Division 3, Sectional 1: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue a late summer trek through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sectionals, today looking at Division 3, Sectional 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Teams:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Altoona<br>Amery<br>Baldwin-Woodville<br>Berlin<br>Elk Mound<br>Northwestern<br>Prescott<br>Somerset<br><br><strong>Overview:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prescott has qualified for the WIAA State Tournament four times since the 2014-15 season and won the Division 3 state title in 2018. In addition, the Cardinals have won eight of the past 10 championships in the Middle Border Conference. The tradition of success figures to continue in 2024-25 for coach Nick Johnson's program as senior Barrett Thomas and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2432823' first='Kobe' last='Russell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2500056' first='Max' last='Monteith'] form a strong nucleus after playing big minutes a year ago when Prescott went 21-7 and lost to eventual D3 state champion Saint Thomas More in the state semifinals. Upstart Altoona figures to push Prescott in the sectional and in the Middle Border. With two years of competition in the league now under its belt after moving to the league from the Cloverbelt West, Altoona welcomes back three double-figure scorers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2391100' first='Myles' last='Sinette'] along with talented sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2140924' first='Graysen' last='Becker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2405970' first='Owen' last='Gunderson']. Somerset and Amery also could make some noise in the Middle Border, one of the state's elite D3 conferences. Somerset is led by rugged and versatile senior [player_tooltip player_id='1874982' first='Kane' last='Donnelly'] while Amery boasts the considerable talents of the Wollan brothers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1540033' first='Carter' last='Wollan'] along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2143926' first='Keaton' last='Wollan']. Like the eight schools in the Middle Border, Berlin encounters stiff competition in the East Central Conference. The Indians figure to challenge the likes of Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Plymouth and Waupun for the league crown behind the return of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2492774' first='Aaron' last='Bartol'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington']. Northwestern is a long-time title contender in the Heart O'North Conference and that figures to remain the case this upcoming campaign. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2432837' first='Boden' last='Teal'] is a returning first-team all-league selection for Northwestern, which went 18-8 under coach Nolan Graff last season. Elk Mound finished one game behind league-winner Durand-Arkansaw in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and won 22 games last winter. However, the Elks lost a pair of first-team all-league performers and have a new coach in Dennis Arneson. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2441467' first='Logan' last='Jerome'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1554804' first='Cale' last='Knutson'] are the top returning players for Elk Mound. <br><br><strong>Pre-Season All-Sectional Team:</strong><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1540033"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cb71e21a43b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the state's most prolific scorers in the 2025 class, Wollan is back for his fourth year of varsity competition at Amery. A vocal leader who handles the ball well and gets to the basket with the best of them, Wollan averaged 24.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior. Amery won just 11 games last winter, but the Warriors hopes to turn things around in a big way this time around as four starters return alongside Wollan in his younger brother, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2143926' first='Keaton' last='Wollan'], along with seniors Joey Thorsheim and Blake Anderson. But make no mistake, [player_tooltip player_id='1540033' first='Carter' last='Wollan'] is the cornerstone of the Amery program and his leadership, scoring, passing, rebounding, defense and experience will be vital to the Warriors' success. Wollan, a two-time first-team all-Middle Border Conference pick who competes with physicality and skill, begins his senior season with 1,646 career points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1874982"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cb71e21a4a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Donnelly is a beast to contain, especially when he gets downhill on drives to the basket. His physical strength, athleticism and aggressiveness are evident each time he takes the court. All of those attributes played a big part in helping Somerset to a 20-7 record a year ago under coach Troy Wink. Donnelly picked up first-team all-Middle Border Conference laurels after averaging 18,.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. He then performed well with the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 17U squad during the club circuit, showing the ability to play inside and outside, while also guarding different positions on the floor. Although Donnelly is the lone returning starter for the Spartans, his presence on both ends of the court will be major headaches for opposing league coaches in 2024-25. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2492774"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cb71e21a5bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the more versatile players in the sectional, Bartol can guard inside and outside and score on the other in the paint and from the perimeter. The returning first-team all-East Central Conference choice plays with a solid basketball IQ, has good length and anticipates well on the defensive end of the court. He averged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.5 steals as a junior, helping Berlin to an 18-9 record under coach Jeremy Mercer. His ability to fill up a stat sheet makes it difficult to take him off the floor as he can impact the game in a positive manner on any given possession. Bartol and junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2387128' first='Hayden' last='Redington'] are the top returning players for the Indians. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2432837"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cb761e0c93a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Teal is a smallish point guard who makes up for his lack of height with quickness, skill and basketball instinct. He is coming off a strong junior season at Northwestern as he averaged a team-high 16.0 points while also contributing 5.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists as the Tigers finished 18-8, two games behind league-champion Cameron. The returning first-team all-Heart O'North Conference selection is a four-year varsity performer who went off for a career-high 31 points last winter in a victory over Cambridge. Teal made 55 three-point baskets and shot 75 percent from the foul line as a junior. Also a standout football player, Teal recently committed to play collegiately on the gridiron for Dordt College. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2432853"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cb7ceb3301a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A player for collegiate programs to watch closely this winter, Clausen is an emerging wing prospect with excellent size, physical strength and skill. Clausen had a good junior season, averaging 12.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while earning second-team all-Middle Border Conference recognition. He also performed well for the [program_tooltip program_id='2076033' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] 17U Prep Hoops squad. He is poised for a big senior season as he figures to take on more of the scoring load with four starters from a year ago graduating last spring. Clausen shot 34 percent from three-point range in 2023-24, making 50-of-146 attempts from long distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-Season Pick to Click:</strong><br><br>Sectional 1 in Division 3 is very balanced with no clear-cut favorite. Amery probably boasts the best all-around player in [player_tooltip player_id='1540033' first='Carter' last='Wollan'] while Ellsworth might have the best big man in 6-foot-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1964464' first='George' last='Rohl']. However, Prescott has enjoyed the most recent success in terms of advancing to the Kohl Center for the WIAA State Tournament. Still, there probably is no pre-season Top 10 squad in this sectional so picking a team to click is dicey at best. I'll go with Altoona, which seems to be heading in the right direction under coach Paul Heinrichs. The Railroaders bring back three starters and all averaged just over 10 ppg in [player_tooltip player_id='2391100' first='Myles' last='Sinette'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140924' first='Graysen' last='Becker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2405970' first='Owen' last='Gunderson']. That talented backcourt trio players with tremendous skill and good overall quickness and athleticism. Finding some help on the glass to replace the 8.2 rpg provided by the graduated Keaton Camastral is a concern. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2412749' first='Austin' last='Wirth'] (6-6) and senior Hunter Hibbard (6-2) might be able to help in that department. The Railroaders' ability to push the ball and score in transition figures to be a strength with Becker at point guard and Sinette and Gunderson making shots from outside the arc on the wing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->