Dairyland Small Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings</strong><br><br>1. Cochrane-Fountain City 15-5 (20-8); 2. Blair-Taylor 13-7 (14-12); 3. Alma Center Lincoln 11-9 (15-11); 4. Alma/Pepin 7-13 (10-16); 5. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 5-15 (6-17); 6. Gilmanton/Independence 1-19 (2-23)<br><br><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/cochrane-fountain-city/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/cochrane-fountain-city/">Cochrane-Fountain City</a> -- The collection of athletes in the Cochrane-Fountain City program is impressive, to say the least. Football standouts [player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'] (6-2), [player_tooltip player_id='3019493' first='Mavrik' last='Ehrat'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='3019491' first='Dylan' last='Hager'] (5-11), [player_tooltip player_id='3019495' first='Parker' last='Kujak'] (6-3) and [player_tooltip player_id='3634150' first='Grant' last='Yapp'] (6-2) have played big roles in leading the Pirates grid team to a 10-0 record. That group also excels on the hardwood and form a strong nucleus for coach Jesse Cyrus, who guided Cochrane-Fountain City to a 20-8 record a year ago. Lisowski is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound power forward who averaged 12.6 ppg and 8.8 rpg while Ehrat added 11.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg. Kujak came off the bench to contribute 6.0 ppg while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2844363' first='Kaleb' last='Tollefson'] (6-0) joined Lisowski, Ehrat and Hager in the staring rotation. Physicality, toughness and athleticism are all strengths for the Pirates.<br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/blair-taylor/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/blair-taylor/">Blair-Taylor</a> -- With the most dominating big man in the Dairyland Small on its roster, Blair-Taylor is looking to build upon a 14-12 finish. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019109' first='Adam' last='Halverson'] (6-6) had a strong junior campaign for the Wildcats, averaging 7.5 ppg and 9.1 rpg. His production will be key for long-time coach Randy Storlie, who begins his 38th year at the school with a 679-327 career record. In addition to Halverson, Blair-Taylor brings back senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019110' first='Brady' last='Thompson'] (6-1) to its starting rotation. Thompson averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg last season. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2873452' first='Jack' last='Anderson'] (6-3), junior [player_tooltip player_id='3583338' first='Matt' last='Beck'] (6-0) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2860047' first='Colby' last='Dahl'] (6-0) also return and look to contend for starting spots for a team that will be physical in the paint.<br><br>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/alma-center-lincoln/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/alma-center-lincoln/">Alma Center Lincoln</a> -- The Hornets won 15 games last winter and bring back three starters from that squad in senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018823' first='Jackson' last='Wyss'] (6-3) along with junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='3018821' first='Sean' last='Stetzer'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018820' first='Drew' last='Stetzer'] (5-10). The backcourt quickness of the Stetzers will be a big asset for Alma Center Lincoln on both ends of the court. Sean averaged 7.8 ppg and 3.4 rpg while Drew contributed 4.6 ppg and 3.8 rpg as sophomores. Wyss is the top returning scorer at 8.1 ppg and his size will be needed near the basket. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018822' first='Bryce' last='Arnold'] (5-8) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3482449' first='Dylan' last='Jahn'] (6-0) earned valuable playing time in reserve roles and figure to contend for starting berths this time around for coach Jamie Paul's unit.<br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-immanuel-lutheran/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/eau-claire-immanuel-lutheran/">Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran</a> -- High-scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'] (5-10) headlines the list of returning players for the Lancers of Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran. Zimmerman is the top scorer in the Dairyland Conference and put up impressive numbers of 22.4 ppg and 3.0 rpg as a junior. Joining Zimmerman as returning starters for coach John Radichel are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3037362' first='Tom' last='Carstensen'] (6-4), [player_tooltip player_id='3037363' first='Tanner' last='Quade'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019804' first='Sawyer' last='Sydow'] (6-0). Carstensen is one of the better frontline players in the loop and could average a double/double after netting 7.9 ppg and grabbing 7.2 rpg as a junior. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3475029' first='Cameron' last='Nelson'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3475040' first='Derek' last='Wales'] (5-10) could play bigger roles after earning varsity playing time as sophomores. <br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/alma-pepin/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/alma-pepin/">Alma/Pepin</a> -- Replacing four starters is the big hurdle in front of Alma/Pepin, which went 10-16 a year ago behind the double/double production of the graduated Breckin Hullopeter (6-3), who put up 17.0 ppg and 16.2 rpg last winter. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2451243' first='Anders' last='Seifert'] (6-0) will lead the way for the Eagles after averaging 10.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg as a junior. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018832' first='Anders' last='Johansen'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018824' first='Wil' last='Jumbeck'] (6-0) were key backups for coach Nash Gilles and look to earn spots in the starting rotation in 2026-27.<br><br>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/gilmanton-independence/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/gilmanton-independence/">Gilmanton/Independence </a>-- The co-op program at Gilmanton/Independence managed just one league win and two victories overall in 2025-26, but coach Kory Rud's club could be improved with three starters back. Led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='3485190' first='Luis' last='Ignacio'] (6-1), who led the club in scoring (13.7 ppg) and ranked second in rebounding (6.1 rpg), Gilmanton/Independence hopes to utilize its experience and ball handling to make things tough on opponents. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020354' first='Tyler' last='Parr'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3020357' first='Glenn' last='Turner'] (5-10) joined Ignacio in the starting lineup while senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020358' first='Payton' last='Hovey'] (6-0) averaged 9.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg two years ago before missing last year with an injury. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020353' first='Josh' last='Iverson'] (5-10) and junior Darion Gibbs (6-0) also figure to be in the mix. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'], Immanuel Lutheran (22.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3485190' first='Luis' last='Ignacio'], Gilmanton/Independence (13.7 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'], Cochrane-Fountain City (12.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019493' first='Mavrik' last='Ehrat'], Cochrane-Fountain City (11.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2451243' first='Anders' last='Seifert'], Alma/Pepin (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2451243' first='Anders' last='Seifert'], 6-0, Sr., Alma/Pepin<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019109' first='Adam' last='Halverson'], 6-6, Sr., Blair-Taylor<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'], 6-2, Sr., Cochrane-Fountain City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019493' first='Mavrik' last='Ehrat'], 5-11, Sr., Cochrane-Fountain City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'], 5-10, Sr., Immanuel Lutheran<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018823' first='Jackson' last='Wyss'], 6-3, Sr., Alma Center Lincoln<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018821' first='Sean' last='Stetzer'], 5-10, Jr., Alma Center Lincoln<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019110' first='Brady' last='Thompson'], 6-1, Sr., Blair-Taylor<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2844363' first='Kaleb' last='Tollefson'], 6-0, Jr., Cochrane-Fountain City<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3037362' first='Tom' last='Carstensen'], 6-4, Sr., Immanuel Lutheran<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3485190' first='Luis' last='Ignacio'], 6-1, Sr., Gilmanton/Independence<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><strong>Top Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2821818' first='Jake' last='Zimmerman'], Immanuel Lutheran<br><strong>Top Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2709983' first='Aidan' last='Lisowski'], Cochrane-Fountain City<br><strong>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3019109' first='Adam' last='Halverson'], Blair-Taylor<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3019109' first='Adam' last='Halverson'], Blair-Taylor<br><strong>Most Improved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='3037362' first='Tom' last='Carstensen'], Immanuel Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->