Analyzing the D2 No. 1 Seeds
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We won’t get into the meat of Regionals until later this week, so we’ll dive into all the contenders in each division before Thursday. We’ll continue with D2 today and head down the list when we get to D5 on…
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Continue ReadingWe won’t get into the meat of Regionals until later this week, so we’ll dive into all the contenders in each division before Thursday. We’ll continue with D2 today and head down the list when we get to D5 on Thursday. We’ll start with the No. 1 seeds in one article and discuss other contenders in another article.
Menomonie
Since the Mustangs are up in the Northwest, people can overlook their success over the past few seasons. People forget they still have prominent players from the group that went to the Resch Center in 2022 and gave Notre Dame a run for their money for most of that game.
Mary Berg Mary Berg 5'7" | PG Menomonie | 2024 State WI is shooting the ball as well as she ever has, Sam Jacobsen Sam Jacobsen 5'10" | CG Menomonie | 2024 State WI is still among the top drivers in the state, and having Brooklyn Birt Brooklyn Birt 5'10" | PF Menomonie | 2025 State WI be an inside-out threat balances out their offense.
The Mustangs won the Big Rivers outright and have some momentum heading into the postseason.
A trip to the Resch Center would be the second in program history.
Notre Dame
There’s no way around it. The Tritons have had as dominant a run as any program in Wisconsin ever. They’ve won three straight titles, went four years without losing a game in the FRCC, and figured out how to win games.
Their core group of seniors who’ve been around for this era are all kids who can swing games in a few possessions. Gracie Grzesk Gracie Grzesk 6'0" | SF Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI has been as dominant of a player with her back to the basket as we’ve seen over the past few years, and she does so much more for them. Trista Fayta Trista Fayta 5'8" | PG Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI has never been a flashy lead guard but seems to win 99% of the time she plays, which I assume isn’t a coincidence. Sydney Whitehouse Sydney Whitehouse 5'9" | SF Green Bay Notre Dame | 2024 State WI has also developed into a premier wing defender while taking up minutes as a lead guard and drastically improving her shooting over the past four years.
Those were just their seniors. The Tritons have plenty of other kids who play significant roles. Peyton Musial Peyton Musial 6'0" | SG Notre Dame | 2025 State WI is a kid they’ll rely on heavily next year. However, her ability to space the floor, get to the basket, use athleticism on the defensive end, and guard multiple positions is valuable with how this roster looks. Kaia Waldrop Kaia Waldrop 6'0" | C Notre Dame | 2026 State WI ‘s physicality and skill around the basket allow everyone else to slot into their natural positions. The wildcard for this group may be Aspen Abel Aspen Abel 5'11" | SF Notre Dame | 2026 State WI . I’m unsure if she’ll be up to speed with everything they have because she transferred over during the semester break and has a whole new system to learn, but she had an excellent first half at Beaver Dam. If she were to have big moments at the Resch Center, I wouldn’t be surprised.
The Tritons are looking for their 11th trip to the State Tournament and their seventh state title.
Beaver Dam
The talent is there. However, this season has been bumpy from start to finish, but still earned a No. 1 seed.
They’ve had kids in and out of the lineup, transfers, a new coaching staff a month before the season, and have looked unsure of themselves offensively when push has come to shove.
Gabby Wilke Gabby Wilke 6'1" | PF Beaver Dam | 2024 State WI is a talented four and has shown flashes of brilliance, but their season will likely ride on their guards.
Nataya Donaldson Nataya Donaldson 5'8" | CG Beaver Dam | 2026 State WI ‘s creation off the dribble, Annika Salettel Annika Salettel 5'11" | SG Beaver Dam | 2024 State WI ‘s defense, and Sheamarie Ashley Sheamarie Ashley 5'6" | PG Beaver Dam | 2026 State WI ‘s ability to navigate presses will make or break them this season.
Donaldson is their best source of offense when their sets aren’t working because she’s comfortable in uncomfortable situations. In the two games I’ve seen, their offense gets sloppy when she’s not involved.
Salettel has proven to be a premier defender in the Badger Conference, and if there’s a DPOY award in that conference, I’d probably vote for her.
All this is to say, I understand why things haven’t been smooth sailing, but they should still at least make a Sectional Final.
The Golden Beavers are looking for their seventh trip to the state tournament and their fourth state title.
Pewaukee
Two trips to the state title game, and each time, they’ve tripped up against Notre Dame, but this year could be different.
They’ve been underclassmen who probably pressed too hard in those games to make plays when Notre Dame made their run and maybe put too much focus internally on beating them instead of being themselves.
Each time I’ve seen Pewaukee this season, they look more mature, laser-focused on the process, and unbothered about who’s on the other sideline.
Amy Terrian Amy Terrian 5'8" | PG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI is the unquestioned emotional leader on this team, and the Pirates go as she goes, and that’s probably a coach’s dream. Her work ethic and competitive nature are unmatched, and there’s a reason she’ll probably land on an all-state team again.
The other two kids who’re crucial to what they do defensively are Anna Terrian Anna Terrian 5'8" | CG Pewaukee | 2025 State WI and Giselle Janowski Giselle Janowski 5'9" | SG Pewaukee | 2026 State WI . Defensively, those two complement each other perfectly. Giselle is a pest of an on-ball defender and wants the challenge of guarding the other team’s best player, and Anna is one of the best off-ball defenders you’ll find. If you attack the basket, expect Terrian to try and take a charge.
They have so much guard depth they can’t even play all of them. However, Kennedy Retherford Kennedy Retherford 5'8" | SG Pewaukee Highschool | 2025 State WI and Kylie Pieper Kylie Pieper 5'7" | CG Pewaukee | 2026 State WI , the two other starters, have stepped up in a massive way this season.
Keep an eye on Maddie Chabot Maddie Chabot 6'0" | PF Pewaukee | 2026 State WI in games against teams with size.
The Pirates are seeking their fourth trip to the state tournament and their first state title.
West Salem
The Panthers won their Sectional in D3 a year ago and lost to the eventual champs, Kewaskum. However, their best kid, Megan Johnson Megan Johnson 5'11" | PF West Salem | 2025 State WI , is back and as good as ever.
Johnson is as physical of an undersized forward as you’ll find and does an excellent job as an offensive focal point.
McFarland
Last season, the Spartans came up just short in a main-event caliber game against Notre Dame.
Teagan Mallegni Teagan Mallegni 6'1" | SF McFarland | 2024 State WI is as crucial to McFarland’s success as any other kid with their respective program in any division. Everything goes through Mallegni, and she’s earned that responsibility over the past three seasons. Her teammates all trust her to make plays, and with her track record, why wouldn’t you?
The other two kids who need to be outstanding are Ava Dean Ava Dean 5'7" | PG McFarland | 2024 WI and Brynn Kirch Brynn Kirch 5'6" | PG McFarland | 2024 State WI . Dean plays as an undersized forward but can power through anyone, and Kirch’s ability to handle the ball allows Mallegni to not do everything each time down the floor. Even though she plays like a superhero, she can still get fatigued over 36 minutes if she has to do everything.
West Salem is seeking their fifth trip to the state tournament and their first state title.
Wauwatosa East
The Red Raiders have an abundance of guards, and they’re all young.
Emma Close Emma Close 5'7" Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI , Mikaia Litza Mikaia Litza 5'8" | CG Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI , Sadie Kubacki Sadie Kubacki 5'4" | SG Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI , and Malaya Taylor are all sophomore guards who have significant roles.
Litza is their offensive hub that can create off the dribble for herself and others. Close is more of the scorer of the group. Kubacki makes all the extra effort plays and knocks down open shots. Taylor is the one I’m most intrigued by in the sense that she may get more minutes, especially in this subsection, than she may be used to getting. Her defense could be indispensable against some of these guard-heavy teams.
Audrey Sellinger Audrey Sellinger 5'11" | SF Wauwatosa East | 2026 State WI must stay on the floor, or things can get shaky. She may not be the tallest kid on the floor most of the time, but her size at 5-10 or 5-11 gives them some length to throw at other team’s post players.
The Red Raiders are looking for their third trip to the state tournament, their first since 1981, and their second state title.
Union Grove
Samantha Hafferkamp has been excellent this season.
Her ability to score has eased the pain of losing the seniors they had a year ago when they made it to a Sectional Final. They’ll need to be at their best to take that final step.
Union Grove is seeking their first trip to the state tournament in program history.