Badger Large Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Final Standings</strong><br><br>1. Waunakee 12-2 (23-6); 1. Fort Atkinson 12-2 (17-8); 3. Oregon 9-5 (15-11); 4. Milton 8-6 (15-11); 5. Monona Grove 7-7 (18-10); 6. Beaver Dam 6-8 (14-13); 7. DeForest 2-12 (8-18); 8. Watertown 0-14 (5-21).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. Waunakee </strong>-- The three-time defending Badger Large champions were hit hard by graduation as coach Tyler Selk must replace all five starters from a club that went 23-6 and qualified for the WIAA State Tournament. UW-Platteville recruits and first-team all-league picks Kaden MacKenzie and Eli Selk are among those who must be replaced. Still, Waunakee has a rock-solid program and young players like juniors Wes Ducharme (6-3, 6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) are poised to take on much bigger roles. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2989260' first='Owen' last='Wagner'] (6-5, 1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2970740' first='Jake' last='Ubersox'] (6-0), [player_tooltip player_id='2970741' first='Benton' last='Cralam'] (6-0) and Ryan Thompson (5-6) also could be key players for the Warriors.<strong><br><br>2. Monona Grove </strong>-- After winning 18 of 28 outings last winter, the Silver Eagles are hoping for even more success this time around. Long-time coach Dan Zweifel boasts perhaps the best player in the league in versatile 6-foot-6 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140876' first='Austin' last='Luchetti'], a returning second-team all-league selection and owner of several NCAA Division II scholarship offers. Luchetti (15.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg) is the lone returning starter, but the young talent at MG is substantial. Freshman Jayden Johnson (6-8) and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2390011' first='Carson' last='Schoenherr'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='2423093' first='Evan' last='Luchetti'] (6-3) are gifted players. And the returning junior class outside of Luchetti also is solid with [player_tooltip player_id='2415933' first='Henry' last='Thome'] (6-4, 3.4 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2970500' first='Hunter' last='Meyer'] (5-10, 4.0 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2915678' first='Luke' last='Chynoweth'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='2415931' first='Alex' last='Dean'] (5-10) all expected to play big roles. <br><strong><br>3. Beaver Dam </strong>-- Excitement surrounds the Beaver Dam program and with good reason as coach Tim Ladron welcomes back five players who played big roles on last year's squad that finished 14-13. The talented senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='EJ' last='Salettel'] (6-3, 17.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2496335' first='Parker' last='Blank'] (5-11, 12.4 pgp, 3.6 rpg) bring plenty of varsity experience and toughness to the Beavers' lineup. Their leadership will be vital this winter as they show the way to three gifted underclassmen in juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger'] (6-5, 12.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2140933' first='Jaxon' last='Ladron'] (6-1, 4.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) along with ever-improving and bouncy sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2508468' first='Ben' last='Wittnebel'] (6-6, 4.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg). Depth is a concern, but the Beavers' starting five is as good as any other team in the league.<strong><br><br>4. Oregon </strong>-- Yes, the loss of Vaughn Karvala (6-7, 26.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg) to Bella Vista Prep in Arizona is a huge loss for the Panthers. But coach Chris Siebert remains optimistic his club can compete with the best teams in the Badger Large, thanks in large part to the returning experience of seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2406291' first='Nicholas' last='Jacob'] (6-1, 7.5 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='1561905' first='Nolan' last='Erfurth'] (6-1, 3.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='1561906' first='Mason' last='Hoffer'] (6-1, 5.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2482011' first='Brady' last='Hook'] (6-2, 2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg). Toss in senior power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2970569' first='Brayden' last='Hermsdorf'] (6-6), who missed the past two seasons with injuries but averaged 7.7 ppg and 6.3 rpg as a freshman, and it's easy to understand why Siebert is hopeful for a successful season. <strong><br><br>5. Milton </strong>-- The Red Hawks always seem to finish better than they might appear on paper at the start of the season. Credit coach Ian Kirst and his staff for much of Milton's better-than-expected finish the past few seasons. Coming off a 15-11 campaign, Milton will use the strong guard play of senior Collin Brach (5-10, 15.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2970297' first='Ryan' last='Delorimier'] (5-10, 4.8 ppg) to make things tough on opposing backcourts. The key to another surprising finish might be the play of senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2970299' first='Jackson' last='Widner'] (6-5, 2.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and juniro [player_tooltip player_id='2875872' first='Ike' last='Udy'] (6-4, 1.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg). If Widner and Udy can be productive along the baseline, Milton once again will be a tough out in league play.<strong><br><br>6. DeForest </strong>-- DeForest went just 8-18 last winter and lost three starters to graduation. The future looks much brighter for coach Eric Stewart and the Norskies thanks to an influx of talented young players joining the program. But before those young players can get make a huge difference, they will learn the ropes from some talented returning players, including seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2440759' first='Brooks' last='Ohmen'] (6-3, 15.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2440766' first='Collin' last='Paskey'] (6-0, 5.1 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2508475' first='Liam' last='Schloemer'] (6-6, 4.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2445276' first='Jayden' last='Doedens'] (5-11, 6.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg). DeForest will be improved in 2025-26 and the future the following few seasons looks even more promising.<br><br><strong>7. Watertown </strong>-- Like some other programs in the Badger Large, Watertown will be an improved from a year ago when it went 5-21. But because of the tough neighbors it keeps in the Badger Large, it might be difficult for the Goslings to move substantially upward in the league standings. After finishing 0-14 in league play last winter, Watertown looks for improvement behind a gifted junior class that includes [player_tooltip player_id='2140956' first='Macallister' last='Hayes'] (5-9, 8.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2381446' first='Landon' last='Washetas'] (6-3, 7.0 ppg, 2.9 rp), Alex Davis (5-11, 2.6 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2381449' first='Calvin' last='Timmel'] (6-3, 2.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and Raowan Loontjer (5-11, 2.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>8. Baraboo --</strong> Baraboo moves from the Badger Small to the Badger Large after winning 14 games last season. Coach Tyler Fish knows the competition level in the new league is rigorous, but he also knows he has some talented players who can pull together and surprise some opponents. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2969428' first='Behr' last='LeFevre'] (6-2, 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2969429' first='Isaiah' last='Romano-Thompson'] (6-1, 5.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2969430' first='Tanner' last='Goeckermann'] (6-1, 7.1 ppg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2508484' first='Carter' last='Rivas'] (5-11, 13.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2969425' first='Brady' last='Bauer'] (6-3, 5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg) form a solid nucleus for the Thunderbirds. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='EJ' last='Salettel'], Beaver Dam (17.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2440759' first='Brooks' last='Ohmen'], DeForest (15.8 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140876' first='Austin' last='Luchetti'], Monona Grove (15.5 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561895' first='Collin' last='Branch'], Milton (15.3 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508484' first='Carter' last='Rivas'], Baraboo (13.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496335' first='Parker' last='Blank'], Beaver Dam (12.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger'], Beaver Dam (12.1 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='EJ' last='Salettel'], 6-3, Sr., Beaver Dam<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561895' first='Collin' last='Branch'], 5-10, Sr., Milton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140876' first='Austin' last='Luchetti'], 6-6, Jr., Monona Grove<br>Wes Ducharme, 6-3, Jr., Waunakee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2440759' first='Brooks' last='Ohmen'], 6-3, Sr., DeForest<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508484' first='Carter' last='Rivas'], 5-11, Jr., Baraboo<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496335' first='Parker' last='Blank'], 5-11, Sr., Beaver Dam<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2371701' first='Isaiah' last='Yuenger'], 6-5, Jr., Beaver Dam<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2445276' first='Jayden' last='Doedens'], 5-11, Soph., DeForest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406291' first='Nicholas' last='Jacob'], 6-1, Sr., Oregon<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2391088' first='EJ' last='Salettel'], Beaver Dam<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2970569' first='Brayden' last='Hermsdorf'], Oregon<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561895' first='Collin' last='Branch'], Milton<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2140876' first='Austin' last='Luchetti'], Monona Grove<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2508468' first='Ben' last='Wittnebel'], Beaver Dam<br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->