Conference Preview: NICL Central

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aplington-Parkersburg (17-6 last season, 35.4% of scoring returning): </strong>A-P has been one of the most consistent programs in Class 2A over the last decade, averaging 20 wins a year over the last 10 seasons. So despite losing two-thirds of their scoring, they should be competitive once again this season. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (15.7, 41.1 3P%) is a dynamic three-level scorer who will be one of the best players in the conference this season. Classmates Caleb Campbell (6.1) and Trevan Thomas (1.2) are the only other returnees with notable experience, so there will be a lot of new faces taking the floor for A-P this winter. Expect to see freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] step into a pretty significant role early on to provide some secondary playmaking and shooting. While the faces will be new, Aaron Thomas will have his group ready to compete and put up points in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus Catholic (6-17, 33.5%): </strong>The Sailors lost their top two, and four of their top five, scorers from last year's team, leaving junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2629262' first='Amani' last='Robinson'] (7.8) as the top returnee. He's a quick physical guard who can play downhill and attack the rim, creating quality looks for himself and his teammates. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2425919' first='Jace' last='Matern'] (4.2) and Drew Lindsay (4.2) are the only other returnees with much experience and will be asked to step into bigger scoring roles. It's hard to see Columbus making much of a leap this season given how much inexperience they have and how strong the other programs in the division are traditionally. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denver (17-7, 35.9%):</strong> Like most of the teams in the division, Denver was hit pretty hard by graduation, losing a pair of double-figure scorers and four of their top six overall. That said, they do bring back an all-conference player in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1759940' first='Talan' last='LaFrentz'] (13.4, 3.8 assists), a versatile playmaker and scorer who can fill it up from anywhere on the floor as well as create for his teammates off the dribble. He knocked down 40% of his 3-point attempts as a junior and should have a great senior year as the floor general and primary scorer. Braxton Sauerbrei (9.1, 40.9 3P%) provides some additional perimeter shooting, and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887816' first='Myles' last='Matthias'] (2.7) was a reliable role player last season who should be comfortable in a bigger role. This is a program and community that will always have pretty good athletes and they should be a factor in the division again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dike-New Hartford (12-12, 83.2%): </strong>The one school in the division that wasn't hit hard by graduation, Dike-New Hartford will be looking to capitalize on the experience they gained last season and turn some of their narrow losses into wins in 2024-25. They bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1951834' first='Colin' last='Meester'] (16.1, 4.3 assists) and Carson Costello (12.5, 7.2 rebounds), who will provide them with the best one-two punch in the division. Meester is a skilled three-level scorer and playmaker, while Costello provides some toughness and rebounding. Devon Lotts (6.4), Jack Severson (4.3), Dawson Dietrick (4.0), Kolton DeWall (3.7), Jack Hoehns (3.4), and Tyler Bakken (2.1) all return with notable experience as well, giving the Wolverines plenty of depth. It has been a few years since D-NH was a real contender in the NICL, but that should change this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson (25-3, 11.0%):</strong> A magical season with a special group of seniors ended in a runner-up finish last season for the Pirates, and they'll probably be taking a significant step back this season. They lost the top four, and all but two players in total, from last year's roster, leaving only Kiean Crile (6.1) and Tate Van Dyke (1.8) as returnees from that team. Crile was a starter and will be the headliner of the group, but there will be a ton of new faces next to him. Hudson is another program that will always at least be competitive and have athletes, but it'll be tough for them to compete against the top-tier teams on the schedule with all the inexperience they have. </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. Dike-New Hartford<br>2. Aplington-Parkersburg<br>3. Denver<br>4. Hudson<br>5. Columbus Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Dike-New Hartford is the one team in the division that wasn't decimated by graduation, and led by the top one-two punch in the league, they should be the team to beat. A-P and Denver will be factors in the race as well.</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>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (Aplington-Parkersburg): </strong>This figures to be a very competitive and tight race throughout the course of the season between Waller, [player_tooltip player_id='1951834' first='Colin' last='Meester'], Carson Costello, and [player_tooltip player_id='1759940' first='Talan' last='LaFrentz']. Waller is a big-time scorer on the perimeter who can control the game in a number of ways, and we'll give him the slight edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2026 Caleb Campbell (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2026 Trevan Thomas (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951834' first='Colin' last='Meester'] (Dike-New Hartford)<br>205 Carson Costello (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2025 Devon Lotts (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2025 Jack Severson (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2026 Dawson Dietrick (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2025 Kolton DeWall (Dike-New Hartford)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759940' first='Talan' last='LaFrentz'] (Denver)<br>2025 Braxton Sauerbrei (Denver)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887816' first='Myles' last='Matthias'] (Denver)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2629262' first='Amani' last='Robinson'] (Columbus Catholic)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2425919' first='Jace' last='Matern'] (Columbus Catholic)<br>2025 Drew Lindsay (Columbus Catholic)<br>2025 Kiean Crile (Hudson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->