Dairyland Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:<br><br>Large Division</strong><br>1. Osseo-Fairland 17-3 (20-5); 2. Whitehall 10-10 (11-14); 3. Independence/Gilmanton 6-14 (10-16); 4. Melrose-Mindoro 5-15 (6-18); 5. Augusta 3-17 (3-22); 6. Eleva-Strum 0-20 (0-25).<br><br><strong>Small Division</strong><br>1. Cochrane-Fountain City 20-0 (28-2); 2. Blair-Taylor 15-5 (19-7); 3. Alma Center Lincoln 15-5 (20-7); 4. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 10-10 (10-13); 5. Alma/Pepin 9-11 (10-15).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Large Division</strong><br><br><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/osseo-fairchild/">Osseo-Fairchild</a></strong> -- Ryan Leis arrives at Osseo-Fairchild from New Richmond and will coach a team hunger to repeat as champions in the Large Division of the Dairyland. Three players who started on last year's 20-5 squad return in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021644' first='Mason' last='Schmidt'] (6-3, 11.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021643' first='Noah' last='Sullivan'] (5-10, 8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2865249' first='Drake' last='Vojtik'] (5-9, 6.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Schmidt, Sullivan and Vojtik provide strong leadership for a gifted junior class that includes Blaine McCune (6-0, 1.9 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3037420' first='Brooks' last='Koxlien'] (6-4, 2.2 ppg), Drew Hanson (6-0) and Emerick Korger (6-1). Senior Ty Hanson (6-4) is also back to provide additional size in the post. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/whitehall-5/">Whitehall</a></strong> -- Quickness and strong defense are assets at Whitehall for 10th-year coach Tyler Petersen. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'] (5-10, 12 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022927' first='Riley' last='Herman'] (6-2, 5 ppg, 5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022925' first='Bo' last='Killian'] (5-10, 10 ppg, 4 rpg) figure to make life difficult for opponents with their all-out hustle and ability to play pressure defense from endline to endline. Whitehall's strong junior class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='3022926' first='Aiden' last='Evans'] (6-2, 4 ppg, 4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022930' first='Cayden' last='Platteter'] (6-0). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2440475' first='Deacon' last='Steig'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022931' first='Connor' last='Stevens'] (5-10) also return from a club that finished 11-14.<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/melrose-mindoro/">Melrose-Mindoro</a></strong> -- Former Black River Falls coach Dave Cowley takes over the coaching duties at Melrose-Mindoro and will build his team around three key returning players from a 6-18 squad. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020993' first='Erik' last='Herzberg'] (6-0, 2.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020995' first='Brady' last='Blaken'] (6-2, 8.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2844359' first='Brooks' last='Cowley'] (6-3, 7.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg) will play major minutes for the Mustangs. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3020994' first='Will' last='Radcliffe'] (5-10, 3.0 ppg) also figures to be a key player for Melrose-Mindoro. <br><br><strong>4.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/augusta-2/"> Augusta</a></strong> -- Winners of just three games in each of the past two seasons, Augusta looks to make a major jump forward in 2025-26 as coach Byron King welcomes back three players with extensive experience. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018956' first='Bryce' last='Buttke'] (14.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) led the team in scoring a year ago and headlines a returning core that also includes juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018955' first='Owen' last='Lee'] (9.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018957' first='Caleb' last='Kolve'] (1.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg). Competing on the glass and interior defense might be areas of concern, but guard play is an asset at Augusta.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/independence-12/">Independence/Gilmanton</a></strong> -- Year No. 3 of the co-op program for Independence and Gilmanton gets underway in November with coach Kory Rud having the benefit of working with three returning starters. Junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='3020358' first='Payton' last='Hovey'] (6-0, 9.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020354' first='Tyler' last='Parr'] (6-0, 3.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg) along with senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3020355' first='Nolan' last='Schank'] (6-4, 13.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg) give the Indees a solid nucleus to build around. Also back are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020352' first='Nery' last='Lopez'] (5-10, 3.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020357' first='Glenn' last='Turner'] (5-10, 1.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg). The three returning starters figure to be strong leaders for Independence/Gilmanton, but depth is a question mark for Rud.<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/eleva-strum/">Eleva-Strum</a></strong> -- Erasing a 29-game losing streak that dates back to the 2023-24 season is priority No. 1 for Eleva-Strum. Once that is out of the way, coach Luke Denniston's squad can focus on winning additional games in the Dairyland. Denniston, in his first year as head coach, has three returning starters from an 0-25 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2949003' first='Calvin' last='Barneson'] (6-0, 11 ppg, 5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2949004' first='Noah' last='Martinson'] (5-11, 10 ppg, 2 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2949005' first='Bo' last='Windjue'] (5-10, 7 ppg, 3 rpg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019850' first='Titan' last='Miller'] (5-7, 2 ppg, 2 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3019849' first='Afton' last='Flynn'] (6-3, 5 ppg, 5 rpg) also return for the Cardinals. <br><br><strong>Small Division</strong><br><br><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/cochrane-fountain-city/">Cochrane-Fountain City</a></strong> -- The run Cochrane-Fountain City went on in the playoffs last March was nothing short of magical and ended with the Pirates beating Sheboygan Lutheran in the WIAA Division 5 state-title game. Four starters graduated from a 28-2 squad, but coach Jesse Cyrus has established Cochrane-Fountain City as a perennial power and that won't change even with the significant graduation losses. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'] (6-2, 6.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is a defensive stopper for the Pirates and the only returning starter. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019488' first='Tye' last='Popp'] (6-0, 2.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019492' first='Tucker' last='Bambenek'] (6-2, 5.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) will contend for starting roles along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019493' first='Mavrik' last='Ehrat'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019495' first='Parker' last='Kujak'] (6-2) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2844363' first='Kaleb' last='Tollefson'] (6-0).<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/blair-taylor/">Blair-Taylor</a></strong> -- Randy Storlie surpassed 600 victories at Blair-Taylor last winter and begins this season with a career win total of 665 games. That is super impressive and a major reason why the Wildcats annually are considered a title contender in the Dairyland. After finishing 19-7 last season, Blair-Taylor must replace four starters, including three double-figure scorers. However, senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019108' first='CJ' last='Dummer'] (5-11, 12.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) ranks among the better players in the league and will lead the Wildcats in 2025-26. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019112' first='Austin' last='Olson'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019111' first='Collin' last='Johnson'] (5-9) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019110' first='Brady' last='Thompson'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3019109' first='Adam' last='Halverson'] (6-5) and [player_tooltip player_id='2873452' first='Jack' last='Anderson'] (6-2) should contend for big minutes alongside Dummer.<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/pepin-alma/">Alma/Pepin</a></strong> -- After winning 10 games last season, Alma/Pepin is looking for improvement this time around and will try to do so with three starters back for coach Nash Gilles. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2956854' first='Breckin' last='Hullopeter'] (6-2, 17.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg) is one of the most productive players in nothern Wisconsin and headlines a returning core that also includes seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2956861' first='Trenton' last='Krzoska'] (5-11, 7.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018828' first='Owen' last='Post'] (5-10, 7.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg). Finding the right pieces to go with Hullopeter, Krzoska and Post is the challenge for Gilles. Look for senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018826' first='Jake' last='Komisar'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2451243' first='Anders' last='Seifert'] to contend for starting roles.<br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/eau-claire-immanuel-lutheran/">Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran</a></strong> -- The Lancers almost always put together a very competitive squad and that figures to be the case again this winter as coach John Radichel has three starters and some key reserves returning from a club that finished 10-13. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'] (5-9, 14.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg) is one of the top backcourt players in the Dairyland and was joined in the starting rotation a year ago by senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019803' first='Dulton' last='Eberhardt'] (6-3, 3.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019804' first='Sawyer' last='Sydow'] (6-1, 5.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019805' first='Malcolm' last='Bauer'] (5-11) and promising juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3037362' first='Tom' last='Carstensen'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3037363' first='Tanner' last='Quade'] (6-0, 3.0 rpg) also return for the Lancers. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lincoln-13/">Alma Center Lincoln</a></strong> -- First-year coach Jamie Paul steps into a winning program, which might be in for a rebuilding season after losing four starters from a 20-7 squad. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2624254' first='Jay' last='Stetzer'] (6-2, 10.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is the returning starter for the Hornets and figures to be counted on heavily for his scoring, rebounding and leadership. Stetzer is the lone senior listed on the Alma Center Lincoln preseason roster. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018823' first='Jackson' last='Wyss'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018818' first='Adam' last='Massman'] (5-10) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3018821' first='Sean' last='Stetzer'] (5-9), [player_tooltip player_id='3018820' first='Drew' last='Stetzer'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018817' first='Levi' last='Marek'] (5-10) should contend for starting spots.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2956854' first='Breckin' last='Hullopeter'] (Alma/Pepin) 17.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'] (Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran) 14.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018956' first='Bryce' last='Buttke'] (Augusta) 14.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020355' first='Nolan' last='Schank'] (Gilmanton/Independence) 13.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019108' first='CJ' last='Dummer'] (Blair-Taylor) 12.8 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'] (Whitehall) 12.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021644' first='Mason' last='Schmidt'] (Osseo-Fairchild) 11.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2949003' first='Calvin' last='Barneson'] (Eleva-Strum 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2949004' first='Noah' last='Martinson'] (Eleva-Strum) 10.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022927' first='Riley' last='Herman'] (Whitehall) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624254' first='Jay' last='Stetzer'] (Alma Center Lincoln) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2956854' first='Breckin' last='Hullopeter'], 6-2, Sr., Alma/Pepin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019108' first='CJ' last='Dummer'], 5-11, Sr., Blair-Taylor<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020355' first='Nolan' last='Schank'], 6-4, Sr., Independence/Gilmanton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021644' first='Mason' last='Schmidt'], 6-3, Sr., Osseo-Fairchild<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2624254' first='Jay' last='Stetzer'], 6-2, Sr., Alma Center Lincoln<br><br><strong>Second team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2956861' first='Trenton' last='Krzoska'], 5-11, Sr., Alma/Pepin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'], 6-2, Jr., Cochrane-Fountain City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'], 5-9, Jr., Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020995' first='Brady' last='Blaken'], 6-2, Jr., Melrose-Mindoro<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'], 5-10, Jr., Whitehall<br><strong><br>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'], Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2956854' first='Breckin' last='Hullopeter'], Alma/Pepin<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'], Cochrane-Fountain City<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3021644' first='Mason' last='Schmidt'], Osseo-Fairchild<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3019492' first='Tucker' last='Bambenek'], Cochrane-Fountain City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->