The Hiawatha Valley Preview
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It’s time to start talking about the Hiawatha Valley NEAR the same way we talk about Big Nine and CLC as top outstate leagues, the talent level is that high! Conference Commentary Top Ten in State: Stewartville, Lake City, Goodhue Stewartville…
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Continue ReadingIt’s time to start talking about the Hiawatha Valley NEAR the same way we talk about Big Nine and CLC as top outstate leagues, the talent level is that high!
Conference Commentary
Top Ten in State: Stewartville, Lake City, Goodhue
Stewartville might have a chance to be a final four team in the state, and if the chemistry really forms, could they be playing in the Class AAA title game? Or are we getting way too excited for a team that is mostly juniors and sophomores? The Tigers did win the Breakdown Summer State Tournament that didn’t have Totino-Grace and DeLaSalle but had everybody else. And these junior and sophomore classes are very, very good. They are a title contender. And so is Lake City (class AA). Remember that Lake City did lose Justin Wohlers, but they were still good when he was hurt. Hunter Lorenson Hunter Lorenson 6'0" | PG Lake City | 2024 State MN , Jaden Shones Jaden Shones 6'1" | SG Lake City | 2024 State MN , and Ryan Heise Ryan Heise 6'8" | SF Lake City | 2023 State MN are all back and these are excellent players. As for Goodhue, they lost their horse in the middle but they have Will Opsahl Will Opsahl 6'8" | SF Goodhue | 2023 State MN and this is a Class A team that will be more battled tested than any other Class A team because of their schedule.
Top Ten in State Potential: Byron
The Bears had a rough previous winter. Not only did they lose their d1 big man, they also lost Isaac Dearborn Isaac Dearborn 6'0" | PG Byron | 2023 State MN to injury. I expect a really nice rebound with Isaac back and Tyler Connelly Tyler Connelly 6'1" | PG Byron | 2024 State MN and Max Dearbord ready for bigger roles. If the chemistry is right they could go from a top 20 Class AAA team to maybe sneaking into that Class AAA top ten here and there.
Compete with Most: Kasson-Mantorville, Rochester Lourdes, Pine Island, Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Kasson-Mantorville has a couple key players back but matching last year’s 18 wins could be tough. They should be around .500 I believe. Lourdes should be around that area as well as I think they will take a step forward. Pine Island will pry take a step back from their 14-14 record with so many seniors gone but junior Nick Bauer should keep them competitive (along with a few others). And Zumbrota-Mazzepa struggled last season but they should be a little bit better with what they have back.
Rebuilding: Cannon Falls
They won a single league game last year and six games overall. They had a decent amount of seniors playing to which means they are likely about to rebuild.
22-23 Conference Predictions
- Stewartville
- Lake City
- Goodhue
- Byron
- Kasson-Mantorville
- Rochester Lourdes
- Pine Island
- Zumbrota-Mazeppa
- Cannon Falls
Preseason All Hiawatha Valley Conference
First Team
Will Opsahl Will Opsahl 6'8" | SF Goodhue | 2023 State MN of Goodhue (sr)
Hunter Lorenson Hunter Lorenson 6'0" | PG Lake City | 2024 State MN of Lake City (jr)
Ryan Heise Ryan Heise 6'8" | SF Lake City | 2023 State MN of Lake City (sr)
Henry Tschetter Henry Tschetter 6'3" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN of Stewartville (jr)
Parker Dunham Parker Dunham 6'2" | SF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN of Rochester Lourdes (sr)
Second Team
Tegan Malone of Stewartville (jr)
Isaac Dearborn Isaac Dearborn 6'0" | PG Byron | 2023 State MN of Byron (sr)
Kegan Ryan of Lake City (jr)
Parker Wangen Parker Wangen 6'4" | SF Stewartville | 2025 State MN of Stewartville (soph)
Caleb Bancroft Caleb Bancroft 6'6" | PF Stewartville | 2025 State MN of Stewartville (soph)
Third Team
Tyler Connelly Tyler Connelly 6'1" | PG Byron | 2024 State MN of Byron (jr)
Jaden Shones Jaden Shones 6'1" | SG Lake City | 2024 State MN of Lake City (jr)
Kayden Rodrick Kayden Rodrick 6'4" | CG Zumbrota-Mazeppa | 2023 State MN of Zumbrota-Mazeppa (sr)
Max Dearborn Max Dearborn 6'4" | SG Byron | 2025 State MN of Byron (soph)
Ayden Helder Ayden Helder 6'2" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN of Stewartville (jr)
Fourth Team
Nick Bauer of Pine Island (jr)
Adam Poncelet Adam Poncelet 6'3" | SG Goodhue | 2023 State MN of Goodhue (sr)
Jake Hallstrom Jake Hallstrom 6'2" | SG Kasson-Mantorville | 2023 MN of Kasson-Mantorville (sr)
Ethan Lee Ethan Lee 6'5" | SF Kasson Mantorville Highschool | 2025 State MN of Kasson-Mantorville (soph)
Justin Buck of Goodhue (sr)