Way-Too-Early D4 Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I finished writing on the Champions Classic, so let's return to some high school stuff. The WIAA released Sectional Groupings about two weeks ago, and a lot was said about them, fairly and unfairly. Regardless, I'm releasing my way-too-early predictions for D3 and D4 today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>S1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winner: Fall Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Crickets split the regular season series with McDonell a year ago but couldn't take the rubber match in the Sectional Final. However, this could be their year to get to state. [player_tooltip player_id='491719' first='Jasmin' last='Heuer'], Addy Haynes, and [player_tooltip player_id='842255' first='Rebecca' last='Sturz'] are a talented group that have shown they can win high-profile games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Runner Up: McDonell Central Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Losing [player_tooltip player_id='209585' first='Emily' last='Cooper'] and Aubrey Dorn could be the most significant losses in D4. However, [player_tooltip player_id='751257' first='EllaMay' last='Cooper'] has been able to make something out of nothing her whole life. Her ability to create will decide how good this group will be next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Grantsburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nobody will have more size than Grantsburg. Ruby Rengo and Piper Olson will bring a different style than any other team in D4. The question mark will be how well their guards are this season after losing Megan Schafer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Phillips</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The backcourt of Kacy Eggebrecht and Mataya Eckert are talented enough to make some noise in this sectional. Those two defend well and can create live-ball turnovers that could alter games in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>S2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winner: St. Mary Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Zeohyrs lost productive kids in their 2024 class. However, there are a few things that suggest they'll be alright. One, [player_tooltip player_id='448256' first='Emily' last='Vogel'], has become an excellent piece for SMC, and there are some youth players like [player_tooltip player_id='892088' first='Lucy' last='Norville'], whose length could help a team without much size. The ceiling for this group is still high.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Runner Up: Kewaunee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In recent times, Packeland teams haven't faired well in the postseason for various reasons. However, Kewaunee has some talent who has been around that can get them over the hump. Jadelynn Kroll and Breanna Demmin have been around and dominated the Packerland and have the skill to get by talented teams in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Valders</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings had their first 20-win season since 2019-20 and have most of their kids back this season. They have Claire Hockhammer and Zoey Siders back and figure to be among the top groups in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Crandon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals have been a regular at the top of the Northern Lakes Conference and have significant parts back this season. Having kids like Lauren Littleton, Lily Pablucki, and Madelynn Erdmann back will be massive for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>S3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winner: Cuba City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cubans were the odds-on favorite in D4 after everyone returned, and Laconia moved to D3. However, a recent knee injury to [player_tooltip player_id='374234' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] plants doubt in the Cubans' season. The hope for everyone is that Olson makes a speedy recovery and gets some semblance of a senior season, but in the case she doesn't, D4 is up for grabs. The Cubans should still be favorites in the SWAL with [player_tooltip player_id='534426' first='Dea' last='Crist'] and [player_tooltip player_id='914523' first='Ashley' last='Rowe'], but we all wish [player_tooltip player_id='374234' first='Olivia' last='Olson'] the best and hope she's back as soon as possible.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Runner Up: Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blugolds ceiling, like last season, is the level of [player_tooltip player_id='533058' first='Samantha' last='Davis']' play. She expanded her range in 23-24 and showed teams she'd shoot if she got space. Her continued development offensively will determine how far this team can go. Nobody at Aquinas has her talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Neillsville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='780363' first='Paris' last='Opelt'] leaving will sting and end the run of Opelt's winning CPOY in the Cloverbelt-East Madi Davel and [player_tooltip player_id='914312' first='Sydney' last='Subke'] cang Neillsville in the mix. The Warriors won't go away. They'll always manage to be competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Argyle/Pecatonica</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Argyle/Pecatonica will jump from D5 to D4. There was plenty of parity in D5 last year at the top, but they'll need to improve to get to the upper echelon of D4. [player_tooltip player_id='767257' first='Kylie' last='Butler'] and [player_tooltip player_id='874373' first='Brooke' last='Wellnitz'] will be among the best duos in D4, but they'll need the rest of their group to step up to get back to the Resch Center. They'll be tough to beat in D4 because of how frantic they play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>S4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winner: Racine Prairie</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The core group of [player_tooltip player_id='374228' first='JJ' last='Glass-Barnes'], [player_tooltip player_id='533081' first='Amiyah' last='Galica'], and [player_tooltip player_id='338967' first='Meg' last='Decker'] make the Hawks a favorite in D4. Glass-Barnes is arguably the best kid in D4, so expect them to get deep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Runner Up: Poynette</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A year under [player_tooltip player_id='751244' first='Avalyn' last='Albrecht'] and some kids returning for Pumas should be enough to help them reach Sectionals again and maybe take another step toward the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Westfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='448289' first='Haddie' last='Showen'] will have even more usage than last season, and I think she'll handle it well. The Pioneers may not dominate the South Central like they have the past few years, but Showen is a talented enough guard to make things happen for them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional Winner: Kenosha St. Joe's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='540647' first='Francesca' last='Mclain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='667016' first='Kamryn' last='Lecce'] are a skilled backcourt with some physicality. The Lancers improved from 2022-23 to 2023-24, and I expect that to continue into next season and believe they'll win a Regional Title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->