University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student-athlete Spencer Twining (Janesville/Janesville Parker), a three-year member of the Warhawk men’s swimming and diving team, was killed Thursday evening in a three vehicle collision on Highway 59 near Road X in Eagle, Wisconsin.
According to the criminal complaint filed with the Waukesha County Sherrif’s Office, a witness said a Dodge truck had been headed westward on Highway 59 and then swerved into the eastbound traffic lane, striking a motorcyclist headed eastward. Officials also say after the initial collision the truck collided with another eastbound vehicle.
The motorcyclist, identified as Twining, died on the scene.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss,” UW-Whitewater Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Edmonds said. “[Twining] was a very talented individual both in and out of the pool as an all-conference swimmer and former member of the conference’s Scholastic Honor Roll.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Spencer’s family and with those who were close with him, especially head swimming and diving coach Joel Rollings and all our student-athletes affected by this horrible accident.”
Twining was entering his senior season with the Warhawks. Last season, he placed seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke and eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke, and helped the 400-yard medley relay team finish third at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
In 2014-15, Twining earned second team All-WIAC honors in the 100 breaststroke and placed third in the 200 breaststroke, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay. He garnered WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll accolades as a freshman in 2013-14.
Twining majored in physics with an emphasis in engineering and a minor in mathematics. He was a recipient of the iCORPS Internship Grant and was an iCORPS Kaleidoscope Award finalist.
The UW-Whitewater flag will fly at half staff on Sunday in Spencer’s memory and a Celebration of Life ceremony will be held this Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. in the Kris Russell Volleyball Arena at the Williams Center.
Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers for the Twining family and our team. It’s so hard to make sense of such a senseless tragedy that is so completely preventable. I hope that rather than our energy going to anger it goes towards prevention. Please don’t drink and drive, lookout for your teammates and others so that everyone has a safe ride home. Thank you all very much.
Joel Rollings
Head Coach
UW-Whitewater
This is so sad
It has been a very long day for the Warhawk family. I could not be more proud of how the team, the coaching staff, the athletic department and the whole administration at UW-Whitewater has handled this tragic situation. Spencer was a great young man and will be missed by all.
3 time drunk driver in the truck… such a loss, and so many are suffering… Prayers for all.
So so so tragic. Infinite prayers for all who love him. – jmr