Blue Duke Pride: 5 Unforgettable Athletes From Whitefish Bay High School

Sports run deep in Milwaukee, and Whitefish Bay High School has long been at the heart of it. It’s no surprise some standout talent once wore the Blue Duke uniform. Today we're celebrating five unforgettable athletes from Whitefish Bay High School who made a name for themselves well beyond the hometown field.

1. Nick Bellore – NFL Linebacker (Various Teams)

Bellore is a veteran NFL linebacker and special teams standout who attended Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin before playing at Central Michigan University, where he earned three All-MAC honors and ranked among the school’s all-time leaders in tackles. Undrafted in 2011, Bellore has enjoyed a long NFL career with the Jets, 49ers, Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2020 and 2023 and continues to contribute as a versatile linebacker and special teams ace. (Sources: Commanders.com, Central Michigan Life)

2. J. D. Dix – MLB Shortstop (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Dix is a professional baseball infielder who attended Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin, where he starred as a switch-hitting shortstop, helping lead his team to a state championship and earning national recognition. Selected 35th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dix began his pro career in 2025 and is viewed as a rising talent with strong hitting, speed and defensive versatility. (Sources: MLB.com, MILB.com)

3. Jennifer Patrick Sovada – Multi-Sport Star Athlete

Sovada is a celebrated former two‑sport athlete who attended Whitefish Bay High School in Wisconsin, where she earned five varsity letters, three in basketball (serving as team captain and setting a school rebounding record) and two in soccer, captaining both varsity squads. She continued her athletic career at the United States Air Force Academy, leading her college basketball team in scoring and rebounding and earning All‑Colorado Athletic Conference honors before going on to serve as a Colonel and intelligence officer supporting the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Sovada’s outstanding high school achievements were recognized with her induction into the Whitefish Bay High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019. (Sources: WFBSchools.com, WFBBlueDukeNation.com)

4. Katie Wysocky Novak – Collegiate Basketball Forward

A standout at Whitefish Bay High School, Novak led the Blue Dukes to a state championship appearance while earning First Team All-State honors and NorthShore Conference Player of the Year. She transitioned to a legendary collegiate career at Michigan Technological University, where she became the program’s all-time leader in scoring and rebounding, a First Team All-American and a two-time Hall of Fame inductee. Following her playing days, she remained involved in the athletic community and was most recently celebrated for her induction into the Whitefish Bay Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023. (Sources: MichiganTechHuskies.com, WFBschools.com)

5. Robert Dean – Multi-Sport Star Athlete

A three-sport star at Whitefish Bay High School, Dean excelled in football, basketball and track before attending Northwestern University, where he competed on both the varsity basketball and football teams. He achieved international acclaim as a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Team Handball squad, competing in the Montreal Summer Games alongside his twin brother, Randy. After his athletic career, he earned an MBA from Stanford University and became a successful business executive and entrepreneur, owning and leading the manufacturing firm Aristo Machines until his passing in 2023. (Sources: Newspapers.com, WFBSchools.com, Olympedia.org, Olympics.com)

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