Trailways West Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings</strong><br><br>1. Pardeeville 14-0 (24-2); 2. Fall River 10-4 (15-11); 3. Cambria-Friesland 9-5 (22-6); 3. Randolph 9-5 (12-14); 5. Markesan 7-7 (15-11); 6. Montello 4-10 (6-17); 7. Princeton/Green Lake 3-11 (8-19); 8. Rio 0-14 (2-23).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/pardeeville/"> Pardeeville</a> </strong>-- The Bulldogs rattled off 22 wins in a row to open the 2024-25 campaign before dropping a non-league game to Watertown Luther Prep and a regional final to Lomira. Pardeeville finished a memorable season with a 14-0 league record and 24-2 overall mark, but coach Chris Lindert now must find replacements for four starters, all of whom averaged in double-scoring figures. The lone holdover from a year ago is a good one, though, as junior [player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'] (6-3, 12.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg) is a tough matchup because of his strength, athleticism and ability to score in different ways. Jerome headlines core group that also includes seniors Zach Hineman (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021673' first='Brady' last='Dolgner'] (6-1) along with juniors Cody Gentz (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='2830615' first='Julian' last='Wells'] (6-2).<br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/fall-river-2/">Fall River</a></strong> -- Arnie Oelke begins his 40th season as the head coach at Fall River as the dean of Wisconsin high school coaches. And after surpassing 500 career wins last season, Oelke is looking for more success in 2025-26. Talented junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'] (6-5, 15.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) might be the best player in the Trailways West and is a returning regular from a 15-11 team. Also returning for the Pirates are senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019941' first='Grant' last='Osterhaus'] (6-3, 2.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and sophomore Jadeyn Abegglen (6-2, 1.4 ppg). Varsity experience is a concern, but there is some young talent in the program as freshmen [player_tooltip player_id='2430695' first='Mason' last='Bobholz'] (6-5), Brady Seim (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3151193' first='Jack' last='Samplawski'] (5-6) could all be a part of Oelke's rotation.<br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/markesan/">Markesan</a></strong> --Replacing the production of the graduated Austin Moderow (6-2, 19.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg) will be a hurdle to overcome for Markesan coach Skip Laper. At the same time, the Hornets' four other regulars from last year's 15-11 squad return, giving Markesan plenty of experience. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2381617' first='Cohen' last='Hoffman'] (6-0, 13.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020934' first='Grayden' last='Vredeveld'] (5-10, 5.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020927' first='Alex' last='Richter'] (6-1, 3.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3020923' first='Benton' last='Vande Berg'] (5-10, 7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) are returning starters. Also back are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020926' first='Josh' last='Herwig'] (6-0, 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020930' first='Caiden' last='Lager'] (5-11) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020928' first='Brody' last='Zerull'] (6-5, 3.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020925' first='Ryan' last='Bock'] (6-2, 3.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg).<br><br><strong>4. </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/team/randolph-7/"><strong>Randolph</strong> </a>-- With four senior starters returning from a 12-14 squad, coach Tyler Fischer has one of the more experienced teams in the Trailways West. Randolph figures to contend for the league crown behind the return of class of 2026 members [player_tooltip player_id='2957376' first='Ben' last='Paul'] (5-10, 10.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021886' first='Jared' last='Buwalda'] (5-11, 5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2381723' first='Troy' last='Logan'] (6-1, 5.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021888' first='Mason' last='Gorsuch'] (6-1, 3.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021885' first='Levi' last='Kok'] (5-11, 4.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg) also returns for the Rockets. Size is a question mark although junior Brody Vree (6-6) could work his way into the playing rotation as could freshman Luke Alvin (6-0).<br><br><strong>5. Cambria-Friesland</strong> -- Coming off a sectional-semifinal appearance, Cambria-Firesland hopes to keep its recent success in motion, but first-year coach Bay Smit, the son of former coach Derrick Smit, has just one regular back from a 22-6 squad in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3019281' first='Dayton' last='McBride'] (5-10, 7.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg). McBride will lead an otherwise inexperienced squad with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019271' first='Alex' last='Raymond'] (5-11) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019279' first='Callen' last='Drews'] (5-9, 2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019269' first='Hoyt' last='Helmer'] (5-11) looking to take on much bigger roles for the Hilltoppers.<br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/rio/">Rio</a> </strong>-- Four starters are back for Rio, which struggled to a 2-23 finish last season but has much higher hopes this time around. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2962412' first='Jack' last='Becker'] (6-0, 10.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2962415' first='Miles' last='Hall'] (6-0, 7.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021977' first='Spencer' last='Langsdorf'] (6-3, 2.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) along with sophomore Jaxon Tucharlski (6-1, 11.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) give coach Tim Struck a solid core to build around. Also returning for the Vikings are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2961757' first='Joe' last='Cook'] (6-1, 3.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021971' first='Cooper' last='Krakow'] (5-11, 1.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021974' first='William' last='Homman'] (6-2) also return and figure to be in the mix for playing time.<br><strong><br>7. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/princeton-green-lake/">Princeton/Green Lake</a></strong> -- The Tigersharks went 8-19 a year ago and now must replace four players who started at times last winter for coach Paul Wedig. While experience and depth are question marks, Wedig nonetheless does welcome back to players to lead the way for Princeton/Green Lake in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021838' first='Kaleb' last='Haynes'] (6-2, 5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3021841' first='Drake' last='Westfield'] (5-10, 7.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg). Haynes and Westfield form a strong nucleus along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2613958' first='Mason' last='Knaup'] (5-10, 6.3 ppg) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021839' first='Jamie' last='Luepke'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021835' first='Kyle' last='Walther'] (5-10).<br><br><strong>8.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/montello/"> Montello</a> </strong>-- Hit hard by graduation, Montello must replace four starters from a club that went 6-17. First-year coach Michael Brouette will look to senior [player_tooltip player_id='3021276' first='Kaleb' last='Schumann'] (5-9, 1.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg) to provide leadership as the lone returning regular. Also returning for Montello are seniors JD Gonzalez (5-7, 1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Cody Schultz (6-4, 2.8 rpg) along with juniors Ja'veon Brooks (5-7, 5.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021277' first='Daniel' last='Kendall'] (5-7, 4.2 ppg).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'] (Fall River) 15.3 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381617' first='Cohen' last='Hoffman'] (Markesan) 13.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'] (Pardeeville) 12.2 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021969' first='Jaxon' last='Tuchalski'] (Rio) 11.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2957376' first='Ben' last='Paul'] (Randolph) 10.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2962412' first='Jack' last='Becker'] (Rio) 10.6 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'], 6-5, Jr., Fall River<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381617' first='Cohen' last='Hoffman'], 6-0, Sr., Markesan<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'], 6-3, Jr., Pardeeville<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2957376' first='Ben' last='Paul'], 5-10, Sr., Randolph<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021969' first='Jaxon' last='Tuchalski'], 6-1, Soph., Rio<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019941' first='Grant' last='Osterhaus'], 6-3, Sr., Fall River<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020923' first='Benton' last='Vande Berg'], 5-10, Soph., Markesan<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021841' first='Drake' last='Westfield'], 5-10, Soph., Princeton/Green Lake<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3021886' first='Jared' last='Buwalda'], 5-11, Sr., Randolph<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2962412' first='Jack' last='Becker'], 6-0, Jr., Rio<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2381617' first='Cohen' last='Hoffman'], Markesan<br><strong>Best Defender</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2381617' first='Cohen' last='Hoffman'], Markesan<br><strong>Best Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2689862' first='Kaden' last='Seim'], Fall River<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2510497' first='Devin' last='Jerome'], Pardeeville<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2830615' first='Julian' last='Wells'], Pardeeville<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->