Wisconsin Valley Preview 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2024-25 Standings</strong><br><br>1. Marshfield 12-0 (23-7); 2. Stevens Point 8-4 (17-9); 3. D.C. Everest 7-5 (13-12); 3. Wausau West 7-5 (18-8); 5. Wausau East 5-7 (20-8); 6. Merrill 2-10 (11-15); 7. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 1-11 (3-22).<br><br><em>Note: Merrill has moved to the Great Northern for 2025-26.</em><br><br><strong>2025-26 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/marshfield-2/">Marshfield </a></strong>-- The Tigers came within an eyelash of winning the WIAA Division 1 state title last March, but a late rally by Wisconsin Lutheran prevented Marshfield from traveling home from Madison with a Gold Ball. Instead, Marshfield finished with a 23-7 record, another Wisconsin Valley title and a boatload of terrific memories from a great tournament run. Four starters from that squad have moved on, including four-year varsity performer Brooks Hinson (6-2), who scored 1,624 career points and now is playing at Northern Michigan. Wyoming recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'] (6-8, 12.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg) leads a talented returning group for coach Chris Fischer that also includes La Crosse recruit [player_tooltip player_id='2381688' first='Valin' last='Ramberg'] (6-7, 8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg). The combination of Pohl and Ramberg will give opponents fits all winter as both players can score inside and outside. Losing Hinson and point guard Landon Lee (5-11, 12.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.7 apg) in the backcourt might be an issue, but junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2389647' first='Camden' last='Kolstad'] (6-1, 1.9 ppg) did get some significant playing time as a sophomore. Other key returning players include seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2860525' first='Vedder' last='MacTaggart'] (6-6), [player_tooltip player_id='3102849' first='Nick' last='Hansen'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3102850' first='Ben' last='Jordan'] (6-5). <br><br><strong>2<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/d-c-everest/">. D.C. Everest</a> </strong>-- Ex-Merrill mentor Jake Schalow returns to the sidelines after several years away from the game as the new varsity coach at D.C. Everest. The former Kaukauna High School standout has a talented group to work with as the Evergreens welcome back three starters from a club that finished 13-12. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2496336' first='Cade' last='Felch'] (6-4, 13.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2496353' first='Xavier' last='Edwards'] (6-2, 11.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2509452' first='Vander' last='Truax'] (6-4, 7.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) form a strong nucleus at D.C. Everest. Felch is one of the better shooters in the Wisconsin Valley while Edwards is a strong all-around athlete who has committed to play college football at Minnesota State Mankato. Truax might be among the most improved players in state while senior [player_tooltip player_id='3019616' first='Sam' last='Dassow'] (6-1, 5.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2847551' first='Luke' last='Auner'] (5-10, 5.2 ppg) also return. <br><br><strong>3. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/stevens-point/">Stevens Point</a> </strong>-- Talented sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2615519' first='Trent' last='Chandonais'] (6-1, 4.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) might the lone returning starter for Stevens Point, but coach Jon Krull begins his eighth season as the Panthers mentor with some up and comers who could surprise in the Wisconsin Valley. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2910422' first='Sivan' last='Dinga'] (6-3, 4.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2473025' first='Jackson' last='Bouressa'] (6-6, 2.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2508649' first='Jayden' last='Suehs'] (6-11, 3.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2863816' first='Ryan' last='Malik'] (6-5, 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) along with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2729632' first='Sam' last='Kornowski'] (6-2) form a talented nucleus for Stevens Point. And although many lack experience, they have all shown in the summer that they can play and make significant contributions. <br><br><strong>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wausau-west/">Wausau West</a> </strong>-- Despite losing four starters to graduation, Wausau West figures to have another highly competitive squad under coach Nate Lemmens. The Warriors finished 18-8 last season and have four players back who saw considerable action on that team, including senior [player_tooltip player_id='2224519' first='Kargie' last='Cooper'] (6-3, 12 ppg, 3 rpg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2140929' first='Jackson' last='Riley'] (5-11, 6 ppg, 2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2140961' first='Miles' last='Waldvogel'] (5-11, 6 ppg, 3 rpg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2618061' first='Matthew' last='Heilmann'] (6-5, 3 ppg). Those four players, along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561920' first='Ameer' last='Espinoza'] (6-2) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3022787' first='Will' last='Stengl'] (5-10), form the nucleus for this year's squad. Wausau West opened the season with victories over Northland Pines and Merrill at its own Thanksgiving Tournament. <br><br><strong>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wausau-east/">Wausau East</a></strong> -- A WIAA Division 2 state-tournament appearance highlight the Lumberjacks' 20-8 season a year ago. And although coach Dan Garrett's squad dropped a state-semifinal game to eventual champion Wauwatosa West, the Wausau East players competed toe-to-toe for much of the game. Now, Garrett has to turn the page as he lost three key seniors, all of whom averaged in double figures. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2574631' first='Robbie' last='Angiulli'] (6-7, 8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2854577' first='Miles' last='Casey'] (6-0, 5.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg) will lead an otherwise untested group as Wausau East looks to remain among the better teams in the Wisconsin Valley. Angiulli improved throughout the summer while Casey has good experience in running a team. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2848254' first='Xander' last='Klein'] (6-2) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2824163' first='Ethan' last='Loppnow'] (6-1) also figure to be key performers for the Lumberjacks. <br><br><strong>6. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wisconsin-rapids-lincoln/">Wisconsin Rapids</a> </strong>-- Former Amherst coach Phil Jagielo takes over as the new varsity coach at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln and hopes to guide the Red Raiders to better days after the school finished either sixth or seventh in the league standings in each of the past four seasons. Jagielo will go to work with one of the league's top players as senior [player_tooltip player_id='1561900' first='Brody' last='Gilbertson'] (6-3, 14.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) is back for his fourth year of varsity competition. Gilbertson was a starter on last year's club that went 3-22 as were senior [player_tooltip player_id='3023018' first='Isaiah' last='Tork'] (6-0, 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2830630' first='Zak' last='Mancl'] (5-11, 3.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg). Tork is not playing this winter, but the Red Raiders have others who will contribute, including returning senior [player_tooltip player_id='3023010' first='Cobi' last='Ver Hulst'] (6-0), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2830625' first='Kais' last='Poteat'] (6-2) and Peyton Rusch (6-2, 2.0 ppg), and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3072874' first='Walker' last='Schmitt'] (5-10, 2.0 ppg). <br><strong><br>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561900' first='Brody' last='Gilbertson'] (Wisconsin Rapids) 14.6 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496336' first='Cade' last='Felch'] (D.C. Everest) 13.5 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'] (Marshfield) 12.7 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224519' first='Kargie' last='Cooper'] (Wausau West) 12.0 ppg<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496353' first='Xavier' last='Edwards'] (D.C. Everest) 11.3 ppg<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1561900' first='Brody' last='Gilbertson'], 6-3, Sr., Wisconsin Rapids<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496336' first='Cade' last='Felch'], 6-4, Sr., D.C. Everest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'], 6-8, Sr., Marshfield<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2615519' first='Trent' last='Chandonais'], 6-1, Soph., Stevens Point<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2224519' first='Kargie' last='Cooper'], 6-3, Sr., Wausau West<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2496353' first='Xavier' last='Edwards'], 6-2, Sr., D.C. Everest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2509452' first='Vander' last='Truax'], 6-4, Jr., D.C. Everest<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2381688' first='Valin' last='Ramberg'], 6-7, Sr., Marshfield<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2473025' first='Jackson' last='Bouressa'], 6-6, Jr., Stevens Point<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2574631' first='Robbie' last='Angiulli'], 6-7, Sr., Wausau East<br><br><strong>The Big Five</strong><br><br><strong>Best Shooter: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2496336' first='Cade' last='Felch'], D.C. Everest<br><strong>Best Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2224519' first='Kargie' last='Cooper'], Wausau West<br><strong>Best Rebounder: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2574631' first='Robbie' last='Angiulli'], Wausau East<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1973149' first='Chris' last='Pohl'], Marshfield<br><strong>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2509452' first='Vander' last='Truax'], D.C. Everest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->