Capitol North Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024-25 Final Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Lake Mills 8-0 (24-5); 2. Lodi 5-3 (17-9); 3. Lakeside Lutheran 5-3 (17-9); 4. Columbus 2-6 (9-16); 5. Poynette 0-8 (5-20).<br><br><em>Note: Waupun joins the Capitol North from the now-defunct East Central for the 2025-26 season. </em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lake-mills-2/"><strong>Lake Mills</strong> </a>-- After winning the past three league titles, the L-Cats look to make in four in a row this winter behind the return of two starters from their WIAA Division 3 state-qualifying squad. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'] (6-0, 12.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'] (6-4, 11.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg) rank among the elite players in the Capitol North and figure to pave the way for coach Steve Hicklin's 14th team at the school. Benish is a dynamic three-point shooter while Wollin can beat you in any number of ways due to his skill, versatility, smarts and instincts. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2609336' first='Ashton' last='Winger'] (6-3, 2.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2505500' first='Collin' last='Christian'] (6-3, 3.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2751649' first='Cam' last='Benish'] (5-11, 1.0 ppg) also figure to play key roles for the L-Cats.<br><br><strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lakeside-lutheran/">2. Lakeside Lutheran </a></strong>-- Coach Todd Jahns has the benefit of having one of the more dominant frontline players not only in the Capitol North but the entire state in 6-foot-8 senior [player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'] (20.1 ppg, 13.0 rpg). Rahn is a three-year varsity starter for the Warriors and a player who can dominant in the paint while also taking defenders away from the basket and scoring from the outside. He has committed to NCAA Division II Minnesota-Duluth. Outside of Rahn, Jahns figures to count heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500858' first='Brady' last='Wolfram'] (6-4, 9.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2404956' first='Brecken' last='Jimenez'] (6-4, 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Both have improved and appear ready for very strong senior campaigns. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2404954' first='Jackson' last='Moore'] (6-4), [player_tooltip player_id='3020676' first='Carson' last='Strohm'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='2440762' first='Jackson' last='Stein'] (6-8), [player_tooltip player_id='3020672' first='Henry' last='Moore'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020673' first='Logan' last='Strohm'] (6-2) could also be in the mix. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lodi-2/">Lodi </a></strong>-- Despite a lack of size, Lodi again will field a very competitive squad, one that most definitely could pull a few surprises this season. Coach Ben Leistico has one of the better backcourts in the Capitol North with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'] (6-2, 17.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020731' first='Kyle' last='Kurt'] (6-3, 4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'] (6-1, 11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) returning to the starting lineup after helping the Blue Devils to a 17-9 mark last season. Traeder is a terrific perimeter shooter while Schneider runs the show for Lodi with his quickness, toughness and basketball savvy. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140883' first='Bennett' last='Nyquist'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2140906' first='Colton' last='Waller'] (6-0) along with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020732' first='Grayson' last='Koeppen'] (6-1) and Misael Valencia (5-10) also return. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/columbus-5/">Columbus </a></strong>-- Columbus figures to be the most improved team in the Capitol North. After finishing 9-16 last season, the Cardinals welcome back five players who earned starting assignments at times, led by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'] (6-3, 16.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2499892' first='Jonny' last='Cotter'] (6-0, 12.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg). Both are potential all-league performers for coach Jeffrey Downing. Also back are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019525' first='Jordan' last='Mobry'] (6-3, 8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2993980' first='Griff' last='Corrado'] (6-5, 4.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1561901' first='Owen' last='Hacht'] (6-0, 4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg). Experience and chemistry are assets for Columbus, but lack of experience off the bench is a question mark. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/waupun/">Waupun</a> </strong>-- Coming off a 17-8 season, Waupun is the newcomer in the Capitol North and has the type of athletes and depth that could make things difficult for opponents. Still, four key players graduated last spring, including UW-Oshkosh recruit Aiden Hawkinson (6-3, 24.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2383887' first='Logan' last='Prall'] (6-1, 5.7 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022774' first='Gage' last='Stelsel'] (6-5, 5.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2383888' first='Grahm' last='Gopalan'] (5-10, 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) form a strong nucleus for the Warriors. Coach Alex Dunlap also figures to count heavily on seniors Effrain Guardiola (5-8) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022775' first='Sawyer' last='Bruins'] (5-10) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2386334' first='Finn' last='Katzenberger'] (6-1) and sophomores Eli Ewerdt (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022773' first='Owen' last='Kloosterboer'] (6-2). <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/poynette/">Poynette</a> </strong>-- Poynette returns four starters and will be improved under coach Cody Odegaard. But moving up in a league as tough as the Capitol North is exceptionally difficult. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2815618' first='Easton' last='Ripp'] (6-1, 13.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg) is the top returning player for the Pumas. He was joined in the starting rotation by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021798' first='Mason' last='Freimuth'] (5-6, 7.1 ppg, 2.1 apg), [player_tooltip player_id='2749640' first='Justin' last='Wells'] (6-3, 7.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021797' first='Zane' last='Johnson'] (5-11, 4.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Like some of the other teams in the league, Poynette lacks size so rebounding and interior defense are concerns. Depth, though, is an asset as sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2828652' first='Paceler' last='Moll'] (5-9, 5.9 ppg, 2.0 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2828673' first='Connor' last='Raymond'] (5-11, 4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg) each gained valuable experience a year ago. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'] (Lakeside Lutheran) 20.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'] (Lodi) 17.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'] (Columbus) 16.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2815618' first='Easton' last='Ripp'] (Poynette) 13.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499892' first='Jonny' last='Cotter'] (Columbus) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'] (Lake Mills) 12.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'] (Lake Mills) 11.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'] (Lodi) 11.5 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], 6-8, Sr., Lakeside Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'], 6-4, Jr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], 6-1, Sr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874993' first='Theo' last='Traeder'], 6-2, Sr., Lodi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561910' first='Peyton' last='Powers'], 6-3, Sr., Columbus<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500858' first='Brady' last='Wolfram'], 6-4, Sr., Lakeside Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2505500' first='Collin' last='Christian'], 6-3, Jr., Lake Mills<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2425632' first='Kale' last='Schneider'], 6-1, Jr., Lodi<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2499892' first='Jonny' last='Cotter'], 6-0, Sr., Columbus<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2383887' first='Logan' last='Prall'], 6-1, Sr., Waupun<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1745860' first='Brady' last='Benish'], Lake Mills<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], Lakeside Lutheran<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2346694' first='Tyler' last='Wollin'], Lake Mills<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2025184' first='Wes' last='Rahn'], Lakeside Lutheran<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2404956' first='Brecken' last='Jimenez'], Lakeside Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->