Marawood South Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings:</strong><br><br>1. Stratford 14-2 (24-3); 2. Auburndale 13-3 (24-4); 3. Marathon 12-4 (17-9); 4. Assumption 8-8 (10-16); 5. Edgar 7-9 (11-15); 6. Newman Catholic 2-14 (4-21).<br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/marathon-2/">Marathon</a> </strong>-- Winners of 57 of 64 conference outings and three league titles over the past four seasons, Marathon looks to return to the top of the Marawood South after finishing second to Stratford last winter. Coach Adam Jacobson starts his 15th year as the Red Raiders' head coach with 283 career wins, that's an average of 20.2 victories per season. Jacobson has a veteran squad to work with this time around with four starters back from a 17-9 squad. Returning regulars include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'] (6-3, 10.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'] (6-1, 9.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2918495' first='Landon' last='Sneider'] (5-7, 6.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3020879' first='Garrett' last='Bracewell'] (6-2, 7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg). There might not be a huge scorer among that lot, but there is plenty of balance, experience and toughness. Other key returning players for Marathon include juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3020876' first='Ean' last='Shuda'] (5-9, 7.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3020877' first='Logan' last='Peters'] (6-5, 5.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2982936' first='Charlie' last='Ehlert'] (6-2, 5.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Marathon's JV1 squad went 21-1 so there is plenty of quality depth in the program. <br><br><strong>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/auburndale-2/">Auburndale</a></strong> -- Always a title contender in the rugged Marawood South, Auburndale is hoping to finish among the elite once again. It's been a while since Auburndale last won the conference championship -- that occurring in the 2017-18 season -- but coach Chad Weinfurter's squads are always in the mix. He will count heavily on his nephew, senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2629808' first='Peyton' last='Weinfurter'] (5-9, 9.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg), along with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='3018950' first='Josh' last='Lundgren'] (5-9, 9.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg) as Auburndale sets out to push Marathon and others for the crown. [player_tooltip player_id='2629808' first='Peyton' last='Weinfurter'] and Lundgren are returning starters from a 24-4 squad. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3018952' first='Jaxon' last='Grube'] (6-1) also returns for the Eagles, who lack size and scoring punch but possess plenty of quickness. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/assumption-2/">Assumption </a></strong>-- The Royals have been building for this season for a couple of years and hope to make some advancements in league play and in the WIAA playoffs. Coach Josh Paltz starts his fifth season with four returning starters, although junior [player_tooltip player_id='2640282' first='Parker' last='Vruwink'] (6-6, 4 ppg, 4 rpg) will miss the first portion of the season, if not longer, while recovering from an injury. The loss of Vruwink is significant, but Assumption does have one of the league's best players in senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] (6-0, 19.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), a four-year varsity performer who begins his senior season with 1,125 career points. Joining Schlaefer in the Royals' experienced backcourt is senior [player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'] (5-10, 10 ppg, 2.7 rpg), a stellar perimeter shooter who is poised for a big year. Also back for the Royals are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018932' first='Chase' last='Leberg'] (6-1, 6 ppg, 4 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2918489' first='Ron' last='Bord'] (6-1, 2 ppg, 3 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018935' first='Braeden' last='Peters'] (6-2) along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018928' first='Trey' last='France'] (6-2, 3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='2982477' first='JJ' last='Oswald'] (6-1, 3 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018933' first='Cyler' last='Schill'] (6-3). <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/stratford-3/">Stratford </a></strong>-- The reigning Marawood South champions have a new look in 2025-26. The Tigers have a first-year coach in Drew Jorgensen and he will have to find replacements for five key players from a 24-3 squad. But don't feel too badly for Jorgensen and the Tigers. There is still plenty of talent in the pipeline. Guard [player_tooltip player_id='2918512' first='Brooks' last='Vanderhoof'] (5-11, 9.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg) leads the way for a senior class that also includes [player_tooltip player_id='3022453' first='Riley' last='Spindler'] (5-11, 8.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2918518' first='Brady' last='Berg'] (6-1, 3.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3022450' first='Jack' last='Remus'] (6-2), Trygve Ascenbrenner (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022449' first='Ryan' last='Christopherson'] (6-2). Also back is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3022458' first='Matthew' last='Schoenfuss'] (5-11). Like other teams in the Marawood South, Stratford doesn't possess a ton of height. But, also like others in the league, the Tigers have plenty of hard-nosed, competitive athletes who love to win. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/edgar/">Edgar</a></strong> -- Don't look at this projected finish to get a read on Edgar. Coach Zach Paul's squad might be predicted for fifth place in the Marawood South, but this club will win games and make life difficult for the frontrunners of the conference. Three starters are back from an 11-15 squad in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3019828' first='Gavin' last='Mauer'] (5-11, 10.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='3019830' first='Tucker' last='Streit'] (6-0, 4.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2847579' first='Carson' last='Nowak'] (6-0, 10.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg). Also back and expected to play big roles are junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019824' first='Kaden' last='Bargender'] (6-1, 4.2 ppg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019832' first='Maverick' last='Butt'] (5-9, 3.9 ppg). Defense, up-tempo style and athleticism are all strengths for the Wildcats. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/newman-catholic-2/">Newman Catholic </a></strong>--Nine seasons have come and gone since Jeff Gress strolled the sidelines as the head coach at Newman Catholic. He has returned to direct his alma mater and has a team with plenty of experience and upperclassmen. Newman Catholic is coming off a 4-21 season and the Cardinals are hoping to improve upon that finish in an ultra-tough league. But there is enough talent in the program to make things interesting. Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'] (6-2, 19.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'] (6-0, 13.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) lead the way for Newman Catholic. Both are good scorers coming off good club seasons. They will lead a squad that also includes seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3021432' first='Lucas' last='Erdman'] (6-1, 3.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021435' first='Cooper' last='Guld'] (5-11, 2.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and the Puent triplets -- [player_tooltip player_id='3021436' first='Damien' last='Puent'] (5-10, 3.3 ppg), [player_tooltip player_id='3021437' first='Everett' last='Puent'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3021439' first='Griffin' last='Puent'] (5-10). Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2847051' first='Michael' last='Fox'] (6-0, 3.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg0 and [player_tooltip player_id='3021434' first='Carter' last='Czerwonka'] (6-4) could also factor into the playing rotation. <br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'] (Assumption) 19.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'] (Newman Catholic) 19.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'] (Newman Catholic) 13.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2847579' first='Carson' last='Nowak'] (Edgar) 10.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'] (Marathon) 10.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019828' first='Gavin' last='Mauer'] (Edgar) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'] (Assumption) 10.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'] (Marathon) 9.9 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629808' first='Peyton' last='Weinfurter'] (Auburndale) 9.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018950' first='Josh' last='Lundgren'] (Auburndale) 9.4 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2918512' first='Brooks' last='Vanderhoof'] (Stratford) 9.0 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'], 6-0, Sr., Assumption<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2629808' first='Peyton' last='Weinfurter'], 5-9, Sr., Auburndale<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2847579' first='Carson' last='Nowak'], 6-0, Jr., Edgar<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'], 6-3, Sr., Marathon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2501111' first='Quincy' last='Pfender'], 6-2, Sr., Newman Catholic<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'], 5-10, Sr., Assumption<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018950' first='Josh' last='Lundgren'], 5-9, Sr., Auburndale<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019828' first='Gavin' last='Mauer'], 5-11, Sr., Edgar<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'], 6-1, Sr., Marathon<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224525' first='Lucas' last='Pfiffner'], 6-0, Sr., Newman Catholic<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2500891' first='Logan' last='Nystrom'], Assumption<br><strong>Best Defender:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2500057' first='Drew' last='Woelfel'], Marathon<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2542530' first='True' last='Thurs'], Marathon<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1561916' first='JT' last='Schlaefer'], Assumption<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3022453' first='Riley' last='Spindler'], Stratford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->