D1 Programs to Watch This Season

Now that we can slowly shift gears and look toward the upcoming 2023-24 high school season, I want to point out some teams to watch around the state today. Today, we’ll look at a few teams who could surprise some people with what they bring this upcoming season.

Kimberly

If we looked at a crystal ball and it said that Kimberly won the FVA and made a run in the postseason to win a state title, I would not be shocked. The Papermakers return multiple significant contributors in Katelyn McGinnis Katelyn McGinnis 5'10" | SG Kimberly | 2025 State WI , Raegan Krueger Raegan Krueger 6'1" | PF Kimberly | 2025 State WI , Emily Urban Emily Urban 5'5" | CG Kimberly | 2026 State WI , and Bentley Drout Bentley Drout 5'4" | PG Kimberly | 2025 State WI , among others, but also bring in arguably the best 2027s in Ava Van Vonderan, Haylie Dulas Haylie Dulas 5'11" | SF Kimberly | 2027 WI , and Kennedy Ebben Kennedy Ebben 5'7" | PG Kimberly | 2027 WI . To say they have the talent to be one of the best teams in the state is an understatement, but they don’t have the experience of other top teams, but they have the talent to make a deep run at a gold ball.

Arrowhead

The Warhawks have been on the cusp of making it to state the past few seasons but have fallen against Brookfield East each time. This season, the Warhawks come in as the favorites in their sectional, and this could be the start of a serious run over the next three years. They have elite backcourt talent in Natalie Kussow Natalie Kussow 5'10" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI , Presly Samz Presly Samz 5'7" | PG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI , and newcomer Sidney Zehner. They also have versatile pieces to defend taller players in Libby Gilmore Libby Gilmore 5'9" | SG Arrowhead | 2026 State WI , who was excellent this summer, and Erica Bub Erica Bub 5'10" | SF Arrowhead | 2024 State WI . I fully believe the Warhawks will be one of the most entertaining groups in the state.

Appleton East

After an elite group in 2022, who earned a silver ball in D1, the Patriots took a step back after losing some of the best players in the 2022 class in the state. Now, all the kids who started on that team are gone, but there’s a chance that they still compete in the FVA more than people expect. Torie Neubauer Torie Neubauer 6'0" | PF Appleton East | 2025 State WI is a name to watch as a potential breakout candidate. She’s a high-level athlete who can play inside and out. Lilly Meulemans Lilly Meulemans 5'8" | CG Appleton East | 2025 State WI is another high-level athlete who suffered a knee injury last season but can make an impact once she gets her footing as the season rolls on. Ella Sweeney Ella Sweeney 5'8" | PG Appleton East | 2027 WI is another 2027 to keep an eye on in the FVA.

Waunakee

Tessa Bryan will give opposing defenses headaches preparing for her. To say she puts pressure on defenses is an understatement. She constantly sprints at defenses to create chaotic situations. Rising senior Claire Meudt Claire Meudt 5'10" | SF Waunakee | 2024 State WI will continue to perform at a high level after her breakout junior season. Also, rising sophomores Audrey Meudt Audrey Meudt 5'8" | CG Waunakee | 2026 State WI and Graycin Phillips Graycin Phillips 6'0" | SF Waunakee | 2026 State WI will add value to a program that can make some noise in the Badger and the second weekend of the postseason.