2023-2024 Coaching Changes

School	Former Coach	New Coach
Abbotsford	Brent Faber	Garrett Rau
Edgar	Dave Huss	N/A
Frederic	Ethan Bergstrom	Joe Draxler
Ladysmith	Brian Rogers	N/A
Lakeland	Rich Fortier	Jacob Jarvensivu
Tomahawk	Jacob Jarvensivu	N/A

2024 Commitments

Player	High School	Height	Position	College
Isaac Asuma	Cherry	6'2"	Guard	Minnesota (D1)
Omar Bailey	Crandon	5'10"	Guard	Gogebic (NJCAA D2)
Joey Butz	River Falls	6'0"	Guard	UW-Eau Claire (D3)
Connor Coduti	Menominee	6'4"	Wing	Bay (NJCAA D2)
Wylee Dauenbaugh	Grand Rapids	6'4"	Wing	Central Lakes (NJCAA D3)
Ryan Ehlert	Goodman-Pembine	6'1"	Guard	Northland (D3)
Dominic Fairbanks	Cass Lake-Bena	6'0"	Guard	Bemidji State (D2)
Will Gretzinger	Rhinelander	6'2"	Guard	Edgewood (D3)
Reis Hidde	New Richmond	6'0"	Guard	Ripon (D3)
Jonny Ingalls	St. Ignace	6'0"	Guard	Northern Michigan (D2)
Drake Johnson	Gladstone	6'5"	Forward	Bay (NJCAA D2)
William Kelley	Florence	6'1"	Guard	Bay (NJCAA D2)
Gerald Kingbird Jr.	Red Lake	6'4"	Wing	United Tribes (NJCAA D2)
Tyson Klingman	Watersmeet	6'4"	Forward	Gogebic (NJCAA D2)
Ian McFaggen	Webster	6'0"	Guard	Northland (D3)
Adam Neumann	Moose Lake-Willow River	5'11"	Guard	Minnesota-Hibbing (NJCAA D3)
Andrew Niemi	Westwood	6'5"	Wing	UW-Oshkosh (D3)
Alex Ortman	Norway	6'2"	Guard	Gallaudet (D3)
Finley Powell	Duluth Denfeld	6'2"	Wing	Northland (D3)
Andrew Rocksvold	Eau Claire North	6'7"	Forward	UW-Eau Claire (D3)
Tre Sanigar	Superior	6'2"	Guard	Bay (NJCAA D2)
Gavin Saunders	Negaunee	6'3"	Guard	Lakeland (D3)
JT Schradle	Rice Lake	6'5"	Forward	Bethel (D3)
Landen Thomer	Mosinee	6'4"	Wing/Forward	UW-Superior (D3)
Jaxon Tilton	Unity	6'4"	Wing	UW-Stout (D3)
Grant Warren	Marathon	6'9"	Forward	Michigan Tech (D2)

WIAA Division 5 Playoff Predictions (Northern Sectionals)

SECTIONAL 1

Sectional Winner:

Solon Springs

Sectional Hopefuls:

Bruce

Hurley

McDonell Catholic

Owen-Withee

Best Matchups (by rounds):

(1st) #9 Bayfield @ #8 Winter

(2nd*) #6 Eau Claire Immanuel @ #3 Prairie Farm

(Regional Final*) #4 Owen-Withee vs. #1 McDonell Catholic

(Sectional Semi-Finals*) #2 Hurley vs. #1 Solon Springs

(Sectional Finals*) #1 McDonell Catholic vs. #1 Solon Springs

* Projected matchups

All-Sectional Team:

Isaiah Kastern (Solon Springs)

Carter Klabon (Owen-Withee)

Eddie Mittermeyer (McDonell Catholic)

Ryan Popowich (Bruce)

Eli Talsma (Hurley)

SECTIONAL 2

Sectional Winner:

Newman Catholic

Sectional Hopefuls:

Athens

Florence

Pacelli

Columbus Catholic

Best Matchups (by rounds):

(1st) #9 Assumption @ #8 Wild Rose

(2nd*) #5 Almond-Bancroft @ #4 Columbus Catholic

(Regional Final*) #3 Athens vs. #2 Pacelli

(Sectional Semi-Finals*) #2 Pacelli vs. #1 Newman Catholic

(Sectional Finals*) #1 Newman Catholic vs. #1 Florence

* Projected matchups

All-Sectional Team:

Jaydon Awe (Pacelli)

Aidan Janke (Athens)

Evan Johnson (Florence)

Mason Prey (Newman Catholic)

Isaac Seidel (Newman Catholic)

The Northwoods Top 2023 Players 1.1

The second list of the Top 25 high school seniors (class of 2023) in the Northwoods. The list is in alphabetical order of last names. College commitments have been updated since the first list.

Logan Baumgartner (Medford)

Dominic Croci (Hurley)

Isaiah Dietz (Chequamegon) - Concordia-St. Paul commit

Jax Effertz (Cumberland)

Trent Gomez (Two Harbors) - Augsburg commit

Grant Hansen (Rock Ridge)

Austin Josephson (South Ridge) - Bemidji State commit

Jobe Juenemann (Duluth East)

Cole Lahti (Northwestern)

Eli Laposky (Pequot Lakes) - Bemidji State commit

Nolan Lurvey (Northland Pines)

Mason Monarski (Chippewa Falls) - UW-Eau Claire commit

Tyler Orr (Rice Lake)

Grant Paetzold (Cameron)

Mason Prey (Newman Catholic)

Isaac Seidel (Newman Catholic) - Concordia-Wisconsin commit

Isaac Severts (Bemidji) - Bemidji State commit

Gabe Smith (Northland Pines) - Michigan Tech commit

Patrick Smith (Duluth East) - Carleton commit

Davin Stoffel (Mosinee) - South Dakota State commit (football)

Mason Stoik (Eau Claire Memorial) - UW-Stout commit

Slayton Strochein (South Ridge) - UW-Superior commit

Eli Talsma (Hurley)

Owen Wilson (Blackduck)

Asher Zubich (Mountain Iron-Buhl) - St. Olaf commit (football)

2022 Holiday Tournament Schedule

CHISHOLM HOLIDAY TOURANMENT

Hosted by Chisholm High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

South Ridge (83) vs. International Falls (28)

Northeast Range (13) @ Chisholm (90)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

International Falls (75) vs. Northeast Range (37)

South Ridge (40) @ Chisholm (41)

CLAYTON HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Clayton High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Solon Springs (76) vs. Prairie Farm (71)

Turtle Lake (49) @ Clayton (45)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Solon Springs (75) vs. Turtle Lake (50)

Mellen @ Clayton (4:30)

CROSBY-IRONTON HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Crosby-Ironton High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Breck (88) vs. Fond du Lac Ojibwe (51)

Deer River (60) @ Crosby-Ironton (67)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Deer River (92) vs. Fond du Lac Ojibwe (56)

Breck (80) @ Crosby-Ironton (39)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Breck (69) vs. Deer River (71)

Fond du Lac Ojibwe (81) @ Crosby-Ironton (87)

ELY HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Ely High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Cook County (22) @ Ely (87)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Cook County (39) vs. Bigfork (68)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Bigfork (41) @ Ely (60)

ESKO HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Esko High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Hinckley-Finlayson (45) @ Esko (85)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Duluth Marshall (65) vs. Hinckley-Finlayson (68)

HIBBING HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Lincoln Elementary School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Game 1 - Superior (59) vs. Duluth Denfeld (51)

Game 2 - Hiawatha (75) vs. Grand Rapids (66)

Game 3 - Owatonna (86) vs. Southwest Christian (60)

Game 4 - Rock Ridge (63) @ Hibbing (35)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Duluth Denfeld (68) vs. Grand Rapids (56)

Superior (60)vs. Hiawatha (57)

Owatonna (96) vs. Hibbing (40)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Southwest Christian (87) @ Hibbing (63)

Owatonna (79) vs. Duluth Denfeld (56)

MENOMONIE SHOWCASE

Hosted by Menomonie High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Tomah (34) vs. River Falls (75)

Wausau West (44) @ Menomonie (49)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

River Falls (59) vs. Wausau West (46)

Tomah (64) @ Menomonie (61)

NORWAY HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Norway High School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Menominee (59) vs. Westwood (56)

Gwinn (24) @ Norway (67)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Westwood vs. Gwinn (1:00)

Menominee @ Norway (3:00)

WOOD CITY CLASSIC

Hosted by Cloquet Middle School

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Mesabi East (30) vs. Pine City (80)

Cromwell-Wright (35) @ Cloquet (71)

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Cromwell-Wright (75) vs. Mesabi East (42)

Pine City (59) @ Cloquet (50)

ELCHO HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Elcho High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Wisconsin Valley Lutheran @ Elcho (10:00AM)

Lakeland (74) vs. Flambeau (37)

Flambeau vs. Wisconsin Valley Lutheran (3:00)

Lakeland (76) @ Elcho (50)

WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Bertha-Hewitt (45) vs. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (77)

Lake of the Woods (40) vs. Staples-Motley (85)

Hill City (43) vs. Win-E-Mac (90)

Lake Park-Audubon (67) @ Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (53)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Staples-Motley (41) vs. Warren-Alvarado-Oslo (65)

Hill City (49) @ Walker-Hackensack-Akeley (66)

Lake Park-Audubon (39) vs. Win-E-Mac (69)

AITKIN HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Aitkin High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Mille Lacs (28) @ Aitkin (75)

Greenway (36) vs. Pierz (79)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Greenway (47) vs. Mille Lacs (41)

Pierz (49) @ Aitkin (53)

AUBURNDALE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Auburndale High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Neillsville (69) vs. Weyauwega-Fremont (51)

Augusta (23) @ Auburndale (63)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Augusta (59) vs. Neillsville (73)

Weyauwega-Fremont (42) @ Auburndale (46)

CARNEY-NADEAU HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Carney-Nadeau High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Brimley (71) vs. Stephenson (48)

Milwaukee School of Excellence (60) @ Carney-Nadeau (57)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Stephenson @ Carney-Nadeau (3:45)

Brimley vs. Milwaukee School of Excellence (5:30)

PEQUOT LAKES HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Pequot Lakes High School

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Mora (80) vs. Warroad (33)

Rock Ridge (51) @ Pequot Lakes (81)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Rock Ridge (90) vs. Warroad (56)

Mora (56) @ Pequot Lakes (55)

MANISTIQUE EMERALD HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Manistique High School

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Cedarville vs. Mackinaw City (5:00)

Hancock @ Manistique (7:00)

Friday, December 30, 2022

Cedarville vs. Hancock (12:00)

Mackinaw City @ Manistique (4:00)

RICE LAKE HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Rice Lake High School

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Cumberland (47) vs. Eau Claire Regis (46)

Altoona (46) @ Rice Lake (77)

Friday, December 30, 2022

Altoona vs. Cumberland (5:00)

Eau Claire Regis @ Rice Lake (6:30)

STRATFORD HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT

Hosted by Stratford High School

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Bangor (82) vs. Wausau East (75)

Owen-Withee (62) @ Stratford (48)

Friday, December 30, 2022

Wausau East @ Stratford (5:30)

Bangor vs. Owen-Withee (7:00)

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