Fox Valley Association Preview 2025-26

Final 2024-25 Standings:   1. Kimberly 18-0 (29-1); 2. Hortonville 14-4 (17-9); 3. Neenah 14-4 (19-8); 4. Appleton East 13-5 (19-9); 5. Kaukauna 10-8 (12-13); 6. Oshkosh West 7-11 (10-15); 7. Fond du Lac 6-12 (8-17); 8. Appleton North 5-13 (9-15); 9. Oshkosh North 3-15 (6-20); 10. Appleton West 0-18 (1-24).   The Fox Valley Association is highly regarded, by many, as the top conference in all of the state. Housing defending state champion Kimberly as well as perennial powers Neenah, Appleton East, and Hortonville, the FVA once again looks formidable. The thing that most intrigues me is the emergence of young talent on teams 5-10 with a couple of new coaches added into the mix. As we kick off the first day of practice, here's how I see things stacking up:   1. Kimberly---It will be a challenge for the Papermakers to duplicate their magical 29-1 season that ended in a 5th state title their first since 1998. They were hit fairly hard by the graduation of four seniors totaling 31 points per game. Two big shoes to fill are Kate McGinnis (14.5 ppg) who is now playing at Belmont and Raegan Krueger (11.9 ppg) who is at Minnesota Duluth. Kimberly has the firepower to once again be at the top of the FVA with the return of a trio of juniors, 1st team All-Conference [player_tooltip player_id='764903' first='Ava' last='Van Vonderen'] (6-1, 12.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.0 bpg), 2nd team All-Conference [player_tooltip player_id='764909' first='Haylie' last='Dulas'] (6-0, 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg), Honorable Mention All-conference [player_tooltip player_id='764927' first='Kennedy' last='Ebben'] (5-7, 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.5 spg) and Honorable Mention All-Conference and All-Defensive team, senior [player_tooltip player_id='509695' first='Emily' last='Urban'] (5-6, 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.3 spg). Both Van Vonderen and Dulas are D1 recruits and could each be 1,000 point scorers by the end of the season. Kimberly's road back to the Resch Center won't be easy playing both Brookfield East (23-4 last season) and Wauwatosa East (29-1) in the first month. Circle January 3rd on the calendar. That is when the Papermakers will look to avenge last season's only loss when they travel to Pewaukee.   2. Neenah---Coming off a Sectional loss, 64-44 to E.C. Memorial, there is a lot of optimism that Neenah can overtake Kimberly for the top spot in the FVA. With a majority of their scoring punch returning, I could see the Rockets giving Kimberly trouble all season. Returning is 1st Team All-State selection [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'] (5-5, 22.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 spg). She shot 38.5% from 3 and 90.8% from the free-throw line missing only 12 in 131 attempts. The Wright State commit starts her senior season with 1,209 career points. Fellow senior, Maryville commit, [player_tooltip player_id='509694' first='Ellie' last='Buss'] (5-7, 13.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.7 spg) and junior Celia Gentile (5-6, 6.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.3 spg) will provide nightmares to opposing coaches. Mix in a solid supporting cast and an influx of talent, from last season's JV squad, and the Rockets forecast to return to the top of the FVA looks promising.   3. Appleton East---When the Patriots started last season 0-4, I doubt many experts would have predicted them to make it to the state semi-final however that's exactly what happened. After a December 3rd, 54-45 loss, at Kimberly, East went 15-4 down the stretch pulling out 2 overtime playoff wins to make it to the Resch Center where they lost 55-34 to eventual champion Kimberly. They were hit hard by the graduation of 3 seniors totaling 26 points per game led by Minnesota-Duluth commit Tori Neubauer and her 14.4 points per game. Returning are 1st Team All-Conference junior [player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney'] (5-7, 13.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.2 spg). She starts her junior season with 746 career points and multiple D1 offers. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='904623' first='Emilia' last='MontMarquette'] (5-9, 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.8 spg) and seniors [player_tooltip player_id='813295' first='Jenna' last='Ott'] (5-9, 6.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.6 apg) and Ella Jazdzewski (6-0, 5.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 apg) will keep the Patriots in the mix for the title. They will be tested early when they open at D3 champ Oostburg, home against Bay Port, and then against Hudson at the Kettle Moraine Thanksgiving Classic.   4. Hortonville---2024/25 was a bit of a roller coaster for Hortonville. They started out 12-4 before University of Maryland commit Rainey Welson's knee injury. The Polar Bears then went 5-5, down the stretch, losing 59-50 to Appleton East in the Regional Final. Replacing conference Player of the Year Welson's 26.4 points per game (2,046 career) will be a very tall task but Hortonville does have a solid group coming back led by D1 recruit, junior [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'] (5-7, 14.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.6 spg). She will be joined by Viterbo commit senior [player_tooltip player_id='842218' first='Julieyn' last='Martin'] (5-9, 9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.0 spg), junior Madi Springer (5-3, 5.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.6 spg) and rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='892249' first='Morgan' last='Mocadlo'] (5-5, 4.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.1 apg).   5. Appleton North---Appleton North took a bit of a step backwards, last season, in the FVA however the Lightning have cause for optimism with the hiring of Tyler Guenther and the fact that they only graduated 2 players accounting for 1.8 points per game. Looking to return North to the top half of the FVA are junior [player_tooltip player_id='838113' first='Avery' last='Werfal'] (5-8, 19.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.6 spg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='533062' first='Tay' last='Maass'] (5-11, 15.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.0 bpg). They are as good as any duo, in the conference, and I expect the Lightning to be competitive nightly. They start the season with home games against (former) Bay Conference champ West De Pere and Bay Port before going to Slinger and then home to Neenah looking for revenge for their 75-62 loss in the Regional.   6. Oshkosh West---Oshkosh West is a team that I can see anywhere in the 4-8 slots in the conference. On one hand they graduated 5 players accounting for 24 points per game led by Maddie Rasmussen (10.4) and Rowan Tigert (6.9) but do return a nice core including senior [player_tooltip player_id='881606' first='Ava' last='Strasser'] (6-1, 6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.5 spg. Honorable mention all-conference in 2025). Sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='874396' first='Kamryn' last='Stauffacher'] (5-10, 6.0 ppg, 3.3 rbg, 1.2 spg) and [player_tooltip player_id='992501' first='Kinslee' last='Nelson'] (5-10, 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg) as well as a nice influx of talent from last year's JV squad makes the Wildcats a tough team to predict. Last season ended with a first round loss to Appleton East 57-44. They will be tested, out of the gate, starting at De Pere, against Oconomowoc at the Kettle Moraine Classic and then home against Appleton East.   7. Fond du Lac---I have the Cardinals in the same spot as they finished, last season, however I believe they will have a slight improvement over the 8 win season that ended in a 55-50 loss to Divine Savior Holy Angels in the Regional. The reason for the optimism is the fact that they only graduated two players with the biggest loss being conference rebounding leader Amaria Kejo and her 8.9 ppg. Returning for Fondy is senior [player_tooltip player_id='883202' first='Lilah' last='Johnson'] (5-10, 9.8 ppg, 4.1 rbg, 1.7 apg, 2.0 spg), junior Allie Buelow (5-7, 7.3 ppg, 4.1 rpb, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='889765' first='Anna' last='Ciha'] (5-8, 6.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg). They start their season at Hartford and then home against defending FRCC champ De Pere.   8. Oshkosh North---The Spartans were probably the hardest team to try and predict how their season will go. They graduated only 3 players from last season's 6 win team but return junior [player_tooltip player_id='751246' first='Awut' last='Alic'] (6-0, 17.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.8 spg, 1.1 bpg). She is Prep hoops # 4 ranked junior, in the state, and was a 1st team All-Conference and All-Defensive selection. She holds multiple Division I offers and starts her junior season with 784 career points (15.4 ppg). Senior [player_tooltip player_id='889757' first='Brinna' last='Paulson'] (5-7, 10.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg) will also be key to keeping North competitive nightly. They will be tested early playing at Bay Port and home against Kimberly the first month.   9. Kaukauna---I see the Ghosts taking the biggest drop from 5th to 9th. Finished last season with a 72-52 loss to Hartford in the Regional and have to find a way to replace their two top scorers from last season. Addison Baumgart and her 16.2 ppg/1334 career points is now at D2 Northern Michigan. They also lost Joy Ebben (10.4 ppg). Top returners are senior Addie Banaszyski (5-8, 5.8 ppg, 2.9 rbg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg), juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1222556' first='Keira' last='Plate'] (5-8, 4.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.0 apg,) and [player_tooltip player_id='881250' first='Ava' last='Reader'] (5-6, 4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg). They play Kimberly, Appleton East, and Bay Port in three of their first four games.   10. Appleton West---After a combined 3-47 record, over the last two season, there is renewed optimism with the hiring of Tanner Bump. He takes over a squad that returns 2 of their top 3 scorers in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='509690' first='Allysen' last='Buss'] (5-5, 10.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.9 spg) and Madison Milhaupt (5-6, 4.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 2.8 spg). The rebuild won't be easy as the Terrors start with 7 of their first 8 on the road.

Final 2024-25 Standings: