NORTH
Team Previews:Abbotsford Falcons (2024-25 season: 9-16 overall, 3-13 conference, 5th)
Three players who were recognized for All-Conference awards last season are back for the Falcons. Christian Fuentes-Rivera (5.6 PPG) was named to the All-Defensive team. While Irvin Aguilera-Lozoya (9.4 PPG) and Koren Decker (11.2 PPG) were Honorable Mention selections. Replacing Grayson Totzke (2nd-Team) will be tough, he averaged 16.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
Athens Fighting Bluejays (2024-25 season: 8-17 overall, 7-9 conference, 4th)
Riley Schultz-Becker comes into his senior season as a two-time 1st-Team All-Conference selection. As a junior he finished 3rd in scoring (18.3 PPG) and assists (3.5 APG) in the Marawood-North. Jordan Frahm (6.0 PPG) and Dax Diethelm (8.8PPG) were Honorable Mention selections last season. Eli Paul made the All-Defensive Team. Returning five of their top six scorers from a season ago.
Chequamegon Screaming Eagles (2024-25 season: 3-22 overall, 1-15 conference, 6th)
With a core group of senior returning, this seems like the time that we could see Chequamegon make moves in the conference. Their biggest issue, the rest of the conference is old and experienced as well. Cooper Michalski (1st-Team) returns and is hoping for a breakout season. He averaged 22.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Not too frequent to find a play average over 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game, but Michalski did it last season with 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks. They didn't have a senior on last season's roster. Marcus Purdy (12.4 PPG) and Jarrett Heckendorf (10.4 PPG) give them solid senior play. Sean Morgan is a sophomore who averaged 2.8 points per game last season.
Phillips Loggers (2024-25 season: 17-9 overall, 9-7 conference, 2nd)
Losing Lane Abraham (1st-Team) to graduation is going to hurt, he averaged 17.1 points per game as a senior. Other seniors lost, Shay Denzine and Collin Kleinschmidt (both Honorable Mention). JJ Heikkinen (2nd-Team) is going to be asked to do more this season as the lone returning All-Conference selection. Heikkinen was also named to the All-Defensive Team last season. Sophomore, Josh Edwards (3.9 PPG) is the only other returning player who saw real significant time last season.
Prentice Buccaneers (2024-25 season: 16-9 overall, 8-8 conference, 3rd)
If there is a team that could give Rib Lake a good run for their money for the conference title, it has to be Prentice. Senior Aiden Hause (15.3 PPG) and Evan Lord (18.9 PPG) have both been staples for the program during their careers. Lord has the most career points for any returning player from Northern Wisconsin with 1266 career points. Add to the mix Honorable Mention selections in senior Eliah Harding (4.0 PPG) and junior Hagan Isaacson (7.8 PPG). Their top eight scorers from last season are returning.
Rib Lake Redman (2024-25 season: 21-8 overall, 12-4 conference, 1st)
Reigning conference champions, who return virtually everyone from a team that lost in the State Semi-Finals against Turtle Lake. Jed Henderson returns for his senior season after being named Conference POY as a junior. The 6'5" forward averaged a double-double last season with 16.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Along with Henderson they return 2nd-Team All-Conference selections in seniors Seth Borchardt (12.3 PPG) and Talon Scheithauer (13.1 PPG and 35.1% from three; 65-185) and Honorable Mention picks in senior Ethan Cook (3.2 PPG) and sophomore Blake Henderson (7.2 PPG). Should be one of the favorites in the Sectional when playoffs begin.
Projections:
1. Rib Lake
2. Prentice
3. Athens
4. Phillips
5. Chequamegon
6. Abbotsford
Conference Overview:
As close of a 1A and 1B conversation that we'll have in the previews. Coming off a season where Rib Lake and Prentice split during the regular season and Rib Lake won the rubber match in the Sectional Semi-Finals, I'm going to give the nod to Rib Lake. Although, the deciding factor is probably going to be how both teams do against Marawood-South teams. Athens always seems to be in the mix, Schultz-Becker and company should be a tough out. Phillips loses a lot, but they always have younger players ready to step in and contribute at the varsity level. Chequamegon has one of the better players in the conference in Cooper Michalski, but they need to prove they can win more games. Abbotsford lost their best player from last season and I think that will drop them in the standings.
Conference MVP: Jed Henderson (Senior) - Rib Lake
Other Players to Watch:
Aidan Hause (Senior) - Prentice
JJ Heikkinen (Senior) - Phillips
Evan Lord (Senior) - Prentice
Cooper Michalski (Senior) - Chequamegon
Talon Scheithauer (Senior) - Rib Lake
Riley Schultz-Becker (Senior) - Athens
SOUTH
Team Previews:
Assumption Royals (2024-25 season: 10-16 overall, 8-8 conference, 4th)
Graduated only one senior from last season, who was their third leading scorer at 6.9 PPG. JT Schlaefer was named to the WBCA Division 5 All-State team as a junior last season, along with being an unanimous 1st-Team All-Conference kid. He led the conference in scoring at 19.5 points per game and finished third in assists at 4.1 assists per game. Schlaefer has the 4th most career points returning in Northern Wisconsin at 1125 career points. Fellow senior, Logan Nystrom was an Honorable Mention player last season and averaged 9.8 points per game. Returning 86.9% of their scoring from last season.
Auburndale Eagles (2024-25 season: 24-4 overall, 13-3 conference, 2nd)
Graduated their leading scorer, Blake Raab, and a 6'8" post presence in Thomas Aue. Raab was a 1st-Team All-Conference selection last year, Aue was 2nd-Team. Peyton Weinfurter returns as a 2nd-Team All-Conference player, and averaged 9.2 points per game while shooting 39.4% from three (41-104). Josh Lundgren was Honorable Mention while averaging 8.7 points per game and shot 40% from three (32-80). Junior, Jaxon Grube is the only other player returning who averaged over 1.0 points per game, at 1.2 PPG.
Edgar Wildcats (2024-25 season: 12-14 overall, 7-9 conference, 5th)
Senior Gavin Mauer and junior Carson Nowak are both back after receiving Honorable Mention All-Conference last season. Nowak averaged 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game and Mauer averaged 10.0 points per game. Tucker Streit is back for a senior year after averaging 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game a year ago. Three of their four top three point threats are back in Maverick Butt (36.8%), Kaden Bargender (30.5%), and Mauer (26.9%).
Marathon Red Raiders (2024-25 season: 17-9 overall, 12-4 conference, 3rd)
Seems to be the team with the most returning talent from last season. Drew Woefel (1st-Team) averaged 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. True Thurs (2nd-Team) wasn't far behind with 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, but also added 3.8 assists per game. Thurs was also All-Defensive Team with 1.9 steals per game. Add in Landon Sneider (HM) and his 6.4 points per game and 35% from three point range.
Newman Catholic Fighting Cardinals (2024-25 season: 4-21 overall, 2-14 conference, 6th)
After their State Tournament appearance, it's been a bit of a drought. With that being said, they do return four All-Conference selections from last season. Quincy Pfender (2nd-Team), Cooper Guld and Lucas Pfiffner (HM), and Lucas Erdman (All-Defensive). Quincy Pfender finished 2nd in the Marawood-South in scoring at 19.0 points per game.
Stratford Tigers (2024-25 season: 24-3 overall, 14-2 conference, 1st)
Reigning conference champions, that lost in the State Semi-Finals against Turtle Lake. Lost a 1st-Team All-Conference selection in Drew Bruesewitz to graduation. Along with Bruesewitz, Curt Schmidt has resigned as the head coach. Losing a coach of his caliber isn't easy to replace. On the positive side, they return Brooks Vanderhood (2nd-Team) and Riley Spindler (HM) as their two All-Conference selections. Brady Berg is the only returning player who averaged over 3.0 points per game last season. New head coach in Drew Jorgenson.
Projections:
1. Marathon
2. Assumption
3. Stratford
4. Auburndale
5. Edgar
6. Newman Catholic
Conference Overview:
The Marawood-South might be one of the toughest conferences to predict what is going to happen. Each team has success in the league and at any time could make a run. The league is once again very senior dominated. I really think Marathon is going to be a really tough out this season. They rebound the ball very well and can score. Assumption returns one of the best players in the conference and a lot of scoring. Stratford lost some really important pieces, but always seem to be in the mix. Auburndale lost a lot of size from last year, but return enough pieces that they could climb up the standings. Edgar and Newman Catholic could swap spots in the conference, but I'm not sure it will be enough for either to compete for the conference title.
Conference MVP: JT Schlaefer (Senior) - Assumption
Other Players to Watch:
Quincy Pfender (Senior) - Newman Catholic
True Thurs (Senior) - Marathon
Brooks Vanderhoof (Senior) - Stratford
Peyton Weinfurter (Senior) - Auburndale
Drew Woefel (Senior) - Marathon
Games to Watch:
Marathon @ Eau Claire Regis (12/2/25)
Prentice @ Wabeno-Laona (1/6/26)
Stanley-Boyd @ Stratford (1/8/26)
Rib Lake @ Flambeau (1/23/26)
Rib Lake @ Prentice (1/27/26)
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