Big East North Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Final Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Howards Grove 12-0 (21-4); 2. Manitowoc Lutheran 9-3 (15-11); 2. Reedsville 9-3 (17-10); 4. St. Mary Catholic 6-6 (13-13); 5. Elkhart Lake 4-8 (17-11); 6. Hilbert 2-10 (8-18); 7. Mishicot 0-12 (7-18).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Manitowoc Lutheran </strong>-- The Lancers have finished near the top in the Big East North the past few seasons, but have not been able to get over the hurdle of winning the league crown. That could change in 2025-26 as coach Scott Loberger gets to work with an exceptional senior class and a couple of blossoming sophomores. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2499881' first='Wesley' last='Hecker'] (6-0, 12.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2386216' first='Will' last='Franzen'] (6-2, 13.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2920452' first='Noah' last='Dillon'] (6-2, 4.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2815318' first='Isaac' last='Wagner'] (5-10, 4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Jaymen Ott (6-2, 6.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2816676' first='Isaiah' last='Muchka'] (5-9, 5.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg) played important roles a year ago when Manitowoc Lutheran finished 15-11. Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2854730' first='Aaden' last='Krause'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='2851775' first='Landon' last='Hackmann'] (6-3) also figure to be in the mix for Manitowoc Lutheran.<br><br><strong>2. Reedsville </strong>-- The Panthers welcome back the best pure point guard in the Big East North in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'] (5-10, 18.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 9.1 apg), a four-year varsity performer and the son of long-time head coach Ron Prochnow. [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'] is an outstanding passer, scorer and defender, and also competes with with a winning edge. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2617712' first='Arden' last='Strenn'] (6-1, 12.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg) joined Prochnow in the starting lineup on last year's club that finished 17-10. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2920534' first='Jack' last='Schwahn'] (5-10, 7.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and William Taddy (6-1, 1.4 ppg), along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2613974' first='Zach' last='Prochnow'] (6-0) and Landon Mertz (5-10) also figure to be key performers for Reedsville, which moves from Division 4 to Division 5 for the WIAA playoffs in March. <br><br><strong>3. Howards Grove </strong>-- Three-time reigning Big East North champion Howards Grove, which has lost just three conference games over that time period, lost Player of the Year Trent Grunewald (6-4, 20.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg) to graduation, but coach Wade Georgeff starts his 10th season with three solid players to build around in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2891620' first='Keaton' last='Milbrath'] (6-0, 11.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2417144' first='Trace' last='Damrow'] (6-3, 11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2920427' first='McCoy' last='Milbrath'] (6-0, 3.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Scoring punch is a bit of a concern, but the Tigers boast plenty of grit, toughness and athleticism, traits that should help them finish near the top once again in the league standings. <br><br><strong>4. St. Mary Catholic</strong> -- With four starters and some key reserves returning, not to mention newcomers from a 21-2 JV1 squad, the Zephyrs could end up being the surprise team in the Big East North. Coach Paul Bradshaw has a balanced team that features plenty of quickness and good outside shooting. Size and rebounding are concerns, but St. Mary Central tends to rebound well as a team. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2483851' first='Mason' last='Uhlenbrauck'] (6-2, 14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is a tremendous long-distance shooter as he made 76 of 178 tries beyond the three-point arc as a junior for 43 percent. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2920551' first='Mason' last='Wagner'] (6-2, 9.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is a strong all-around athlete while juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2508290' first='Luke' last='Fairweather'] (6-0, 8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2920553' first='Tarver' last='Trinkner'] (6-1, 9.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg) handle the bulk of the backcourt chores. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2990704' first='Maddox' last='Dwyer'] (6-1, 2.8 ppg) and Isaiah Hennessy (6-3) along with juniors Max Vosters (6-4) and Alex Klinkhammer (6-0) also return while promising newcomers include sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2381627' first='Dylan' last='Brenn'] (6-4), [player_tooltip player_id='2346902' first='Gavin' last='Beck'] (5-10) and George Voss (6-2). <br><br><strong>5. Elkhart Lake </strong>-- The Resorters lost a very important piece to last year's squad in the graduated Brody Feldman (6-3, 16.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg), but coach Mike Koehler does welcome back his four other starters from a club that went 17-11. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'] (6-5, 16.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg) is a four-year varsity performer for the Resorters who can attack a defense from the perimeter or in the paint. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2613973' first='Brayden' last='Smith'] (6-1) turned in an impressive freshman season as he averaged 13.1 ppg and made 91 three-point baskets while shooting 45 percent from distance. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2972813' first='Ethan' last='Fromm'] (6-4, 7.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972818' first='Dakota' last='Koehler'] (5-10, 6.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) also return, giving Elkhart Lake an experienced squad capable of giving any team in the league trouble on any given night. <br><br><strong>6. Hilbert</strong> -- Yet another program with four starters back from a year ago, Hilbert should be a better team that a year ago when it finished 8-18, but moving up in the league standings is a taller order due to all the returning talent. Still, second-year coach Connor Kuhn remains hopeful the Wolves can surprise some teams this winter behind the return of senior starters Nathan Huettl (5-10, 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2991885' first='Drew' last='Halbach'] (5-9, 11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2991886' first='Ari' last='Sevela'] (5-11, 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2991887' first='Brody' last='Hein'] (6-2, 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg). Lack of size and rebounding are concerns, but experience, speed and depth are strong points. <br><br><strong>7. Mishicot </strong>-- It's a rough neighborhood for Mishicot and the results have proven that out. The Indians enter the new season with a 46-game losing skid in Big East North outings. The last win for Mishicot in conference action came during the 2021-22 season. Coach Randy Wiebensohn starts his fourth year looking for his first league win and has some pieces back from a 7-18 squad, including top scorer sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2387144' first='Bradley' last='Wendricks'] (6-1, 16.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2991447' first='Camden' last='Fick'] (6-2, 4.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2991449' first='Jacob' last='Wiles'] (6-1, 4.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2991448' first='Jackson' last='Thor'] (5-7, 5.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) also return for the Indians. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'] (Reedsville) 18.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387144' first='Bradley' last='Wendricks'] (Mishicot) 16.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'] (Elkhart Lake) 16.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2483851' first='Mason' last='Uhlenbrauck'] (St. Mary Catholic) 14.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386216' first='Will' last='Franzen'] (Manitowoc Lutheran) 13.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2613973' first='Brayden' last='Smith'] (Elkhart Lake) 13.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2617712' first='Arden' last='Strenn'] (Reedsville) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499881' first='Wesley' last='Hecker'] (Manitowoc Lutheran) 12.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2891620' first='Keaton' last='Milbrath'] (Howards Grove) 11.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2991885' first='Drew' last='Halbach'] (Hilbert) 11.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417144' first='Trace' last='Damrow'] (Howards Grove) 11.3 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'], 5-10, Sr., Reedsville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'], 6-5, Sr., Elkhart Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2417144' first='Trace' last='Damrow'], 6-3, Jr., Howards Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499881' first='Wesley' last='Hecker'], 6-0, Sr., Manitowoc Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2483851' first='Mason' last='Uhlenbrauck'], 6-2, Sr., St. Mary Catholic<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2991885' first='Drew' last='Halbach'], 5-9, Sr., Hilbert<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2891620' first='Keaton' last='Milbrath'], 6-0, Sr., Howards Grove<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386216' first='Will' last='Franzen'], 6-2, Sr., Manitowoc Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2617712' first='Arden' last='Strenn'], 6-1, Sr., Reedsville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508290' first='Luke' last='Fairweather'], 6-0, Jr., St. Mary Catholic<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2483851' first='Mason' last='Uhlenbrauck'], St. Mary Catholic<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561884' first='Ashton' last='Thuecks'], Elkhart Lake<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561897' first='Ben' last='Prochnow'], Reedsville<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2417144' first='Trace' last='Damrow'], Howards Grove<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2920553' first='Tarver' last='Trinkner'], St. Mary Catholic<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->