Division 3 Preseason Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I said I would post the D3 and D4 rankings yesterday, but I lied, and I'm posting them today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":1} --> <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Division 3</h1> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1 Waupun</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Regardless of how the Warriors finished the season, they have the most talent of anyone in D3. No other program can say they boast three NCAA Division 1 recruits in [player_tooltip player_id='209617' first='Kayl' last='Petersen'] (Marquette), [player_tooltip player_id='209618' first='Gracie' last='Gopalan'] (Quinnipiac), and [player_tooltip player_id='374233' first='Lydia' last='Aalsma'] (St. Thomas). If they play to the level they're capable of, they'll be one of the more challenging small schools to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2 Oostburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Ketterhagen twins are as good, if not better than you think they are. Ady and Riley make up one of the best backcourts in the state and their sophomores this season. If they get going offensively, you need at least 70 points to beat them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3 Xavier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Hawks have been a traditional power in the Bay Conference, and I think they'll take that throne back this season. They have talented young pieces in the trio of Krull sisters. Although one may not play this season, [player_tooltip player_id='267000' first='Halle' last='Vande Hey'] provides some senior leadership, and they have talents like Molly Martine and Carsyn Stempa, who can alter games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4 Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I'm betting on the high-end talent Aquinas has to make the jump to D3 seamlessly. [player_tooltip player_id='533058' first='Samantha' last='Davis'] is an improved offensive weapon, and there are kids at Aquinas who can run up and down the floor with anyone in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5 Edgewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Keep an eye on the Crusader backcourt. We know how good [player_tooltip player_id='209589' first='Taya' last='Fernandez']'s ball handling and passing are already. However, newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='764918' first='Anna' last='Miller'] could bring an elite distributor into that backcourt and take Edgewood to another level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6 Prescott</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Prescott dropped a narrow one to St. Croix Falls last year, and if they'd won that game, I would've guessed they'd play at state. However, they have some key pieces back in Bradley commit [player_tooltip player_id='266982' first='Lila' last='Posthuma'] and sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='767790' first='Violet' last='Otto'], who'll provide spacing and a reliable scoring option.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7 Edgerton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The pieces won't be the same at Edgerton, but they have some younger kids who'll help transition into the next phase of Crimson basketball. In particular, [player_tooltip player_id='533071' first='Marti' last='Rebman'] has the physicality to battle through a season and the skill to keep the Crimson near the top of the Rock Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8 Elk Mound</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Mounders still have [player_tooltip player_id='448260' first='Ellie' last='Schiszik'], which is all they need in the Dunn-St. Croix. Her shooting and offensive threat is a legit nightmare to deal with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9 Dominican</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-It could be time for a philosophy change for the Knights. In the past, they've had one or two solid wings and a scholarship-level post. In this season, that post presence isn't there, but there is some elite speed in the backcourt. You may see the Dominican of old.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10 Somerset</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Last season, Somerset was close to making a state tournament and came out of a tough subsection. They had a few talented kids who'll be back this season, like Julia Rybacki and [player_tooltip player_id='844279' first='Lucy' last='Nichols'], who'll continue to play pivotal roles for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11 Kettle Moraine Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-It's not easy to bet against the Chargers due to their nature of play. They have an identity and stick to it. They have a few kids who can score the ball at a high level and plenty of kids who can junk a game up defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12 West Salem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Panthers lost some key pieces like Anna McConkey, but they still have a talent like [player_tooltip player_id='448247' first='Megan' last='Johnson'] in the frontcourt. They should still be one of the better small-school teams from the Western part of Wisconsin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13 Sheboygan Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='528115' first='Addison' last='Schliewe'] is a unique kid. She's 6-2 and can handle it, rebounds well in her conference, and led her team to some impressive wins a season ago.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14 Altoona</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I don't know if anyone was as unlucky as [player_tooltip player_id='266981' first='Alyssa' last='Wirth'] last summer, with an injury at the worst time. However, before she got hurt, I thought she was playing the best basketball I'd seen her play. Don't be surprised if she comes out dominant if the injury is gone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15 Wisconsin Dells</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I love [player_tooltip player_id='598735' first='Natalie' last='Backhaus']' game. With her passing, scoring around the rim, and ability to stretch the floor, she's as well-rounded of a frontcourt piece as you'll find. Natalie Fields and [player_tooltip player_id='624964' first='Ashiya' last='Hopkins'] will also play prominent roles on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16 Evansville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I've liked Roosevelt commit [player_tooltip player_id='266993' first='Ava' last='Brandenburg']'s game for a while, and I'm hoping she can play a little more on the ball this year than in years past. Her ability to do everything in the backcourt paired with [player_tooltip player_id='509692' first='Brooklyn' last='Maves'] can be a dynamic pairing with volume.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17 Lakeside Lutheran</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Teams like Lakeside Lutheran seem to find ways to compete. Although they lost some of their best players, they'll find a way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18 Baldwin-Woodville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Some programs compete every year, and Baldwin-Woodville is one of them. They have their three core pieces back and will likely improve.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19 Freedom</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-I expect a drop-off from Freedom because of all the seniors they lost, but I believe they'll get rolling near the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20 Kiel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-The Raiders churn out a solid college prospect every other year, and [player_tooltip player_id='849567' first='Natalee' last='Long'] will be next if she wants to take that route.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21 Milwaukee Academy of Science</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Another program that'll likely have growing pains is MAS. They lost some elite guards and will have to replace most of their scoring from a year ago, but there is talent there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22 Racine St. Catherine's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='417945' first='Laila' last='Collier-White'] is a talented kid. Although she's undersized, she plays more physically than most post players. Teams won't like dealing with her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23 Catholic Memorial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Now that there's some stability at CMH, hopefully, they can return to who they were a few seasons ago. They have college prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='374232' first='Jenna' last='Welsch'], [player_tooltip player_id='520097' first='Hallie' last='Koltz'], and [player_tooltip player_id='337024' first='Olivia' last='Conway'], who committed to St. Norbert.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 Chilton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='434024' first='Adahlyn' last='Hoerl'] is good enough to help this group compete for a regional title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25 Brookfield Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-[player_tooltip player_id='337015' first='Luci' last='Jensen'] could win this team almost any game if she gets into a rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->