Storylines for the Upcoming 23-24 Season
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Every season, in any sport, some storylines are fun to follow. Today, we’re looking at different storylines to watch in the 23-24 season. Some will vary from conferences. Others are around a gold ball. Regardless, I’ll give you reasons to…
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Continue ReadingEvery season, in any sport, some storylines are fun to follow. Today, we’re looking at different storylines to watch in the 23-24 season. Some will vary from conferences. Others are around a gold ball. Regardless, I’ll give you reasons to follow programs, games, and leagues around the state.
Neenah’s Quest for a Trip to the Resch Center
Whether anyone likes it or not, the Rockets are in the toughest sectional in the state and have been agonizingly close to winning a sectional title. I’ve already seen some taking other programs to win the sectional. However, one of the best talents in the history of this state will head into her senior season before heading off to Uconn, Allie Ziebell Allie Ziebell 5'11" | SG Neenah | 2024 State WI . The U19 gold medal winner is one of the most efficient high-volume scorers around and will have some help this season. Rowan Klesmit Rowan Klesmit 5'7" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI will return for her sophomore season and will be an excellent option to initiate and create offense. Klesmit’s fellow sophomore Ellie Buss Ellie Buss 5'6" | PG Neenah | 2026 State WI is also an excellent shooter and will provide plenty of space for her fellow Rockets to operate. The returning senior post player Amaya Jones Amaya Jones 6'1" | C Neenah | 2024 State WI will also play a significant role by rebounding and being physical. If you don’t think that she’s one of the biggest x-factors in D1, rewatch the Sectional-Semifinal in 2022 when the Rockets upset No. 1 Hortonville.
Laconia’s State Title Defence
After finishing what they started in the 2022 state tournament, the Spartans are coming into this season with the target firmly on them. They’ve built such a unit in Rosendale that everyone in the state at every level looks to create an environment that the Spartans have. They share the ball, defend as a unit, punish team mistakes, and can run the floor with anyone at the D4 level. Most teams never have a season with kids like Payton Morgan Payton Morgan 5'10" | SG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Aubrey Leonard Aubrey Leonard 5'8" | PG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Tierney Madigan Tierney Madigan 5'10" | SG Laconia | 2025 State WI , Molly Duel, and Eva Engel, but Laconia brought all of them in at once. Although the 2025s are talented, rising senior Callista Vande Berg brings a presence in the paint and keeps an eye out for newcomer Finley Morgan Finley Morgan 5'8" | SG Laconia | 2027 WI .
Waupun’s Run For Another Title
It’s no secret that the Warriors feel that they left a lot on the table last season in the East Central Conference, earning a share of the title and coming up short in the State Semifinals against Milwaukee Academy of Science. Seniors Gracie Gopalan Gracie Gopalan 5'4" | PG Waupun | 2024 State WI and Kayl Petersen Kayl Petersen 6'1" | PF Waupun | 2024 State WI are one of the most dynamic duos in the state, and add in St. Thomas commit Lydia Aalsma Lydia Aalsma 5'10" | SG Waupun | 2025 State WI this team could rebound in a big way. The Warriors have a group who’ve tasted what it’s like to succeed at the highest level in D3, and for Gopalan and Petersen, they’ll want nothing other than a conference and state title before heading off to the next level.
Kimberly’s Youth Movement
It’s natural in high school and college sports, but everyone wants to know who newcomers will be and find the next big thing. If you’re looking for a youthful team to upset the status quo of the previous few years in the FVA and D1, look no further than Kimberly. The Papermakers will roll out established talent in Katelyn McGinnis Katelyn McGinnis 5'10" | CG Kimberly | 2025 State WI and Raegan Krueger Raegan Krueger 6'1" | PF Kimberly | 2025 State WI , among others. However, the newcomers have an opportunity to take this group from a team who could make the top teams in the FVA sweat occasionally and make a run to the second weekend of the state tournament to a legitimate state title contender. Haylie Dulas Haylie Dulas 5'11" | SF Kimberly | 2027 State WI and Ava Van Vonderan are wings who can utilize their length to get on the floor defensively, and Synergy Sports’ data showed Dulas’ absurd efficiency playing up at the 15U level in the EYBL where she scored an outrageous 1.11 points per possession to lead the EYBL. Even Kennedy Ebben Kennedy Ebben 5'7" | PG Kimberly | 2027 WI will be someone who could earn a role because of how well she takes care of the ball. If you can’t tell, I can’t wait to watch this Papermaker group.