Division 2, Sectional 3: First Look

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending WIAA Division 2 state champion Wauwatosa West headlines a large group of very strong teams among the 22 placed into Sectional 3. Greater Metro Conference rival Brookfield Central could push Wauwatosa West in the upper half of the bracket while McFarland and Mount Horeb immediately jump out as special teams in the lower half of Sectional 3. <br><br>Following is a look at the top teams and top players in Sectional 3:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five Players in Sectional 3</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2288469' first='Jalen' last='Brown'], 6-5, Jr., G, Wauwatosa West<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561869' first='Matthew' last='Kloskey'], 6-5, Sr., G/F, Wauwatosa West<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561913' first='Henry' last='Gruetzmacher'], 6-8, Sr., F, Brookfield Central<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561888' first='Josh' last='Manchester'], 6-4, Sr., G, Mount Horeb<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561944' first='Jacob' last='Hibner'], 6-3, Sr., G, Stoughton<br><br><strong>Five Breakout Performers in Sectional 3</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140913' first='Eli' last='Krueger'], 6-8, Jr., F, McFarland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140920' first='Garrett' last='Crull'], 6-4, Jr., G, McFarland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508468' first='Ben' last='Wittnebel'], 6-6, Soph., F, Beaver Dam<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2360929' first='Xavier' last='Allen'], 5-10, Sr., G, Milwaukee Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371703' first='Jayce' last='Cook'], 6-1, Jr., G, New Berlin West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Five Teams in Sectional 3</strong><br><br><strong>1. Wauwatosa West </strong>-- The Trojans may not be exceptionally deep, but the frontline guys coach Christopher Newbauer can roll out on a nightly basis are extremely impressive. In addition to future NCAA Division I players Brown and Kloskey, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1558479' first='DJ' last='Hennings'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2402461' first='Messiah' last='Chambers'] (6-2) return to the starting rotation from a club that went 24-6. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2423561' first='Max' last='Gogin'] (5-10) is coming off a terrific spring/summer with the MTXE club program and junior Karson Mangum (6-6) provides some size near the basket. <br><br><strong>2. Brookfield Central -</strong>- Six key players return for the Lancers, led by Gruetzmacher, the Green Bay recruit who averaged 14.9 points and 9.1 rebounds as a junior and is one of the more dominating interior players in Wisconsin. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1258390' first='Evan' last='Prusko'] (6-2) is a smart player who competes with great energy on both ends for veteran coach Dan Wandrey. Other key returning pieces include [player_tooltip player_id='1561915' first='Matthew' last='James'] (6-2), Derek Treis (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2641639' first='Nasir' last='Avery'] (6-0) and Ethan Koceja (6-2). <br><br><strong>3. Mount Horeb </strong>-- Manchester is an electric player and can carry the Vikings to a lot of victories in 2025-26. He averaged 30.8 points and 4.0 rebounds as a junior for a team that went 25-3 under coach Todd Nesheim. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2433100' first='Alex' last='Chapman'] (6-4) is coming off an offseason injury, but his presence on the floor provides the Vikings with some size, strength and skill. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2390158' first='Kam' last='Nesheim'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='2641669' first='Hayden' last='Anderson'] (6-6) and Nick Ibinger (6-1) also return for a deep team looking to defend its Badger Small Conference crown.<br><br><strong>4. McFarland</strong> -- McFarland hopes to push Mount Horeb for the league and sectional crown behind a pair of very talented juniors in Krueger and Crull. Both have extensive experience and are versatile players with good size, strength, skill and instinct. Finding enough scoring punch to put around Krueger and Crull might be the challenge for coach Jeff Meinholdt, but the Spartans' JV1 squad did finish 19-3 so there is talent forthcoming. <br><br><strong>5. Beaver Dam </strong>-- Experience and a potential breakout player in Wittnebel are big assets for coach Tim Ladron's squad at Beaver Dam. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='EJ' last='Salettel'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='2496335' first='Parker' last='Blank'] (5-11) are proven performers and returning starters as is junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger'] (6-5). Junior Jaxon Landron (6-1) and Wittnebel each earned big minutes a year ago as well. FInding some depth and holding its own on the glass will be big keys for Beaver Dam.<br><br><strong>Sleeper Team</strong><br><br><strong>Stoughton</strong> -- Like Manchester with Mount Horeb, Hibner is the guy who makes things happen in a positive way for Stoughton. A strong and versatile wing who can score from outside the arc and off of aggressive drives to the basket, Hibner is joined in coach Nolan Weber's backcourt by junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2508305' first='Jaren' last='Vale'] (6-0). Look for seniors Payton Danforth (5-9), Parker Sellnow (5-10) and Quinn Poole (6-1) to potentially also play big roles for the Vikings in 2025-26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->