Division 2 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 2 Preseason Top 25</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-They are the three-time defending champions. It's hard to go any other way with most of their kids back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 Pewaukee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Pirates also have most of their kids back from last season and the season before. Most still believe we'll see another Notre Dame-Pewaukee game this March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 Beaver Dam</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Pending any changes, Beaver Dam has the best duo outside of the top teams in [player_tooltip player_id='209588' first='Gabby' last='Wilke'] and [player_tooltip player_id='533067' first='Nataya' last='Donaldson']. They also have solid pieces around them if things go to plan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 Pius XI</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The guard depth the Popes have is among the best in the state. Acompanado-Wiczek-Miranda could be a lethal scoring backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Monona Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Silver Eagles won't have the high-end talent of some D2 teams, but everyone on their team fits their play style and identity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6 McFarland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='209586' first='Teagan' last='Mallegni'] is back for the Spartans, which is enough to make them a threat in D2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7 Watertown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-There aren't many teams like the Goslings. They love their 1-3-1 zone and have experienced kids in [player_tooltip player_id='209607' first='Lily' last='Oiler'] (hopefully healthy), Drew Henrichs, and [player_tooltip player_id='209604' first='Ellie' last='Demet'] back this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8 New Berlin West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-There's plenty to like with this Vikings team in [player_tooltip player_id='633025' first='Julia' last='McRae'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448249' first='Isabelle' last='Freisleben']. I think this team will outperform expectations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9 Waukesha West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='602353' first='Jordan' last='Fenske'] is a legit scorer. There aren't many kids who can be a threat when they take a step over the halfcourt line. [player_tooltip player_id='533083' first='Taylor' last='Gifford'] will also assume a prominent role.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10 Rice Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Sheplee sisters are good enough to alter every game with their athleticism alone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11 Wauwatosa East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The backcourt of Litza and Close will be better with another year of experience, and [player_tooltip player_id='766594' first='Audrey' last='Sellinger'] has taken another step in the past ten months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12 Wisconsin Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Vikings could have significant talent coming in the next few years. In the meantime, [player_tooltip player_id='209600' first='Jayla' last='Rankin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='444779' first='Jazzmine' last='Smith'] will be a duo who could swing some games themselves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13 Grafton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Blackhawks duo of James and Aleknavicius can be unguardable. They can surprise teams on the North Shore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 Menomonie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Mustangs have a well-drilled team that rarely makes mistakes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 DeForest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Norskies will have some young talent who could cushion the loss of kids like Jaelyn Derlein.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Whitefish Bay</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Blue Dukes have a never-ending list of guards who can create and defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 West De Pere</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Without [player_tooltip player_id='329595' first='Ella' last='Francois'], that lowers how good this team could be, in my opinion. However, [player_tooltip player_id='448251' first='Faith' last='Walder'] and Maddisyn Berggren are good enough to make noise in the Bay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Cedarburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Regan Pahl's leaving hurts, but there is talent in [player_tooltip player_id='471480' first='Sarah' last='Helm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='425371' first='Mimi' last='Hart'] that could keep them in a regional title conversation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19 Reedsburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='209900' first='Sydney' last='Cherney'] has powered the Beavers, places where I couldn't believe last season. Barring health, she could do it again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20 La Crosse Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='533076' first='Alahna' last='Simpson'] continues to improve and will cause issues for teams in Southwest Wisconsin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21 Shorewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Greyhounds have an underrated backcourt, and I'm eager to see [player_tooltip player_id='844201' first='Serenity' last='Metcalfe'] this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22 Shawano</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='474774' first='Leah' last='Nordin'] and Abby Bystol could be the most underrated frontcourt in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23 Lakeland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='338940' first='Kristina' last='Ouimette'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448291' first='Saylor' last='Timmerman'] have a balance of shooting and interior play in the T-Birds frontcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 Port Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='338950' first='Lillian' last='Merow'] has been excellent the past year and has been the best post in the 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25 Whitnall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Falcons have beaten teams at the top of the rankings this past year and could do it again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->