Class AAA Title Contender Series: Alexandria
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The Cardinals from Alexandria are thinking in threes: conference, section, and state (we assume). And they should be because the talent is there to contend for three very important trophies. Alex is next in the contender series. Key Wins in…
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Continue ReadingThe Cardinals from Alexandria are thinking in threes: conference, section, and state (we assume). And they should be because the talent is there to contend for three very important trophies. Alex is next in the contender series.
Key Wins in 22-23 (25-6): Mankato East, Holy Family, Detroit Lakes (x2), St. Cloud Tech (x2), St. Francis, Moorhead, Brainerd
Oops: Totino-Grace, Orono (x2), Benilde-St. Margaret’s, St. Cloud Tech, Brainerd
Moving On: The top player lost to graduation was Jaxon Shoenrock, an all league honored talent. Jaxon was often that fourth scoring option for the team. I’m sure you will find Jaxon playing baseball somewhere as he’s a very good baseball player. Starting guard Travis Hoepner also graduated as did deep bench seniors Jacob Balcome and Bryce Paffrath.
Returning Starters (3). Grayson Grove Grayson Grove 6'9" | PF Alexandria Area | 2024 State #171 Nation MN had an all state junior season leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Grove hurt his ankle in the state tournament which led to off-season surgery but in that time Grayson committed to Minnesota and will play for the Gophers in the future. Also returning for the Cards is second leading scorer Chase Thompson Chase Thompson 6'8" | PF Alexandria | 2025 State #216 Nation MN who is the team’s stretch four as well as their best shooter. Grove is a top 5-6 area player in the senior class and Thompson is a top three player in the junior class. Then you have Bralyn Steffensmeier Bralyn Steffensmeier 5'11" | PG Alexandria | 2024 State MN , a senior guard that scored a dozen points a game and was named all Central Lakes Conference. All three players are back and are a big reason that the Cards are considered a top contender for the title.
Reserves Playing a Bigger Role: In Mason Witt Mason Witt 5'11" | PG Alexandria | 2026 State MN , Talan Witt Talan Witt 5'10" | PG Alexandria | 2026 State MN and Dawson Roderick Dawson Roderick 6'1" | SG Alexandria | 2024 State MN the Cards have three reserve guard/wings that played a huge role last season and all three can step right into spots that graduation voided. The Cards have one of the most impressive zone pressure systems you will see and every player – the graduated, the returning starters and the returning reserves – do it well. Mason Witt Mason Witt 5'11" | PG Alexandria | 2026 State MN played big minutes last year and will have no problem stepping into the starting lead guard role as a sophomore. Talan Witt Talan Witt 5'10" | PG Alexandria | 2026 State MN can play both guard spots and he will be a sophomore. And Dawson Roderick Dawson Roderick 6'1" | SG Alexandria | 2024 State MN will go from reserve scoring option to replacing the wing scoring numbers. This group will step right in and likely upgrade a couple starting spots and the 6th Man role.
Potentials from the JV. Walker Hennen and Evan Moore are the guards/wings that could step into those 7th/8th man role as the Cards will go deeper with their full court pressuring system (assuming that is still something they will do regularly). Also keep eyes on juniors Mason Gorghuber and Samson Hagstrom Samson Hagstrom 6'1" | PG Alexandria | 2025 State MN who were sophomores that played on the junior varsity a season ago. And keep in mind the depths of the 2026 group the Cards have as its more than the Witts: Gavid Roderick is the next Roderick, Samson Hagstrom Samson Hagstrom 6'1" | PG Alexandria | 2025 State MN was on the JV last year as a frosh as was Myles Gray Myles Gray 6'3" | SF Alexandria | 2026 State MN .
We just went through seven guard/wing possibilities for those two or three reserve spots, it will be interesting to see who grabs them.
New to the Varsity program. If I had names they would be from the tenth grade or ninth grade teams (and this is usually for transfers) because Alex has no transfers coming in like six of the other nine top ten teams have in Class AAA. But then keep in mind Totino-Grace, Benilde-St. Margaret’s and St. Cloud Tech also lost multiple transfers too so there is give and take.
Final Thoughts: I think Alex has the pieces to make a run. They have size, they have high major talent, they have experience, they have a ton of skill at all spots, they have experience in a system that gives teams trouble, and they are very familiar and comfortable with one another. This could be a really fun season at Alexandria.