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<p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year: </strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (Calamus-Wheatland)</p>
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<p>Marquette Catholic has controlled this division in recent years, but following a number of losses to graduation, things may have opened up a bit this year. Enter Calamus-Wheatland, who brings back all but one player from last year's roster, including Klatt, the top returning scorer in the division.</p>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>First Team</strong></p>
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<p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887794' first='Chase' last='Klatt'] (Calamus-Wheatland): 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.1 steals, 49.1 FG%</strong></p>
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<p>Klatt is the leading returning scorer in the division and is the focal point of a Warriors team that will be looking to make a jump to the top of the division standings. He's a talented guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands, at his best attacking the rim.</p>
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<p><strong>2026 Easton Rathje (Easton Valley): 11.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 50.5 FG%</strong></p>
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<p>A 6-5 big man who can control the painted area on both ends of the floor, Rathje is a strong rim protector, rebounder, and interior scoring threat for the River Hawks. He could average a double-double as a senior.</p>
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<p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906540' first='Louis' last='Gonner'] (Marquette Catholic): 5.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists</strong></p>
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<p>Gonner was the fifth starter for a majority of the year last season for the 1A runner-up Defenders, and he'll be one of the focal points of the team this winter. A talented guard who can set his teammates up, he's at his best when he's using his speed and IQ to his advantage.</p>
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<p><strong>2026 Gage Thompson (Cedar Valley Christian): 12.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 40.4 3P%</strong></p>
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<p>Thompson put together a really nice junior year for the Huskies, ranking second on the team in scoring and assists, and shooting it from the 3-point line at a high clip. Following the graduation of their leading scorer, he could have the ball in his hands even more this winter.</p>
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<p><strong>2026 Koen Roeder (Marquette Catholic): 4.7 points, 1.8 rebounds</strong></p>
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<p>This is more of a speculatory selection than anything, as Marquette has established themselves as a pretty strong program in recent years, and despite losing their top four scorers, we expect them to be in contention again. If they are, Roeder, and his ability to space the floor with his shot, will be a big reason why.</p>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p>
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<p>2026 Josh Skinner (Cedar Valley Christian)<br>2026 Xander Eldred (Midland)<br>2026 Dain Sprague (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2027 Carson Newcomb (Prince of Peace)<br>2026 Brody Koch (Calamus-Wheatland)</p>
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<p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p>
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<p>2027 Max McDill (Cedar Valley Christian)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2828832' first='Taegin' last='Smith'] (Marquette Catholic)<br>2027 Canden Weber (Marquette Catholic)<br>2026 James Troughton (North Cedar)<br>2026 True Grell (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2026 Connor Dohmen (North Cedar)<br>2027 Cole Green (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2028 Kaden Koth (North Cedar)<br>2026 Aidan Yaddof (Calamus-Wheatland)<br>2026 Noah Schroeder (North Cedar)<br>2026 Keagan Lee (Easton Valley)</p>
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