
How this startup (and a KC sports icon) turned young players into card-carrying legends overnight
Indiana’s rapid ascent and its impact across college football
NBA Legend Michael Jordan to Join NBC Sports as Special Contributor
Why a rising mid-major power with an NCAA Tournament team opted out of revenue-sharing — and advertised it
Falcons mailbag
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
-
Rec Sports3 weeks agoFirst Tee Winter Registration is open
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFargo girl, 13, dies after collapsing during school basketball game – Grand Forks Herald
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoCPG Brands Like Allegra Are Betting on F1 for the First Time
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoF1 Las Vegas: Verstappen win, Norris and Piastri DQ tighten 2025 title fight
-
Sports3 weeks agoTwo Pro Volleyball Leagues Serve Up Plans for Minnesota Teams
-
Sports3 weeks agoSycamores unveil 2026 track and field schedule
-
Sports2 weeks agoUtah State Announces 2025-26 Indoor Track & Field Schedule
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoRedemption Means First Pro Stock World Championship for Dallas Glenn
-
Motorsports2 weeks agoJo Shimoda Undergoes Back Surgery
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoRobert “Bobby” Lewis Hardin, 56