Muskego Warriors 2025-26 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Large School basketball has revolved around top talent in the state, with programs relying on Power Four talents to make deep runs to the state tournament. Muskego was not like other Division 1 schools that came before. They had a group whose defensive connectivity allowed them to frustrate opposing teams and force them into mistakes in their 1-3-1 zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Warriors were the surprise team in Division 1, but not because they made the state tournament. Everyone around the state turned their nose up at Muskego's sectional, widely being seen as the least challenging sectional for any team to win in their respective divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors did emerge from their sectional. Their style frustrated the reigning D1 state champions and co-champion of the Classic 8 Conference, Arrowhead, holding the Warhawks to a season-low 44 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The underdogs from the Classic 8 may have come up short against a talented Kimberly group in the state tournament, but they took home their program's first Silver Ball in their first appearance and showed that they have a recipe that can frustrate some of the most talented teams in the state, which begs the question: What's next?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three key players from last year's unit, Autumn Dibb, Melena Glysch, and Rachel Agg, graduated last fall, among others. Fourth-year head coach Erik Loose will turn to senior [player_tooltip player_id='842235' first='Mallory' last='Glysch'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='986163' first='Tatum' last='Meinen'] for leadership as they look to surprise people again in the 2025-26 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='842235' first='Mallory' last='Glysch'], younger sister of Melena Glysch, has developed as much as anyone in the 2026 class. She began her Muskego career playing JV basketball and stepped seamlessly into a leadership role heading into her senior season. She has led by example throughout the offseason by getting extra shots up and leading her team's open gyms.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meinen played a crucial role off the bench in her sophomore season and finished with 12 points, four assists, and three three-pointers in that state semifinal game. In her junior season, she's looking to keep the team culture the Warriors had last season, and use their togetherness as a group to make another run in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I feel like if the team culture is good enough, it impacts how we play and the outcomes [of games]. . . Hopefully, this year we have that team culture, and it stays with us.” Meinen said at a team open gym.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Erik Loose helped take Muskego to the state title game in his third season as the head coach for the Warriors. After a season where six players who played roles for a State Runner-Up team graduated, it's understandable that things will look different because there will be new faces in different roles, and getting players into the swing of things will be on top of the agenda early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I think the big thing for us early is... getting kids comfortable playing in new roles, and filling some of the spots that our graduating seniors left.” Coach Loose said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is plenty of optimism for the reigning Division 1 state runner-ups. The players seemed to know what their roles would be this winter, and everyone seemed to buy into being an effective defensive unit that can continue battling against top Division 1 opposition this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->