Capitol North Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Lake Mills 7-1 (23-4); 2. Lakeside Lutheran 6-2 (27-3); 3. Lodi 4-4 (15-11); 4. Columbus 3-5 (13-13); 5. Poynette 0-8 (9-18).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Lake Mills</strong> -- The L-Cats won 23 of 27 games a year ago and bring back four starters and a few key reserves as they set out to defend their league crown and make some noise on the state level in Division 3. Led by four-year varsity performer at Minnesota State Mankato recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'] (6-3, 22.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg), Lake Mills has the experience, talent and hunger to beat any team on its schedule. Bender is an athletic wing who can score in the post, from the perimeter and off the bounce. He also is one of the better defenders in the conference. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'] (6-0, 12.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) is the best perimeter shooter not only in the Capitol North, but in the entire Madison area. His ability to spread the floor often keeps the lane open for guys like Bender nd athletic sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'] (6-4, 11.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg). Seniors Ty Schaefer (5-11, 10.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2253829' first='Ryan' last='Horkan'] (6-2, 6.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2819684' first='Tanner' last='Wendorf'] (6-5, 2.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg) also figure to play prominent roles for coach Steve Hicklin's squad. <br><br><strong>2. Lakeside Lutheran </strong>-- As Lakeside Lutheran clicked off tournament victories over Lomira, Beloit Turner, Lake Mills, Platteville and previously unbeaten Kiel last March, the confidence level of senior [player_tooltip player_id='2381695' first='Kaycee' last='Guzman'] (5-10, 14.7 ppg, 3.1 apg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'] (6-7, 16.5 ppg, 11.6 rpg) continued to rise. The Warriors did lost to St. Thomas More in the D3 title game, but there was no denying a remarkable season that included a 27-3 record and a 2-1 record against city rival Lake Mills. Now, coach Todd Jahns' hopes for stringing together another outstanding team took a severe blow a few weeks ago when Guzman suffered a season-ending injury during a football game. Rahn is back to lead the way for the Warriors, but the lose of Guzman is enormous as he was the primary ball handler and playmaker for the Warriors. Seniors Ben Krauklis (5-10, 2.5 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2621019' first='Easton' last='Wolfram'] (5-11, 3.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500858' first='Brady' last='Wolfram'] (6-3, 3.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2440762' first='Jackson' last='Stein'] (6-8) and [player_tooltip player_id='2404956' first='Brecken' last='Jimenez'] (6-3) all will have to step up their game in order to help offset the loss of Guzman. <br><br><strong>3. Columbus</strong> -- Columbus has more returning experience than any other team in the Capitol North and could make things very difficult for Lake Mills and Lakeside Lutheran. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'] (6-2, 16.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg) is one of the top all-around athletes in the league. He is the starting quarterback for the football team that put together a 7-0 record through the first seven weeks of the grid season. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2499892' first='Jonny' last='Cotter'] (6-0, 9.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jordan Mobry (6-2, 6.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) along with seniors Griffin Corrado (6-4, 6.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Wyatt Graffin (6-5, 3.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) joined Powers in the starting rotation at different times for a team that went 13-13 a year ago. Depth, chemistry, size and physical strength are all assets for coach Jeffrey Downing's squad. <br><br><strong>4. Lodi </strong>-- The Capitol North is short of teams with just five, but it is not short on talent. Lodi has enough experience, talent and grit to beat any team in the league on any given night. Coach Benjamin Leistico's squad is led by junior sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'] (6-2, 8.6 ppg) and sophomore lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'] (6-0, 8.2 ppg, 4.8 apg). Both are capable of earning all-league recognition. Senior Kyle Hoffman (6-3, 5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) is the third returning regular from a team that went 15-11. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1536026' first='Preston' last='Follis'] (5-11, 4.4 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2435556' first='Tyler' last='Oberling'] (6-7, 2.1 ppg) were key reserves last winter and figure to contend for starting roles this time around.<br><br><strong>5. Poynette</strong> -- The eight league games Poynette will play in 2024-25 will be difficult, make no mistake. And with no returning starters, the Pumas might be hard pressed to keep any of those encounters close. At the same time, coach Cody Odegaard's squad plays 16 non-league contests and figures to improve as the season progresses as some good young players gain experience. Poynette has four players back who played off the bench last season in senior Bryce Frey (6-1, 4.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg), and juniors Mason Freimuth (5-6, 4.1 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2749640' first='Justin' last='Wells'] (6-1, 2.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2815618' first='Easton' last='Ripp'] (5-6, 2.9 ppg). A couple of freshmen -- Connor Raymond (5-10) and Paceler Moll (5-4) -- could also work their way in the playing rotation. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'], Lake Mills (22.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], Lakeside Lutheran (16.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'], Columbus (16.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381695' first='Kaycee' last='Guzman'], Lakeside Lutheran (14.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], Lake Mills (12.1 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'], Lake Mills (11.4 ppg)<br>Ty Schaefer, Lake Mills (10.2 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'], 6-3, Sr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'], 6-4, Soph., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], 6-7, Jr., Lakeside Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'], 6-2, Jr. Lodi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'], 6-2, Jr., Columbus<br><strong>Honorary Member</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381695' first='Kaycee' last='Guzman'], 5-10, Sr., Lakeside Lutheran (injured)<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], 6-1, Jr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'], 6-0, Soph., Lodi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2621019' first='Easton' last='Wolfram'], 5-11, Sr., Lakeside Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499892' first='Jonny' last='Cotter'], 6-0, Jr., Columbus<br>Ty Schaefer, 5-11, Jr., Lake Mills<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], Lake Mills<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], Lakeside Lutheran<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1412881' first='AJ' last='Bender'], Lake Mills<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], Lakeside Lutheran<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2500858' first='Brady' last='Wolfram'], Lakeside Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->