Central Wisconsin East Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Bonduel 14-0 (28-2); 2. Iola-Scandinavia 11-3 (18-6); 2. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 11-3 (17-8); 4. Shiocton 8-6 (15-11); 5. Menominee Nation 5-9 (14-12); 6. Weyauwega-Fremont 4-10 (8-17); 7. Amherst 2-12 (7-18); 8. Manawa 1-13 (6-19).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong><br><br><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/bonduel/">Bonduel </a></strong>-- The Bears lost to Aquinas in the WIAA Division 4 state-title game last March and also dropped a non-league outing to Roncalli. Otherwise, coach Duke Copp's squad went 28-0 last winter. Further winning is anticipated this time around, despite the graduation losses of backcourt standouts Race Anvelink (6-0, 13.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and Cade Johnson (5-9, 10.8 ppg, 7.2 apg). Senior forward and Western Michigan football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] (6-7, 15.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg) is back for his fourth year of varsity competition and anchors a talented frontline that also includes senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019124' first='Mason' last='Ballwahn'] (6-3) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019125' first='Aiden' last='Hillsberg'] (6-3). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'] (6-3, 15.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'] (6-2, 10.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg) are two-year varsity performers who can put up points for the Bears. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3019127' first='Griffin' last='Uelmen'] (5-9, 2.6 ppg) figures to move into the starting rotation while junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019123' first='Jack' last='Zernicke'] (6-1) also will be in the mix for the Bears. <br><br><strong>2.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/iola-scandinavia/"> Iola-Scandinavia</a> </strong>-- Expectations are running high at Iola-Scandinavia and for good reason. Five starters are back for coach Sam Bertsch, including an emerging junior forward with a NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Western Michigan in [player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alex' last='Robbins'] (6-7, 19.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg). Robbins and junior football star [player_tooltip player_id='2542526' first='Korz' last='Loken'] (6-5, 11.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg) give the Thunderbirds plenty of size, athleticism and strength along the baseline. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1859310' first='RJ' last='Opperman'] (6-1, 9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020373' first='Charlie' last='Tappa'] (6-2, 3.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2829307' first='Jaric' last='Thulien'] (6-3, 4.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg) also started a year ago when Iola-Scandinavia finished 18-6. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020371' first='Landon' last='Fuhs'] (6-5, 7.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg) gives the Thunderbirds another frontline ace. <br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/shiocton/"><strong>Shiocton</strong> </a>-- The Chiefs have their third head coach in as many seasons as former Appleton West mentor Adam Ligocki takes over the position for 2025-26. Three starters return from a 15-11 squad in senior [player_tooltip player_id='2386516' first='Eli' last='Jorgensen'] (6-7, 8.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381932' first='Kyle' last='Bergsbaken'] (6-0, 16.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2381933' first='Brett' last='Singler'] (6-4, 10.7 ppg, 10.9 rpg). Size and scoring punch are obvious strengths for Shiocton, which also welcomes back senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022178' first='Coltan' last='Dewar'] (5-10, 3.1 ppg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022177' first='Hunter' last='Austin'] (6-1, 4.1 ppg). Developing a defensive mindset figures to be a point of emphasis for Shiocton all winter. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wittenberg-birnamwood/">Wittenberg-Birnamwood</a></strong> -- The Chargers lost three stellar backcourt players to graduation, including top-scorer and defensive whiz Jett Rogowski (6-0, 25 ppg, 4 rpg). However, coach Garrett Rogowski does have a pair of experienced players back from a 17-8 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2387566' first='Oliver' last='Fraaza'] (6-2, 9 ppg, 7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3023023' first='Zandyr' last='Barke'] (6-0, 12 ppg, 3 rpg). Fraaza is a strong interior player while Barke ranked among the league leaders in steals. Depth and overall experience are question marks, though, as senior [player_tooltip player_id='3023022' first='Eddie' last='Nowinsky'] (6-3, 2 ppg, 2 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3023025' first='Thomas' last='Gagnon'] (5-11, 2 ppg) are the only other players back with varsity playing time. <br><br><strong>5. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/menominee-indian/"><strong>Menominee Nation</strong> </a>-- The Central Wisconsin East is loaded with intriguing prospects and Menominee Nation has one of them in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2382314' first='Kenew' last='Awonohopay'] (6-4, 14.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg). A second-team all-league pick as a junior, Awonohopay honed his skills over the spring and summer on the club scene and at various showcases. He headlines a group of returning players for coach Joshua Gauthier that also includes junior [player_tooltip player_id='2477412' first='Ryan' last='Corn'] (5-10, 9.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2382309' first='Anikohsaeh' last='Corn'] (6-3, 4.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2416677' first='King' last='Lyons'] (6-3, 3.3 ppg). <br><br><strong>6. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/weyauwega-fremont/"><strong>Weyauwega-Fremont</strong> </a>-- Jay Welson takes over the coaching duties at Weyauwega-Fremont and has a pair of double-figure scorers back from last year's 8-17 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2621694' first='Ethan' last='Koplien'] (6-7, 13.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022899' first='Broc' last='Billington'] (6-1, 10.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg). Koplien is a returning second-team all-league choice who improved his game over the summer on the club circuit. In addition to Koplien and Billington, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022905' first='Bryce' last='Magdanz'] (6-2, 3.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022907' first='Tinsae' last='Rucks'] (5-11, 2.1 rpg) also return. <br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/amherst-3/">Amherst </a></strong>-- Jarrett Davidson is looking for improvement during his second year as head coach at Amerhst, and with four returning starters from a 7-18 club, the Falcons figure to be better than a year ago. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2386278' first='Sully' last='Perkins'] (6-1, 10.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3018849' first='Colton' last='Vander Laan'] (6-0, 6.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3004262' first='Michael' last='Glodowski'] (6-0, 5.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140981' first='Taylan' last='McCormick'] (6-0, 9.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg) give Amherst a solid nucleus. Amherst lacks size, but the quickness and toughness in the program is impressive. <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/manawa/">Manawa </a></strong>-- The Wolves enter Year No. 4 in the Central Wisconsin East hoping to surpass last year's league victory total of one. Conner Scheid starts his second year in charge of the program with one of the better players in the circuit in junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2381572' first='Brayden' last='Zielke'] (6-4, 13.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg). Zielke is one of three returning starters along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020847' first='Reed' last='Schlueter'] (6-1, 4.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2836804' first='Logan' last='Zirbel'] (6-4, 4.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020846' first='Jack' last='Jaeckle'] (6-1, 2.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg) should move into the starting rotation after being a key backup last winter. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alex' last='Robbins'] (Iola-Scandinavia) 19.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381932' first='Kyle' last='Bergsbaken'] (Shiocton) 16.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'] (Bonduel) 15.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] (Bonduel) 15.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2382314' first='Kenew' last='Awonohopay'] (Menominee Nation) 14.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381572' first='Brayden' last='Zielke'] (Manawa) 13.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2621694' first='Ethan' last='Koplien'] (Weyauwega-Fremont) 13.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3023023' first='Zandyr' last='Barke'] (Wittenberg-Birnamwood) 12.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2542526' first='Korz' last='Loken'] (Iola-Scandinavia) 11.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381933' first='Brett' last='Singler'] (Shiocton) 10.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'] (Bonduel) 10.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386278' first='Sully' last='Perkins'] (Amherst) 10.1 ppg <br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022899' first='Broc' last='Billington'] (Weyauwega-Fremont) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alex' last='Robbins'], 6-7, Jr., Iola-Scandinavia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'], 6-3, Jr., Bonduel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'], 6-6, Sr., Bonduel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2382314' first='Kenew' last='Awonohopay'], 6-4, Sr., Menominee Nation<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2621694' first='Ethan' last='Koplien'], 6-7, Sr., Weyauwega-Fremont<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381932' first='Kyle' last='Bergsbaken'], 6-0, Jr., Shiocton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386363' first='Carter' last='Moesch'], 6-2, Jr., Bonduel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2140981' first='Taylan' last='McCormick'], 6-0, Jr., Amherst<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2542526' first='Korz' last='Loken'], 6-5, Jr., Iola-Scandinavia<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381933' first='Brett' last='Singler'], 6-4, Jr., Shiocton<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'], Bonduel<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2381933' first='Brett' last='Singler'], Shiocton<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3023023' first='Zandyr' last='Barke'], Wittenberg-Birnamwood<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2352817' first='Alex' last='Robbins'], Iola-Scandinavia<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2621694' first='Ethan' last='Koplien'], Weyauwega-Fremont</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->