Great Northern Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Rhinelander 10-2 (19-6); 2. Medford 9-3 (13-11); 2. Mosinee 9-3 (18-8); 4. Northland Pines 6-6 (15-11); 5. Antigo 4-8 (11-14); 5. Lakeland 4-8 (10-15); 7. Tomahawk 0-12 (4-21).<br><br><em>Note: Merrill joins the Great Northern from the Wisconsin Valley in 2025-26.</em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/mosinee/"><strong>Mosinee</strong> </a>-- With five key performers returning from an 18-8 squad, expectations and optimism are running high at Mosinee. Three double-figure scorers will lead the way for coach Matt Lindsey's squad and they include senior [player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'] (6-4, 14.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'] (6-4, 20.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2714970' first='Carson' last='Balgord'] (6-0, 11.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg). That's one of the more talented core of returning players in all of WIAA Division 3. Also back are seniors Sebastian Anderson (6-4, 8.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Mitch Michlig (6-1, 5.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021292' first='Bryson' last='Cveykus'] (6-0, 3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021286' first='Nate' last='Kohnert'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021293' first='Tavion' last='Ingram'] (6-3) provide solid depth. Leadership, experience and versatility in scoring are assets for Mosinee.<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/rhinelander/">Rhinelander</a> </strong>-- The reigning league champions will contend for the crown again as coach Derek Lemmens has three senior standouts back. Indeed, the core of [player_tooltip player_id='2386579' first='Devon' last='Feck'] (6-1, 13.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2850295' first='Evan' last='Shoeder'] (6-5, 9.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2386589' first='Jatyn' last='Barkus'] (6-3, 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) all flashed great improvement over the summer. Feck is a terrific outside shooter who competes with toughness and a high basketball IQ whjile Shoeder controls things in the paint and Barkus can slash to the basket and score by utilizing his athleticism. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021933' first='Myles' last='Eagleson'] (5-9) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021934' first='Caden' last='Sieker'] (6-2) were injured last season, but might be able to make contributions this time around. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2815612' first='Abe' last='Gretzinger'] (6-3, 8.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021936' first='Rowan' last='Wiczek'] (6-1, 2.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg) also return for the Hodags.<br><br><strong>3. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/medford/"><strong>Medford</strong> </a>-- Two seniors, one junior and a boatload of sophomores are listed on the Raiders' preseason roster. That future indeed is bright for coach Ryan Brown's program, but the present isn't too shabby, either. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951237' first='Nick' last='Krause'] (5-11, 11.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2823220' first='Will' last='Daniels'] (6-1, 5.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) are returning regulars from a 13-11 squad and will provide good leadership for Medford. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2521885' first='Devin' last='Dassow'] (6-0, 5.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg) also started a year ago while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2421961' first='Peyton' last='Ried'] (6-1, 5 ppg, 3 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3020981' first='Will' last='Wojcik'] (5-6, 2 ppg) were key backups. Speed and athleticism are listed strengths for the Raiders while size and rebounding are concerns. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/northland-pines/">Northland Pines</a> </strong>-- Finishing with a 15-11 mark a year ago, Northland Pines looks to continue its winning ways in 2025-26 behind the return of one of the league's top all-around players in senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'] (6-3, 17.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg). A unanimous first-team all-Great Northern pick as a junior, Albrecht can score from deep and off the bounce and is difficult to keep off the glass as well. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951276' first='Jack' last='Albrecht'] (6-2, 6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021487' first='Nolan' last='Huelskamp'] (6-0, 4.5 ppg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021486' first='Jacob' last='Beer'] (5-9, 3.8 ppg) also return for coach Terry Klemett's program. Newcomers from a JV1 team that finished 12-8 also will contend for playing time for the Eagles.<br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/merrill/">Merrill </a></strong>-- After decades in the Wisconsin Valley, Merrill moves to the Great Northern and hopes to become a competitive force in its new surroundings. Coach Troy Pieper should have a quality outfit in 2025-26 as four players with plenty of varsity experience are back for the Bluejays. Talented junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2508304' first='Tyson' last='Ott'] (6-1, 10 ppg, 3 rpg) is the lone starter back from a club that finished 11-15, but seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951256' first='Cooper' last='Wendorf'] (6-0, 4 ppg, 2 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2951261' first='Charles' last='Kalinowski'] (6-0, 4 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2610570' first='Eli' last='Burtman'] (6-7, 4 ppg, 3 rpg) all played big minutes off the bench. Pieper likes the work ethic and three-point shooting of his players, but is concerned about rebounding and interior defense.<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/lakeland-union/">Lakeland</a></strong> -- The Thunderbirds boast one of the more productive players in the Great Northern in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020659' first='Evan' last='Zoch'], a 6-foot-0 guard who averaged 14.0 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior while helping coach Jacob Jarvensivu's club to a 10-15 record. Zoch is one of three returning starters for the Thunderbirds along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020660' first='Benny' last='Gahler'] (6-1, 6.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2732609' first='Jackson' last='Burnett'] (6-0, 12.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020665' first='Brooks' last='Lenz'] (6-2, 4.0 pppg, 5.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020669' first='Lincoln' last='Friedley'] (6-0, 3.6 ppg) also return. Defense is a strength for Lakeland, but lack of size is a concern for Jarvensivu's squad.<br><br><strong>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/antigo/">Antigo </a></strong>-- Winning more league games since pre-COVID, Antigo went 4-8 in league play and 11-14 in all games last season. The Red Robins lost four starters to graduation and have a new coach in Christopher Schewe so the outlook, at last at the start of the season, isn't as bright as last year. However, Antigo does have a couple of experienced returnees in junior [player_tooltip player_id='2843050' first='Scott' last='Hagerty'] (6-0, 6.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) and sophomore Isaac Bushman (5-9, 5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg). Both started at times last season and will provide solid backcourt play for the Red Robins. Up front, junior [player_tooltip player_id='3018865' first='Zander' last='Zwirschitz'] (6-3, 2.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg) is back for a leader that has plenty of quickness, but a dearth of seniors. <br><br><strong>8. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/tomahawk/">Tomahawk</a></strong> -- The league losing streak at Tomahawk has reached 50 games after the Hachets suffered through their fourth straight season without a conference triumph. The last Great Northern win for Tomahawk came on February 5, 2021 over Lakeland. Tomahawks looks to end that nasty streak as soon as possible in 2025-26 as five key players are back for coach Eric Neve. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022579' first='Colton' last='Seslar'] (5-8, 5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022580' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'] (6-1, 8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022573' first='Logan' last='Norman'] (6-1, 6.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022577' first='Niklas' last='Nelson'] (5-9, 1.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg) played key roles on last year's 4-21 squad as did junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022570' first='Ryan' last='Montag'] (6-1, 3.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'] (Mosinee) 20.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'] (Northland Pines) 17.1 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'] (Mosinee) 14.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386579' first='Devon' last='Feck'] (Rhinelander) 13.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2951237' first='Nick' last='Krause'] (Medford) 11.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2714970' first='Carson' last='Balgord'] (Mosinee) 11.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508304' first='Tyson' last='Ott'] (Merrill) 10.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'], 6-4, Jr., Mosinee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'], 6-3, Sr., Northland Pines<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2432828' first='Treve' last='Stoffel'], 6-4, Sr., Mosinee<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386579' first='Devon' last='Feck'], 6-1, Sr., Rhinelander<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2951237' first='Nick' last='Krause'], 5-11, Sr., Medford<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020659' first='Evan' last='Zoch'], 6-0, Sr., Lakeland<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2386589' first='Jatyn' last='Barkus'], 6-3, Sr., Rhinelander<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2508304' first='Tyson' last='Ott'], 6-1, Jr., Merrill<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2850295' first='Evan' last='Shoeder'], 6-5, Sr., Rhinelander<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2714970' first='Carson' last='Balgord'], 6-0, Sr., Mosinee<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2386579' first='Devon' last='Feck'], Rhinelander<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2850295' first='Evan' last='Shoeder'], Rhinelander<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2386464' first='Brayden' last='Reinke'], Mosinee<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2484370' first='Mylo' last='Albrecht'], Northland Pines<br><strong>Most Improved Player:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2386589' first='Jatyn' last='Barkus'], Rhinelander<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->