Marawood South Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2023-24 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Marathon 16-0 (27-2); 2. Auburndale 13-3 (22-5); 3. Stratford 12-4 (20-6); 4. Edgar 11-5 (19-7); 5. Assumption 7-9 (11-14); 6. Newman Catholic 2-14 (5-21).<br><br><strong>2024-25 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Stratford </strong>-- With very little size and needing to replace its top two scorers of a year ago, Stratford might not look like much on paper. But then you watch coach Curt Schmidt's squad compete and realize the totality of his roster is as tough and as gritty as any other team in the league. Of the six returning varsity performers from a 20-6 squad, just two players are above 5-foot-11 in seniors Kaden Foster (6-0, 4.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and Alec Chapel (6-0, 3.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg). But the quickness of Foster, Chapel and the other four returning seniors is unmatched. So is their feistiness. The backcourt crew includes [player_tooltip player_id='2493707' first='Drew' last='Bruesewitz'] (5-9, 10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2629815' first='Reid' last='Miller'] (5-9, 4.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg), Caleb Wrensch (5-7, 3.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Jett Schoenherr (5-10, 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg). Newcomers from a 20-2 JV1 squad provide stellar depth for what appears to be the league's top defensive team. <br><br><strong>2. Auburndale </strong>-- Even with the loss of three double-figure scorers to graduation, the traditionally strong Eagles of Auburndale figure to remain in the hunt for the Marawood South championship. Chad Weinfurter begins his 17th season as head coach with two returning regulars from a 22-5 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2629803' first='Blake' last='Raab'] (5-9, 7.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2493659' first='Thomas' last='Aue'] (6-7, 5.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Raab and Aue give Auburndale an experienced tandem ion the perimeter and in the paint. Also back is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2629808' first='Peyton' last='Weinfurter'] (5-9, 1.5 ppg). The Eagles lack varsity experience beyond those three players, but some newcomers off successful JV1 and JV2 teams will provide some depth for a quick team that boasts some size in Aue and senior James Norby (6-6).<br><br><strong>3. Marathon </strong>-- The defending league champions must somehow replace the presence and production of the graduated Grant [player_tooltip player_id='2412774' first='Warren' last=''] (6-10, 21.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, now playing at Michigan Tech). [player_tooltip player_id='2412774' first='Warren' last=''] and Co. had a great ride last winter, finishing 27-2 and earning a trip to the WIAA Division 4 State Tournament where they lost in the semifinals to Kenosha St. Joseph. Coach Adam Jacobson lost three starters from that club but does welcome back two very good players in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'] (6-4, 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'] (6-2, 7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg). Both Woelfel and Thurs are versatile players with experience and toughness. Others who will contend for big roles in 2024-25 include seniors Cody Radtke (6-1, 1.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg), Wilson Marks (5-9) and BLake Kraft (5-10) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2918495' first='Landon' last='Sneider'] (5-6, 2.4 ppg) and sophomore Ean Shuda (5-9).<br><br><strong>4. Assumption </strong>-- Six seasons have come and gone since the Royals last finished above .500. During the 2017-18 campaign, Assumption went 20-6 behind the strong play of forward Joe Grundhoffer and wing Jake Sullivan. Now, after three straight seasons of achieving 11 victories, the Royals look to return to an above-break-event-point finish as four starters return for coach Josh Paltz. Leading the way for Assumption are junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2610579' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] (6-0, 14.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'] (5-10, 13.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Schlaefer is a two-year varsity performer who improved his overall game dramatically over the spring/summer and figures to be one of the elite players in the Marawood South. Nystrom is a lock-and-loaded shooter from deep who can put up points in a hurry. Also back are juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2918489' first='Ron' last='Bord'] (6-0, 5.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Chase Leberg (6-0, 4.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg). Others who figure to make an impact include senior Owen Hagen (5-10, 4.7 ppg) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2640282' first='Parker' last='Vruwink'] (6-4), Trey France (6-2), JJ Oswald (6-0) and Cyler Schill (6-2).<br><strong><br>5. Newman Catholic </strong>-- As expected, Newman Catholic took its lumps a year ago. The Cardinals had lost all five starters and a couple of key backups to graduation off their 2022-23 squad that went 27-4 and won the WIAA Division 5 state title, so a rebuilding season was in store for coach Jeff Waldvogel's crew. Newman Catholic finished 5-21, but along the way, lots of young players gained valuable varsity experience. Four regulars are back for the Cardinals in senior Liam McCarty (6-4, 4.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'] (6-0, 16.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'] (5-10, 13.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Griffen Puent (5-8, 5.3 ppg). Look for junior Lucas Erdman (6-0) and sophomore Michael Fox (6-0) to also potentially play big roles.<br><br><strong>6. Edgar</strong> -- All six teams in the Marawood South are capable of beating any other team on any given night, including Edgar. Yes, coach Zach Paul lost the core of last year's 19-7 squad to graduation, but he also welcomes back senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2629801' first='Leyton' last='Schuett'] (6-3, 9.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and junior guard Gavin Mauer (5-11, 1.1 ppg), among others. There is good depth in the program and some size as well as senior Kasen Ristow (6-8) hopes to take a big step forward in 2024-25.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'], Newman Catholic (16.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610579' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'], Assumption (14.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'], Newman Catholic (13.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'], Assumption (13.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493707' first='Drew' last='Bruesewitz'], Stratford (10.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'], Marathon (10.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629801' first='Leyton' last='Schuett'], Edgar (9.8 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2610579' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'], 6-0, Jr., Assumption<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629803' first='Blake' last='Raab'], 5-9, Sr., Auburndale<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'], 6-4, Jr., Marathon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'], 6-0, Jr., Newman Catholic<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493707' first='Drew' last='Bruesewitz'], 5-9, Sr., Stratford<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629815' first='Reid' last='Miller'], 5-9, Sr., Stratford<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'], 5-10, Jr., Assumption<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2493659' first='Thomas' last='Aue'], 6-7, Sr., Auburndale<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'], 6-2, Jr., Marathon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'], 5-10, Jr., Newman Catholic<br><br><strong>The Big Five<br><br>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'], Assumption<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'], Marathon<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2493659' first='Thomas' last='Aue'], Auburndale<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2610579' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'], Assumption<br><strong>Most Improved Player: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2493707' first='Drew' last='Bruesewitz'], Stratford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->