Tomahawk Conference Preview
The Tomahawk saw three teams win more than 20 games a year ago. On paper, it doesn’t look like there will be as much balance this upcoming season as Springfield looks like the class of the league. There are several…
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Continue ReadingThe Tomahawk saw three teams win more than 20 games a year ago. On paper, it doesn’t look like there will be as much balance this upcoming season as Springfield looks like the class of the league. There are several teams that played a lot of young players that could be interesting to track as the season goes along.
State Contender: Springfield
Springfield has a great chance to get to the state tournament this year. The top teams in the Tigers’ section are poised for regression and Springfield brings back almost every major contributor.
Tanner Vogel and Kale Meendering are the two go-to guys for a team that averaged nearly 80 points per game. Isaac Fink was really good as a freshman and should be even better this year and Noah Bertram gives them a steady option in the frontcourt. The Tigers look like the heavy favorite to win the Tomahawk and might be able to contend with Cleveland as the top team in Section 2A.
On the verge: Minnesota Valley Lutheran
The Chargers were the class of the Tomahawk a year ago, winning 15 games in conference and 22 overall. They lose several key players to graduation but retain perhaps the best player in the conference in big man Nick Fischer. Fischer averaged nearly a double-double a year ago and gives MVL a top big man. Jake Kettner had a solid freshman season, averaging just more than eight points per game. He could be a breakout candidate this upcoming year.
In the middle: Cedar Mountain/Comfrey
Cedar Mountain/Comfrey won 11 games a year ago but could be better this winter as Derek Pendleton gets fully acclimated with the program. Pendleton played in 11 games for the team last year after transferring halfway through the season. He’s one of the top players in the conference and is a triple-double threat. The Cougars have a solid cast of returners with Eli Samuelson, Collin Raddatz, and Dylan Hillesheim to build around as well.
Rebuilding: Sleepy Eye, Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, New Ulm Cathedral, Wabasso, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart, Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop
Sleepy Eye Loses Ben Jakobitz and Saul Ibarra to graduation but Caleb Christianson and Ben Laffen are both back. The Indians won seven games a year ago but bring back several solid contributors, so they could be in line to win a few more games.
Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s is in a similar boat as the Knights are coming off a four-win year but there is some reason for optimism. Alex Woitas and Collin Ludewig are two of the top players in the conference.
New Ulm Cathedral had a terrific season in 2015-16, winning 21 games. But the Greyhounds lost their top three players as Gabe Knowles, Michael Skillings and Jack Schwartz all graduated. Nathan Hauser played a lot as a freshman and had some good moments. He’ll have to pick up a lot of the scoring slack this upcoming year.
Wabasso won eight games a year ago and have three good guards back in Tony Franta, Cooper Taylor and Colton Taylor. But the Rabbits will need to replace Eli Lunde inside.
Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart didn’t win a game last year. They lost several key players but do bring back Trent Weispfennig, who averaged 13 points per game a year ago. Stefan Johnson is back as well, which means there is some hope. But the Mustangs have a long way to go.
Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop had a really solid year in 2015-16, winning 14 games. But the Thunderbirds lost Seth Schuette who averaged more than 25 points per game a year ago. The Thunderbirds also lost their second and third leading scorers, so points might be hard to come by early on.
Conference Power Ranking
- Springfield
- Minnesota Valley Lutheran
- Cedar Mountain/Comfrey
- Sleepy Eye
- Sleep Eye St. Mary’s
- New Ulm Cathedral
- Wabasso
- Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop
- Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
Preseason All Tomahawk
First Team
Nick Fischer, MVL, Sr.
Tanner Vogel, Springfield, Jr.
Kale Meendering, Springfield, Sr.
Derek Pendleton, CMC, Sr.
Caleb Christianson, Sleepy Eye, Sr.
Second Team
Isaac Fink, Springfield, So.
Jake Kettner, MVL, So.
Tony Franta, Wabasso, Jr.
Dylan Hillesheim, CMC, Jr.
Alex Woitas, Sleepy Eye SM, Sr.
Third Team
Nathan Hauser, New Ulm Cathedral, So.
Kyle Huiras, G-F-W, Jr.
Eli Samuelson, CMC, So.
Trent Weispfennig , Buffalo Lake-H-C, Jr.
Collin Ludewig, Sleepy Eye SM, So.