Conference Preview: WaMaC West

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton (7-15, 17.6% of scoring returning): </strong>Six of the top seven scorers from last year's team graduated. Seniors Owen Tjelmeland (3.0), Wyatt Rinderknecht (4.4), Quincy Gilbert (1.3), and Kolby Wenger (2.2) each appeared in at least 18 games, with Tjelmeland starting all 22. Tjelmeland is their top perimeter playmaker and should have the ball in his hands quite a bit, while Rinderknecht is their most natural returning scorer. They have some experienced players coming back, but they'll need to find a go-to scoring option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Point-Urbana (12-10, 44.9%): </strong>The Stormin' Pointers lost both double-figure scorers from last year's team, but do have some talent coming back in the form of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1874779' first='Hunter' last='Holmes'] (8.2) and Jarret Koppedryer (5.3), as well as sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (5.1). Holmes is a good perimeter shooting threat who knocked down 41% of his 3-point attempts last season, and he moves well without the ball in his hands. Koppedryer is a talented 6-2 wing who can score from all three levels, and Grimm, a 6-3 playmaker, figures to step into a bigger role this season after a solid freshman campaign. He has a good feel for the game, passes it well, and can get to the rim. If he takes a leap, this group could remain competitive and push for a top-3 finish in the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clear Creek Amana (5-17, 99.4%): </strong>The Clippers were really young last season, with six sophomores among the rotation, and four of those being starters last season. Players typically take a pretty big leap from their sophomore to junior seasons, and if that's the case, CCA could flip their record from last year. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1938206' first='Haiden' last='Hardy'] (12.6) is the leading returning scorer, while juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (11.8), [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (9.9), [player_tooltip player_id='1759931' first='Cale' last='Berry'] (9.5), and Brock Hilsman (7.8) are the other returning starters. Rotzoll is a skilled shooter who moves really well without the ball in his hands, and his game complements Hardy's well, as Hardy is a guard who thrives on his ability to break down a defense and get to the rim. [player_tooltip player_id='2413535' first='Ethan' last='Vice'] (4.5), a sophomore guard, is another good shooting threat who buried 43% of his 3-point attempts as a freshman, and Owen Rosenberg (2.5), Reece Cochran (1.9), and Robert Meade (1.3) are also returning juniors who saw time last season. We're banking on marked improvement across the board here, and if that's the case, this team could push Williamsburg for the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grinnell (7-15, 91.6%): </strong>The Tigers come over to the WaMaC from the Little Hawkeye Conference, one of the best leagues in the state, regardless of class. They should be a better fit here, and they figure to compete for a division title immediately. During non-conference play last year, they played now division foes South Tama, Clear Creek Amana, Vinton-Shellsburg, and Benton, going 4-0 with an average margin of victory of 18.5 points, which should give them a ton of confidence heading into this season. The top six scorers return in seniors Cole Blackford (7.9), Ethan Walker (7.7), and Carson Penyrich (5.8), and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (8.9), [player_tooltip player_id='2721799' first='Derek' last='Doty'] (6.8), and Brady Coffman (6.1), giving them a deep, experienced, and balanced group to head into the new league with. McIlrath is probably their most dynamic player, a 6-3 combo forward who can score inside and out, but this is a team that will be tough to prepare for because of their balance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Tama (2-20, 50.3%):</strong> The Trojans lost their top two scorers from last year's 2-win team, leaving senior guards Cade Rosenberger (7.8) and Daniel Wiese (7.5) as the top returnees. Junior forward Kingston Davenport (5.7, 5.5 rebounds) will hold down the fort in the paint, giving them some size and rebounding. They'll be breaking in a lot of new faces alongside the returning trio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vinton-Shellsburg (3-19, 49.1%): </strong>The bad news for the Vikings is that they lost five of their top seven scorers from a team that struggled to just three wins last season. The good news, however, is that leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1751232' first='Cameron' last='Dunbar'] (13.3) returns and looks primed to have a huge senior season. Dunbar is a talented three-level scorer who played well during the fall showcase season, looking like an improved playmaker in addition to his scoring. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1437003' first='Ryan' last='Sivola'] (5.3) appeared in all 22 games off the bench last year, providing some scoring, while seniors Brodee Klein (1.2), Tanner Brownell (2.4), and Levi Ferguson (0.3) each appeared in at least 20 games. With Dunbar looking like he might be making a leap, V-S could double their win total from last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Williamsburg (18-5, 40.8%): </strong>The Raiders rolled through divisional foes last season, with no game decided by single digits. They'll be hard-pressed to replicate that level of dominance after losing five key rotation pieces to graduation, but with the best player in the division on their side, they're still the favorite. That aforementioned best player is senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (19.2, 8.5 rebounds), a dominant two-way player who is one of the best linebackers in the country. Many of the same attributes that make him elite on the gridiron make him dominant on the hardwood. He's a bouncy athlete who can defend multiple positions, score from all three levels, and create. Bouncy senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1751226' first='Kellen' last='Cockrell'] (8.1) took a major jump last season, giving them some rim protection and interior scoring and also returns. Ball-handling and ball security could be a major question heading into the year, but Weisskopf figures to have the ball in his hands a lot, which is a good thing. They'll be pushed more this year, but this is still the team to beat in the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Williamsburg<br>2. Grinnell<br>3. Clear Creek Amana<br>4. Center Point-Urbana<br>5. Vinton-Shellsburg<br>6. Benton<br>7. South Tama</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Williamsburg rolled through the division last year, and while they won't be as dominant this season, they're still the team to beat. Grinnell will compete within the division immediately, and CCA should be much improved. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (Williamsburg): </strong>A versatile two-way weapon for the Raiders, Weisskopf is the best player in the division and will be the focal point for a Williamsburg team that has a good chance to repeat this season, despite a lot of losses to graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171685' first='Derek' last='Weisskopf'] (Williamsburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751226' first='Kellen' last='Cockrell'] (Williamsburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751232' first='Cameron' last='Dunbar'] (Vinton-Shellsburg)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1938206' first='Haiden' last='Hardy'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759949' first='Andrew' last='Rotzoll'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381405' first='Brody' last='Clubb'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759931' first='Cale' last='Berry'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2025 Brock Hilsman (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413535' first='Ethan' last='Vice'] (Clear Creek Amana)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1874779' first='Hunter' last='Holmes'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765520' first='Cooper' last='Grimm'] (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2024 Jarret Koppedryer (Center Point-Urbana)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511568' first='Ryan' last='McIlrath'] (Grinnell)<br>2024 Cole Blackford (Grinnell)<br>2024 Ethan Walker (Grinnell)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2721799' first='Derek' last='Doty'] (Grinnell)<br>2025 Brady Coffman (Grinnell)<br>2024 Cade Rosenberger (South Tama)<br>2024 Daniel Wiese (South Tama)<br>2025 Kingston Davenport (South Tama)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->