Analyzing D3 No. 1 Seeds
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Let’s soldier on and dive into some of the top groups in D3, starting with the No. 1 seeds and ending with other contenders. Baldwin-Woodville Western Wisconsin doesn’t produce premier talents in the state, but they do have well-rounded groups…
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Continue ReadingLet’s soldier on and dive into some of the top groups in D3, starting with the No. 1 seeds and ending with other contenders.
Baldwin-Woodville
Western Wisconsin doesn’t produce premier talents in the state, but they do have well-rounded groups like Baldwin-Woodville, who pop up and can hang with anybody.
Most people from the Eastern portion of the state never think about teams from the Eau Claire area, but the Blackhawks have one of the top defensive units in the state and have proven it throughout the season.
They routinely win games in a grind-it-out fashion. Their defense is so solid that even when they trail by double-digits, as they did against Prescott, the Blackhawks can generate enough stops where they can get back into the game and give themselves a chance to win.
There isn’t one player whom teams will be overly concerned about, which makes them dangerous. They’ll force teams to play in a slow defensive stalemate and give themselves a chance in every game.
The Blackhawks are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Elk Mound
The Mounders blitzted the Dunn-St. Croix Conference again this year, winning it with an undefeated record again.
Ellie Schiszik Ellie Schiszik 5'5" | PG Elk Mound | 2025 State WI has been unbelievable for the Mounders over the past three seasons and has developed into a Conference POY-level player.
Now that she’s gotten some experience playing at a high level and understands what it’ll take to advance deep into the postseason, I would expect to see them back into Sectionals and possibly face the Blugolds of Aquinas in a Sectional Final, where they’ll get to test their metal.
The Mounders are seeking their second trip to the state tournament, the first coming in 1988.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood
After the departure of D1 track athlete Reese Rogowski, I was unsure if the Chargers would continue to compete at the level they have over the last few seasons.
The usage increase of Melaina Granquist Melaina Granquist 5'11" | SF Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2026 State WI and Rory Salvesen Rory Salvesen 5'9" | CG Wittenberg-Birnamwood | 2026 State WI seemed to have been something they were more than comfortable with this year.
The only team who’s beaten them this season has been Bonduel (D4), and they’ve handled everyone since their last Bonduel game.
The Chargers likely have to face Freedom and Xavier in Sectionals to get to the Resch Center, and if they pull those games out, they’ll be serious contenders for a gold ball.
The Chargers are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Xavier
The Hawks have a young group of guards, and because they rely on young guards, they can be a bit streaky.
They’ve challenged themselves outside the Bay Conference, which they won this season, but have had mixed results outside the Bay. However, they’ve played some of the best teams in D3 and competed, so there won’t be anyone who scares them coming into this postseason.
Carsyn Stempa and Elle Krull Elle Krull 5'8" | SG Appleton Xavier | 2027 State WI will be two kids that the Hawks need to perform to get deep into the postseason. However, they have plenty of kids who can swing a game, like Joy Krull Joy Krull 5'8" | CG Xavier | 2026 State WI , Molly Martine, and Halle Vande Hey Halle Vande Hey 6'0" | C Xavier | 2024 State WI . They have a balanced group and kids who can play on both sides of the ball.
The Hawks are seeking their third trip to the state tournament and first state title.
Edgerton
There’s always something about Edgerton that makes them competitive, and maybe it’s the edge their kids have, but they play good basketball and find good shots.
I love their backcourt of Marti Rebman Marti Rebman 5'8" | CG Edgerton | 2026 State WI and Claudia Jenny. Those kids complement each other well. Rebman is a physical guard who can get to the rim but can knock down shots. Jenny has a quick trigger and moves well without the ball. Offensively, the fit there makes all the sense in the world.
The one kid that adds size to this group is Nicki Shaw. She’s a 5-11 post and multi-sport athlete. She’s athletic enough to get up and down the floor in transition but also has enough length that allows Edgerton to put her on the opposing team’s post.
The Crimson Tide are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Waupun
It’s hard to bet against a team that’s won two Sectional Titles in a row and has a 2022 State Title Banner in their gym that they won with over half their starting lineup.
The Warriors have the tools to win another state title and send their seniors off with a second state title. Nobody else in D3 has three kids who’ll play D1 basketball at the next level, and they all complement each other’s games well.
Kayl Petersen Kayl Petersen 6'1" | PF Waupun | 2024 State WI is every D3 team’s nightmare matchup. Her size, length, skill, and mobility will create matchup problems for every team the Warriors play.
Gracie Gopalan Gracie Gopalan 5'4" | PG Waupun | 2024 State WI is among the quickest guards around and will be able to get into the paint whenever she wants.
Lydia Aalsma Lydia Aalsma 5'10" | SG Waupun | 2025 State WI is the athletic wing of the group who can make shots from anywhere on the court.
If I’m honest, the only thing that can stop this team is themselves.
The Warriors are looking for their fourth trip to the state tournament and second state title.
Oostburg
I was confident that the Dutch would be a team that makes sectionals again with the kids they got back. They had a talented group last year but ran into the eventual state champions, Kewaskum, in a Sectional Semifinal.
However, they got some internal development, which I didn’t expect, that makes them a real state contender.
Brynn Wisse is the kid who took a step forward that I didn’t expect. Each time I’ve seen Oostburg play, Wisse has made play after play, and some show up in box scores and others that don’t. I firmly believe you need kids like Wisse to win marginal games.
The headliners here are Ady Ketterhagen Ady Ketterhagen 5'9" | PG Oostburg | 2026 State WI and Riley Ketterhagen Riley Ketterhagen 5'10" | CG Oostburg | 2026 State WI . Those two are as explosive of scorers as you’ll find anywhere in the state, and with a year of experience, they’re more ready for the postseason than ever.
Oostburg is seeking their 11th trip to the state tournament and fourth state title.
Catholic Memorial
I don’t know if a team improved as much as the Crusaders from 22-23 to 23-24. A year ago, the Crusaders were 11-13 heading into the postseason, and with mostly the same kids, they enter the postseason at 21-3.
It helps that we’ve seen a healthy season from Jenna Welsch Jenna Welsch 5'10" | SF Catholic Memorial | 2025 State WI , who’s been their go-to-kid for the last two seasons, and she looks more confident in that role than ever.
They also have plenty of productive variety players like Hallie Koltz Hallie Koltz 5'10" | SG Catholic Memorial | 2025 State WI , Izzy McFee, Sami Sarner Sami Sarner 5'8" | SG Catholic Memorial | 2026 State WI , Olivia Conway Olivia Conway 5'6" | PG Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI , and Jersey Johnson Jersey Johnson 5'8" | PF Catholic Memorial | 2025 WI . They’re as deep as anyone in D3.
The Crusaders are looking for their second trip to the state tournament and their first title.