Dairyland Large Preview 2026-27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final 2025-26 Standings</strong><br><br>1. Osseo-Fairchild 18-2 (21-4); 2. Whitehall 16-4 (18-7); 3. Melrose-Mindoro 10-10 (11-14); 4. Eleva-Strum 8-12 (9-16); 5. Augusta 6-14 (9-18)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026-27 Picks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/whitehall/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/whitehall/"> Whitehall</a> -- With four starters back, Whitehall is the odds-on choice to win the Large Schools Division of the Dairyland. The Norse have a pair proven scorers back in the backcourt in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022925' first='Bo' last='Killian'] (5-10). Youngbauer is a skilled lead guard who picked up first-team all-league recognition after averaging 13.9 ppg and 4.1 rpg. He also made 60 of 174 attempts from three-point range for 35 percent. Killian was voted second-team all-league after averaging 12.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg while also dropping 63 triples for 34 percent. Also returning to the starting lineup for coach Tyler Petersen are seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022927' first='Riley' last='Herman'] (6-2) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022926' first='Aiden' last='Evans'] (6-2). Herman led the team in rebounding at 7.1 rpg while Evans contributed 6.6 ppg as the Norse finished 18-7. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3022928' first='Mason' last='Przybylla'] (6-0) and [player_tooltip player_id='3022930' first='Cayden' last='Platteter'] (6-2) also return and will be key performers along with juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3585052' first='Alex' last='Semb'] (5-10) and [player_tooltip player_id='3801769' first='Karston' last='Ausderau'] (5-11).<br><br>2. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/osseo-fairchild/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/osseo-fairchild/">Osseo-Fairchild </a>-- Ryan Leis had a fun first season as the head coach at Osseo-Fairchild as he guided the squad to a 21-4 record and the title in the Dairyland Large. He welcomes back two starters in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3037420' first='Brooks' last='Koxlien'] (6-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='3763033' first='Mason' last='Knudtson'] (6-3), both of whom averaged around 8.5 ppg as juniors. Koxlien and Knudtson are both solid rebounders for the Thunder and look to provide strong leadership along with returning senior reserves [player_tooltip player_id='3406923' first='Drew' last='Hanson'] (6-1), [player_tooltip player_id='3763041' first='Emerick' last='Korger'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='3763043' first='Blaine' last='McCune'] (6-1). Hanson, Korger, McCune and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3801756' first='Ty' last='Skoyen'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3801757' first='Holden' last='McCray'] (6-2) figure to challenge for starting spots alongside Koxlien and Knudtson. Defense, rebounding and a year of experience under Leis are all positives for Osseo-Fairchild.<br><br>3.<a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/melrose-mindoro/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/melrose-mindoro/"> Melrose-Mindoro </a>-- An abundance of experience dots the Melrose-Mindoro roster as coach Dave Cowley boasts a squad with five returning starters from an 11-14 team. A couple of second-team all-Dairyland Conference performers lead the way for the Mustangs as [player_tooltip player_id='3020995' first='Brady' last='Blaken'] (6-1) and [player_tooltip player_id='2844359' first='Brooks' last='Cowley'] (6-4) look to improve on last year's averages of 9.4 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Cowley, the son of the head coach, also is one of the top rebounders in the league as he came up with 7.4 rpg as a sophomore. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='3020998' first='Isaiah' last='Kleinsmith'] (5-10) and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3577235' first='Willard' last='Radcliffe'] (5-11) and [player_tooltip player_id='3360783' first='Wyatt' last='McHugh'] (6-0) also return with McHugh actually leading the team in scoring a year ago at 11.2 ppg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2844360' first='Seth' last='Mulder'] (6-1) also figures to play a big role for a Melrose-Mindoro program that looks to push Whitehall and Osseo-Fairchild for the Dairyland Large championship.<br><br>4. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/eleva-strum/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/eleva-strum/">Eleva-Strum</a> -- Eleva-Strum is poised to work its way to double-figure victories this winter as second-year coach Luke Denniston welcomes back three starters from a club that finished 9-16. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2826595' first='Cashton' last='Kulig'] (6-3) is one of the better players in the Dairyland after averaging 11.0 ppg and 4.3 rpg as a sophomore. He was joined in the starting rotation by senior [player_tooltip player_id='2949005' first='Bo' last='Windjue'] (5-11) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3019849' first='Afton' last='Flynn'] (6-4), who averaged 7.3 and 6.8 ppg, respectively. Look for junior [player_tooltip player_id='3326245' first='Nolan' last='Semingson'] (6-1) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3326261' first='Hunter' last='Nicolet'] (6-1) figure to contend for starting roles along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3801799' first='Braedyn' last='Szalecki'] (6-1). Six of the eight players in the Cardinals' regular playing rotation return for a team that hopes to improve its rebounding and perimeter defense.<br><br>5. <a href="https://prephoops.com/team/wi/augusta/" data-type="link" data-id="prephoops.com/team/wi/augusta/">Augusta</a> -- Trying to replace the scoring of the graduated Ian Mooney (11.5 ppg), Bryce Buttke (13.3 ppg) and Tyler Lee (6.9 ppg) is the challenge awaiting fourth-year coach Byron King at Augusta. The Beavers went 8-18 a year ago and will rely heavily on seniors [player_tooltip player_id='3018955' first='Owen' last='Lee'] (5-8) and [player_tooltip player_id='3018957' first='Caleb' last='Kolve'] (6-2) along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='3018959' first='James' last='Shong'] (6-3) to try to offset the lost production of Mooney, Buttke and Tyler Lee. [player_tooltip player_id='3018955' first='Owen' last='Lee'] is the top returning scorer for Augusta at 10.4 ppg and will be a marked man in scoring reports from opposing teams in the Dairyland. Kolve and Shong started at times last winter and will again be in the mix along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='3018960' first='Nathan' last='Atchison'] (6-0) and junior [player_tooltip player_id='3771332' first='Riley' last='Mickelson'] (6-0).<br><br><strong>Top Returning Scorers</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'], Whitehall (13.9 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022925' first='Bo' last='Killian'], Whitehall (12.6 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3360783' first='Wyatt' last='McHugh'], Melrose-Mindoro (11.2 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2826595' first='Cashton' last='Kulig'], Eleva-Strum (11.0 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018955' first='Owen' last='Lee'], Augusta (10.4 ppg)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2844359' first='Brooks' last='Cowley'], Melrose-Mindoro (10.0 ppg)<br><br><strong>Projected All-Conference Teams<br>First Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'], 5-10, Sr., Whitehall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3022925' first='Bo' last='Killian'], 5-10, Sr., Whitehall<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3020995' first='Brady' last='Blaken'], 6-1, Sr., Melrose-Mindoro<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3037420' first='Brooks' last='Koxlien'], 6-4, Sr., Osseo-Fairchild<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2826595' first='Cashton' last='Kulig'], 6-3, Jr., Eleva-Strum<br><br><strong>Second Team</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2844359' first='Brooks' last='Cowley'], 6-4, Jr., Melrose-Mindoro<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3763033' first='Mason' last='Knudtson'], 6-3, Sr., Osseo-Fairchild<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3018955' first='Owen' last='Lee'], 5-8, Sr., Augusta<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3019849' first='Afton' last='Flynn'], 6-4, Jr., Eleva-Strum<br>[player_tooltip player_id='3360783' first='Wyatt' last='McHugh'], 6-1, Jr., Melrose-Mindoro<br><br><strong>The Big Five<br>Top Shooter</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'], Whitehall<br><strong>Top Defender: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3020995' first='Brady' last='Blaken'], Melrose-Mindoro<strong><br>Top Rebounder:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2844359' first='Brooks' last='Cowley'], Melrose-Mindoro<br><strong>Best Collegiate Prospect: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2406760' first='William' last='Youngbauer'], Whitehall<strong><br>Most Improved: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2826595' first='Cashton' last='Kulig'], Eleva-Strum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->