Dunn-St. Croix Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll highlight a conference out west and one out east. First, we'll look at the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, after that, we'll shift our focus to a conference that sent two teams to the D3 state tournament in the East Central Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elk Mound</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's Elk Mound group was excellent. They ran through the Dunn-St. Croix Conference had five all-conference performers and finished the season with a 25-2 record. The Mounders boasted the best underclass talents in the conference last season, in guard [player_tooltip player_id='448260' first='Ellie' last='Schiszik']. Schiszik had a standout summer with her [program_tooltip program_id='713205' first='Wisconsin' last='Playmakers'] team and did what makes her so good. She stretched the floor beyond the three-point line, made good reads, and played with poise. Although the Mounders lost some talented seniors, they should still be among the best in the conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colfax</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't think anyone expected Colfax to make a run to the state tournament last season. The Vikings had a POY in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference in [player_tooltip player_id='444786' first='McKenna' last='Shipman'], but even then, I don't think anyone thought the Vikings had what it took to win their sectional. Shipman averaged 18 points per game in the postseason, including 31 against Phillips. Those heroics in the postseason will draw the attention of everyone this coming season, and with a few pieces outside of Shipman back, the Vikings should stay competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Durand-Arkansew</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers possess and talented 2025 class in D4. The benefit of having kids like Emma Hoyt, Chole Auth, and Sawyer Sabelko will pay dividends as the season goes on. Durand-Arkansaw wasn't that far off the pace set by Colfax and Elk Mound, and the Panthers returners can unseat the top two teams from last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mondovi</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior Ava Gray is back for her senior season after earning all-conference first-team honors as a junior. The Buffaloes finished in the middle of the conference last season, but having Gray back will do nothing but help their case next season. One other name to note is an all-conference honorable mention in Maddy Marten.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plum City/Elmwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolves are one of the smaller schools in the conference but concluded a respectable season in 2022-23. The loss of Hannah Forster will hurt, but look for a player like Hailey Webb to step up into the void left by Forster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only one senior made first-team all-conference, and it wasn't the Cardinal who landed on that team. Mara Ducklow is back for senior year and could help Spring Valley rise the standings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Boyceville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs offense didn't heavily rely on any individual, and I expect that to continue to be the case. They aren't an easy game if you look past their record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenwood City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season's group will look to continue to build and improve through the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>My Predictions</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Colfax</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Durand-Arkansaw</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Elk Mound</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Mondovi</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Spring Valley</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Plumwood City/Elmwood</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Boyceville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Glenwood City</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->