Eastern Wisconsin Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Roncalli 14-0 (24-3); 2. Brillion 11-3 (17-8); 3. Two Rivers 9-5 (17-9); 4. Kiel 8-6 (18-8); 5. Sheboygan Falls 7-7 (10-15); 6. New Holstein 4-10 (6-19); 7. Valders 3-11 (8-18); 8. Chilton 0-14 (4-21).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/roncalli-2/">Roncalli</a></strong> -- The reigning Eastern Wisconsin champions are loaded once again as coach Josh Erickson has three starters and five additional players forming his core for 2025-26. The returning regulars all earned all-league recognition a year ago. Indeed, seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'] (6-3, 18.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2420137' first='Dominik' last='Frozena'] (6-6, 9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2416199' first='Maddix' last='Gulseth'] (6-2, 14.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg) are proven performers in the league. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2885396' first='Aiden' last='Jorgenson'] (5-10, 3.4 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2815488' first='Dominic' last='Thiele'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='2443663' first='Carter' last='Kilbride'] (5-11) are back along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022046' first='Jake' last='Hillmer'] (5-11) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2615537' first='Tre' last='Cliff'] (6-0).<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/brillion/">Brillion</a></strong> -- The Lions lost a key player to graduation in guard Owen Krepline (6-0, 23.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg), who now is playing college basketball at Viterbo University in La Crosse. However, coach Chad Shimek returns the vast majority of his roster from a 17-8 team, making Brillion one of the top teams in the Eastern Wisconsin. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2949099' first='Heath' last='Cousin'] (5-11, 9.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='1561932' first='Connor' last='Holly'] (6-2, 6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972692' first='Joe' last='Shimek'] (6-1, 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg) form a strong core along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2809429' first='Colton' last='Larsen'] (6-6, 8.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg). The scoring balance among the returning players will make it difficult for opponents to gear their defense toward just one or two players. Also back for Brillion are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019153' first='Hayden' last='Cousin'] (6-0, 3.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019154' first='Landon' last='Mathes'] (6-5, 1.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg) along with sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='3019151' first='Evan' last='Krepline'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='2972696' first='Jaxon' last='Lisowe'] (5-11).<br><br><strong>3.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/kiel/"> Kiel</a></strong> -- After its memorable 28-1 season two years ago, Kiel slipped to 18-8 last winter. This time around, the Raiders will need to replace four starters, including their top player in Braden Aprill (6-2, 20.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg). The lone holdover regular for coach Marcus Rumpff is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2418018' first='Trevin' last='Heller'] (6-0, 4.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2815056' first='Logan' last='Brunner'] (5-10, 8.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg), Miles DeTroye (6-3, 2.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Ethin Morgen (6-0), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2841124' first='Liam' last='Murphy'] (6-0) all figure to be key performers for the Raiders. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/valders/">Valders</a></strong> -- Valders lost two key players to graduation in guards William Sieracki (6-0, 17.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and Lucas Spindler (5-10, 13.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg), but coach Trevor Schwoerer nonetheless starts his 13th year as head coach at the school with plenty of experienced players. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2949155' first='Jacob' last='Olson'] (6-3, 6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2509479' first='Mason' last='Staudinger'] (6-3, 12.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2949157' first='Carson' last='Wasmer'] (5-11, 8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2949158' first='Gavin' last='Mayer'] (6-4, 3.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg) started at times for last year's squad that finished 8-18. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022668' first='John' last='Vetting'] (5-10), [player_tooltip player_id='3022670' first='Cale' last='Zimmermann'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022673' first='Carson' last='Zimpel'] (6-3) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022671' first='Hazen' last='Libby'] (6-4) also return.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/new-holstein/">New Holstein</a></strong> -- A program on the rise, New Holstein boasts several promising young players. The most impressive young player at the school is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2614867' first='Owen' last='Birschbach'] (6-5), a versatile wing prospect who averaged 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman. Birschbach's presence is a huge plus for the Huskies, but others must play key roles as well for coach Dale Forstner. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2949144' first='Ethan' last='Hanke'] (6-5, 5.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2949145' first='Ely' last='Kohlman'] (6-3, 4.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) loom as potential starters as do seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022428' first='Ethan' last='Schmitz'] (6-1, 2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021392' first='Colten' last='Dougherty'] (6-3, 2.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2836803' first='James' last='Conrad'] (6-2, 5.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg).<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/two-rivers/">Two Rivers</a></strong> -- The Purple Raiders won 17 of 25 games a year ago, but now coach Brett Linzmeier must replace his entire starting lineup. The lone player back with varsity experience is senior [player_tooltip player_id='3022626' first='Dayton' last='Glandt'] (6-1, 3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg), a key reserve on last year's squad. Two Rivers went 16-7 at the JV1 level and is looking for two players from that team -- junior [player_tooltip player_id='2842416' first='Tyson' last='Yang'] (6-0) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2974551' first='Gavin' last='Kadow'] (6-0) -- to make big contributions.<br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/chilton-2/">Chilton </a></strong>-- Overall size and interior defense are strengths for the Tigers, who enter year No. 18 under coach Corey Behnke with three starters back from a 4-21 squad. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019429' first='Wyatt' last='Gregory'] (6-0, 8.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019430' first='Mason' last='Pagel'] (6-0, 6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019426' first='Eric' last='Davis'] (6-4, 1.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) again will play significant roles for Chilton. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019435' first='Bennett' last='Geiser'] (6-0, 3.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019431' first='Ethan' last='Schneider'] (6-3) also figure to be in the mix for the Tigers.<br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/sheboygan-falls/">Sheboygan Falls</a></strong> -- Former Random Lake coach Derrick Wielepski begins his first year as the pilot at Sheboygan Falls needing to replace the top three scorers from the Falcons' squad that went 10-15 last winter. At the same time, Wielepski has two players back in the backcourt in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022149' first='Mason' last='Schleicher'] (5-11, 6.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022145' first='Sam' last='Bast'] (5-10, 5.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg). Both Schleicher and Bast started a year ago. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2853251' first='Ben' last='Petrie'] (6-0, 2.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg) figures to be a big role for the Falcons as well after earning varsity minutes as a freshman.<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'] (Roncalli) 18.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2614867' first='Owen' last='Birschbach'] (New Holstein) 16.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416199' first='Maddix' last='Gulseth'] (Roncalli) 14.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509479' first='Mason' last='Staudinger'] (Valders) 12.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2420137' first='Dominik' last='Frozena'] (Roncalli) 9.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2949099' first='Heath' last='Cousin'] (Brillion) 9.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'], Sr., Roncalli<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2420137' first='Dominik' last='Frozena'], Sr., RoncallI<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2416199' first='Maddix' last='Gulseth'], Jr., Roncalli<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2614867' first='Owen' last='Birschbach'], Soph., New Holstein<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509479' first='Mason' last='Staudinger'], 6-3, Jr., Valders<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2949099' first='Heath' last='Cousin'], 5-11, Sr., Brillion<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2809429' first='Colton' last='Larsen'], 6-6, Jr., Brillion<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019429' first='Wyatt' last='Gregory'], 6-0, Sr., Chilton<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2418018' first='Trevin' last='Heller'], 6-0, Sr., Kiel<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2949157' first='Carson' last='Wasmer'], 5-11, Jr., Valders<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2416199' first='Maddix' last='Gulseth'], Roncalli<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'], Roncalli<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2614867' first='Owen' last='Birschbach'], New Holstein<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561958' first='Donovan' last='Cowley'], Roncalli<br><strong>Most Improved Players:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2809429' first='Colton' last='Larsen'], Brillion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->