Breaking Down Other D3 Contenders
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Somerset The top half of Sectional 1 is a toss-up, and Somerset knows that all too well, losing to Prescott in regionals last season in a competitive game. Julia Rybacki is as crucial to her team’s success as anyone in…
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The top half of Sectional 1 is a toss-up, and Somerset knows that all too well, losing to Prescott in regionals last season in a competitive game.
Julia Rybacki is as crucial to her team’s success as anyone in D3 and maybe even the state. She leads her team in most statistical categories and is the first name on every opposing team’s scouting report. However, even if teams try to cut her out of Somerset’s offense, she manufactures her offense by making extra-effort plays.
This group could easily get overlooked, but they’re a tough out.
Somerset is seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Prescott
The Cardinals have the best duo in this sectional, which gives them an edge.
Lila Posthuma Lila Posthuma 6'1" | SF Prescott | 2024 State WI is a do-it-all 6-0 wing who can create, score, defend multiple positions, and play through traffic. How she plays will dictate how far her group can go in the next few weeks.
Violet Otto Violet Otto 5'10" | SG Prescott | 2026 State WI is the other member of the Prescott duo. The way she shoots the ball allows Prescott to open up their offense, and whenever she gets rolling, she can win her team a game against uber-talented teams.
The Cardinals are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Aquinas
The Blugolds were in the D4 title game a year ago and got bumped up to D3 due to enrollment.
The most notable difference in this season’s group will be the absence of now-Montana guard Macy Donarski. However, they’ve done a solid job filling the void she left with all their rotational players.
Samantha Davis Samantha Davis 5'10" | SF Aquinas | 2026 State WI has developed into a reliable focal point of the Blugold offense even without being a threat beyond the three-point line, and her defensive prowess allows the Blugold defense to stay as aggressive as they’ve always been.
Ava Fernholz Ava Fernholz 5'6" | PG La Crosse Aquinas | 2027 WI and Maddie Murphy Maddie Murphy 5'7" | SG Aquinas | 2024 State WI have also been solid creative pieces for a reimagined Aquinas group.
The Blugolds are looking for their seventh trip to the state tournament and third state title.
Freedom
The 2023s graduating left a massive void for Freedom that most programs couldn’t dream to fill. However, they’ve gotten productive seasons from multiple kids.
The Irish also returned two kids with severe knee injuries, Haley Reed Haley Reed 5'7" | PG Freedom | 2025 WI and Breana Dickrell Breana Dickrell 5'8" | SG Freedom | 2026 State WI , whose return wasn’t long ago. Those two give the Irish an added dimension of perimeter shooting, and the two kids’ defenses have to pay attention to whenever they’re on the floor.
The experience of kids like Gracie Martzhal Gracie Martzhal 5'6" | PG Freedom | 2025 WI , Abbie Cropsey Abbie Cropsey 5'11" | PF Freedom | 2025 WI , and Gretchen Ponschock Gretchen Ponschock 5'10" | SF Freedom | 2024 WI also lightens the blow of losing all the talent that took the Irish to the state title game in 2022.
The Irish are looking for their fourth trip to the state tournament and first title.
Edgewood
The guards that the Crusaders will make or break their postseason.
Anna Miller Anna Miller 5'8" | PG Edgewood | 2027 State WI is one of the top lead guards in the state, and she’s only a freshman. Her ability to create and make quick decisions with the ball in her hands and not turn it over makes me believe that this group can maximize their offense every game.
Taya Fernandez Taya Fernandez 5'6" | CG Edgewood (Madison) | 2024 State WI is an unreal passer and is as aggressive as anyone trying to fit the ball into small windows. Having Miller alongside her allows her to play on or away from the ball and make quick reads while trusting her teammates to make a play.
There are also these other role kids who can make things happen. Beanie Thompson is a lot like Georgia Acompanado Georgia Acompanado 5'8" | PG Pius XI | 2025 State WI because she’s an excellent rebounding guard and plays physically. Maren Schmotzer adds a true post player to this group, Zhana Gnewuch is a kid who looks to try and get in rhythm offensively, and Lily Moschkau, coming back around the new year, gives them a spot-up shooter.
I love this group.
The Crusaders are seeking their first trip to the state tournament.
Kettle Moraine Lutheran
The Chargers are the same kind of team they’ve always been.
They’re guard-oriented, have excellent athletes, and make all the extra effort plays.
Makenzie Luehring Makenzie Luehring 5'6" | PG Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2025 State WI is the initiator of the KML offense, and she’s proven to be a kid who can score in bunches. However, the emergence of Madeline Leffel Madeline Leffel 5'10" | SF Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2025 State WI has taken this group to another level. Her two-way ability gives them defensive versatility, and her shooting gives them a second explosive weapon on the offensive end.
Also, don’t underestimate the fact that Taylor Schwalenberg Taylor Schwalenberg 5'6" | PG Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2024 State WI is massive.
The Chargers are looking for their third trip to the state tournament and their second title.
Milwaukee Academy of Science
Losing the amount of talent Novas did last season made this season a little uncomfortable.
They have one of the youngest groups who have a chance at making a deep run in the next three weeks. The Novas have a fair amount of 26s and 27s getting significant rotational minutes and have kids without much experience as juniors and seniors giving them massive minutes.
The lineup of Jaeda Turner Jaeda Turner 5'5" | PG Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2025 WI – Parker Johnson Parker Johnson 5'9" | SG Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2024 State WI – Ariell Allen Ariell Allen 5'7" | SF Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2027 WI – Kourtlyn Guy Kourtlyn Guy 5'10" | PG Milwaukee Academy Of Science | 2027 WI -Ellis Johnson is a complete five-player lineup. That’s not even including the ceiling that Faith Trotter Faith Trotter 6'2" | PF Milwaukee Academy of Science | 2025 State WI has to offer.
The Novas are looking for their fourth trip to the state tournament and first title.