2022-2023 Lakeland Conference Preview

Overview:

EAST

I think the Lakeland-East is primed for Bruce to win for the second time in three years. A strong senior group (Jake Thome - HM & Matt Popowich - 2nd) along with junior Ryan Popowich (17.9ppg), who is turning into one of the best players in the conference. Those three should team up to be one of the better teams in Northern Wisconsin. Prairie Farm bring back Elec Klefstad (1st) who helped keep them competitive last season as a junior. New Auburn graduates a lot of seniors, but they should bring back enough to stay competitive. Cornell returns two All-Conference selections (Dylan Bowe - 1st & Blake Anders - HM). They should be able to make a little jump to the top half of the conference. The rest of the conference is kind of a toss-up at this point. Most teams lost some key pieces. Lake Holcombe and Flambeau had good seniors, but always bring in younger players to step into new roles. Clayton and Winter could easily change places. Winter could potentially jump passed Lake Holcombe and Flambeau if they keep developing. Birchwood has been struggle for two years now and I don't really expect that to change this season.

WEST

A lot of talent graduated from the Lakeland-West in 2022. Clear Lake, Grantsburg, and Turtle Lake all graduated large senior classes who have carried them for a couple of years. Unity appears to have the most talented group returning with two All-Conference selections (Jaxon Tilton - 1st & Jacob Erickson - 2nd). Northwood brings back some good size and skill. Landen Micken (11.5ppg) and Jared Schultz (HM All-Conference) along with some good size from 6'8" Caden Denham should make Northwood tough again. Siren has two 2nd-Team All-Conference selections returning (Ethan Ruud - 10.8ppg & Fletcher Christianson - 16.3ppg). I would assume that experience will help them remain competitive towards the top. Grantsburg and Turtle Lake both always seem to be stocked with good athletes. Although they graduated a lot, I expect them to remain competitive. Shell Lake will be interesting with two seniors who were All-Conference a year ago (Landon Deneen - 2nd & Jack Brunberg - HM). Clear Lake could potentially finish at the bottom of the conference. Riley Peterson and Tyson Blanchard are major production levels that they need to replace. Luck, Frederic, and Webster don't return a ton, so I would expect them to be at the bottom of the conference.

Predictions

EAST

1. Bruce Red Raiders (2021-2022 season: 19-7 overall, 14-2 conference, 2nd)

2. Prairie Farm Panthers (2021-2022 season: 11-12 overall, 11-5 conference, 4th)

3. New Auburn Trojans (2021-2022 season: 13-8 overall, 12-4 conference, 3rd)

4. Cornell Trojans (2021-2022 season: 6-19 overall, 3-13 conference, t-7th)

5. Lake Holcombe (2021-2022 season: 7-17 overall, 6-9 conference, 5th)

6. Flambeau Falcons (2021-2022 season: 24-1 overall, 15-1 conference, 1st)

7. Clayton Golden Bears (2021-2022 season: 4-18 overall, 4-11 conference, 6th)

8. Winter (2021-2022 season: 4-21 overall, 3-13 conference, t-7th)

9. Birchwood (2021-2022 season: 4-20 overall, 3-13 conference, t-7th)

WEST

1. Unity Eagles (2021-2022 season: 20-8 overall, 15-3 conference, 2nd)

2. Northwood Evergreens (2021-2022 season: 16-10 overall, 10-8 conference, 5th)

3. Siren Dragons (2021-2022 season: 15-12 overall, 8-10 conference, 6th)

4. Grantsburg Pirates (2021-2022 season: 17-7 overall, 14-4 conference, t-3rd)

5. Turtle Lake Lakers (2021-2022 season: 21-7 overall, 14-4 conference, t-3rd)

6. Shell Lake Lakers (2021-2022 season: 9-15 overall, 6-12 conference, 7th)

7. Clear Lake Lakers (2021-2022 season: 23-3 overall, 16-2 conference, 1st)

8. Luck Cardinals (2021-2022 season: 5-18 overall, 4-14 conference, 8th)

9. Frederic Vikings (2021-2022 season: 5-20 overall, 2-16 conference, 9th)

10. Webster Tigers (2021-2022 season: 3-22 overall, 1-17 conference, 10th)

Sleeper(s): Prairie Farm (East), Grantsburg (West)

Projected POY:  

East: Ryan Popowich (Junior) - Bruce

West: Jaxon Tilton (Junior) - Unity

Seniors to Watch:

Dylan Bowe (Cornell)

Landon Deneen (Shell Lake)

Landen Micken (Northwood)

Matt Popowich (Bruce)

Jake Thome (Bruce)

Conference Games to Watch:

12/6/2022 - Northwood @ Unity

12/20/2022 - Siren @ Grantsburg

1/20/2023 - Unity @ Northwood

1/27/2023 - Bruce @ New Auburn

1/31/2023 - Bruce @ Prairie Farm

Non-Conference Games to Watch:

11/29/2022 - St. Croix Falls @ Unity

11/29/2022 - Drummond @ Siren

12/1/2022 - Solon Springs @ Northwood

1/9/2023 - Prairie Farm @ Colfax

1/21/2023 - Bruce @ Cameron

2022-2023 Great Northern (WI) Conference Preview

Overview:

The Great Northern might be the deepest conferences in Northern Wisconsin this season. It seems like every team has talent and there's probably 3-4 teams who could win the conference championship. My gut has to go with Northland Pines since they return four All-Conference selections who are seniors now (Nolan Lurvey - 1st/POY, Ryan Muench - 2nd, Griffin Steimke - 2nd, & Gabe Smith - HM). This group has been getting meaningful minutes on varsity since their freshman year and they continue to improve every season. Mosinee and Medford could be a toss-up for 2-3. Mosinee graduated a couple of important players but also return Davin Stoffel (17.7ppg and 1st-Team All-Conference) and a promising junior in Keegan Jirschele (2nd-Team All-Conference). Stoffel is committed to South Dakota State for football. Medford has the co-POY returning in Logan Baumgartner (21.3ppg) and also have a promising junior of their own in Tanner Hraby (HM All-Conference). Lakeland brings back to All-Conference selections with Will Fortier (2nd & 17.5ppg) and Brayden Wiczek (HM All-Conference). I expect them to be competitive but I'm not sure if they will be able to pass the previously mentioned three teams. Antigo, Rhinelander, and Tomahawk round out the rest of the conference, in that order. Antigo brings in a new coach, which could inject some life into a recently struggling program. Rhinelander graduated a talented senior class and have no returning All-Conference selections. Tomahawk has one returning All-Conference player (Gavyn Palmer - HM) but they struggled pretty bad last season and I expect that to continue.

Projections:

1. Northland Pines Eagles (2021-2022 season: 18-7 overall, 9-3 conference, t-2nd)

2. Mosinee Indians (2021-2022 season: 22-3 overall, 11-1 conference, 1st)

3. Medford Raiders (2021-2022 season: 21-7 overall, 9-3 conference, t-2nd)

4. Lakeland Thunderbirds (2021-2022 season: 10-15 overall, 5-7 conference, 5th)

5. Antigo Red Birds (2021-2022 season: 3-22 overall, 2-10 conference, 6th)

6. Rhinelander Hodags (2021-2022 season: 13-14 overall, 6-6 conference, 4th)

7. Tomahawk Hatchets (2021-2022 season: 5-14 overall, 2-10 conference, 7th)

Sleeper: Lakeland

Projected POY: Nolan Lurvey (Senior) - Northland Pines

Seniors to Watch:

Logan Baumgartner (Medford)

Nolan Lurvey (Northland Pines)

Riley Muench (Northland Pines)

Will Fortier (Lakeland)

Davin Stoffel (Mosinee)

Conference Games to Watch:

12/2/2022 - Lakeland @ Medford

1/28/2022 - Rhinelander @ Northland Pines

2/10/2023 - Northland Pines @ Medford

2/17/2023 - Medford @ Mosinee

2/23/2023 - Mosinee @ Lakeland

Non-Conference Games to Watch:

12/16/2022 - Ladysmith @ Northland Pines

12/17/2022 - Medford @ Onalaska

1/14/2023 - Mosinee @ Kaukauna

1/21/2023 - Northland Pines @ Catholic Memorial

2/20/2023 - Mosinee @ Brillion