Division 1 Preseason Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I asked about a week and a half ago if you all wanted to see preseason rankings. I'll go through D1 and D2 today, and tomorrow will be the same with D3 and D4. I won't do D5 solely because I don't know enough to place teams anywhere with any knowledge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Division 1 Preseason Top 25</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 Hortonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Hortonville gets back most of their rotation from last season, and the senior they did lose in the backcourt got replaced by incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 Arrowhead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Warhawks have a loaded team of 2026s, and they all have experience making a deep run in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 Neenah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='189502' first='Allie' last='Ziebell'] will be a tough out like she's always been and will be looking for her first-ever trip to a state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 Kimberly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Papermakers closed the season well in 2022-23 and reinforced that success with one of the best groups of 2027s in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Homestead</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-After two disappointing postseason runs, the Highlanders are likely as motivated as ever to make a run past the regional rounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6 Hartford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-There was a positive momentum to end 22-23, and they could've got to sectionals. They also add some talented 2027s to a group that already had success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7 Verona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-New coach and new look Wildcats. The Wildcats boast one of the best backcourts in the state and will look to utilize [player_tooltip player_id='209595' first='Taylor' last='Stremlow'] and Regan Briggs throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8 Waunakee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Warriors have the depth that most teams don't. Don't be shocked if they make a run at a conference title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9 Menomonee Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The third-placed finishers have all their pieces back and will likely contend for the GMC.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10 Brookfield East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Although they lost a few pieces that made their defense work, they still have talented pieces all over the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11 Hudson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The first of the Big Rivers teams, The Raiders have crucial wing pieces back this season and have a talented forward coming in to add more size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12 Oregon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-After going on the road to beat Sun Prairie West in a Regional Final, the Panthers have most of their core pieces back for another run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13 Franklin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Sabers vaulted an enormous mental hurdle, beating Oak Creek on the road and in a Sectional Semifinal last season. In their sectional, they've got a good shot of making a trip to the Resch Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 Oshkosh West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-One of the best defensive units in the state will be solid again. The Wildcats have traditionally punched above their weight talent-wise and will continue to do so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 De Pere</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-After returning from her knee injury, [player_tooltip player_id='209605' first='Claire' last='Bjorge'] has been excellent through the summer. The Redbirds have also gotten improvements from kids like [player_tooltip player_id='209614' first='Sophie' last='Hafeman'], which could help De Pere become a threat at the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Kettle Moraine</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-This won't be the Lasers of the past two seasons. They won't have the high-end talent they've had in the recent past, but they have as much guard depth as anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Appleton East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Another team who lost a lot last season, the Patriots, has re-tooled their backcourt. They have a solid combination of athleticism and skill with [player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney'] and Lilly Meuelmans.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Germantown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Without KK Arnold, the ceiling lowers, which isn't a secret. However, this group will be disruptive and could give high-end teams issues defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19 Muskego</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-There is some solid depth in the Warriors ranks. They can figure out how to win games against the creme de la creme, and the Warriors could find themselves at the Resch Center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20 Divine Savior Holy Angels</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='207069' first='Ally' last='Timm'] has played some of the basketball out of anyone this summer. The DePaul commit, with [player_tooltip player_id='338952' first='Karinna' last='Trotter'], could be a dangerous duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21 Eau Claire Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-B. Cayley is gone, and there will be struggles early because of that. However, the Old Abes will still be a well-drilled group that will stay in games against talented teams in the BRC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22 Marshfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-There's a talented kid here in [player_tooltip player_id='780361' first='Ayana' last='Bousum']. Marshfield has been a group that's quietly been competitive with top D1 teams over the past few seasons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23 Oak Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Whenever a kid like Paulina Hernandez walks out the door, things are different the season after.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 Madison La Follette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='388287' first='Alayna' last='West'] can keep this team in almost any game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25 Appleton North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Lightning's players have gotten through the summer healthy and improved, which most FVA teams can't say.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->