Large Schools to Watch This Postseason

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight, the second season of the 2025-26 WIAA girls basketball season kicks off with Regional Quarterfinal games tipping off around the state as we begin the journey to the Resch Center. In the next few weeks, we will see the highs and lows of high school basketball as five teams look to earn a storybook ending by lifting a gold ball on March 14th in Green Bay. Before the game's tipoff this evening, we will examine some teams to watch before the tournament starts and highlight some programs that could make deeper runs than some may expect at the large and small-school levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Neenah</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Neenah Rockets seem to find a way to compete with the teams at the top of the FVA every season, even after losing a top-ten type player nationally in the 2024 class. The Rockets are coming off a Sectional appearance last season, eventually falling to Eau Claire Memorial. This season, Neenah is led by Wright State commit [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'], who has continued to excel on the offensive end and has led her team in most statistical categories. Her ability to create off the dribble and work her way into space allows her to be an efficent hub of offense. However, the diversity of talent can help Neenah make a deep run this season. Maryville commit [player_tooltip player_id='509694' first='Ellie' last='Buss'] brings an excellent floor spacer, [player_tooltip player_id='874401' first='Farrah' last='Danforth'] has been an excellent frontcourt piece for a smaller Rocket group in her first season of high school basketball, and players like [player_tooltip player_id='732637' first='Sydney' last='Michalkiewicz'], [player_tooltip player_id='874397' first='Izzy' last='Malloy'], Celia Gentile, and [player_tooltip player_id='1230665' first='Alissa' last='Ebel'] can all bring something that can help this team win games on the margins. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hudson</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Except for Superior, Hudson may have the oddest geography of any team in Wisconsin, which can create numerous challenges. Travel and location keep them from travelling all around the state, when there are talented Minnesota programs less than an hour away from their campus. In the end, Hudson ended up with a No. 7 seed in Sectional One, and they could be one of the more dangerous teams ever to be a No. 7 in Division One. Early in the season, junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='751276' first='Olivia' last='LaBlanc'] was still getting her sea legs back under her after missing the vast majority of her first two seasons of high school basketball due to knee injuries. Now that she's closer to full strength, she's starting to show how much of a headache she can be for defenses because of her skillset. Outside of LaBlanc, the other key players seem to be rounding into form at the right time. [player_tooltip player_id='814306' first='Devin' last='Larson'] has played her best basketball down the stretch and looks more confident than she's ever been. The Raiders also have some players who can swing games outside of those two juniors. [player_tooltip player_id='764290' first='Gretchen' last='Whitten'] is a skilled frontcourt player who can finish around the basket and make passes out of the post. [player_tooltip player_id='992496' first='Jadyn' last='Mataczynski'] is another guard who can handle the ball and take some pressure off her teammates. Fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='992505' first='Libby' last='Bartz'] is also finding her role on the wing and using her size to create mismatches for defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mukwonago</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't think there is a team quite like Mukwonago in Division One. The size they can throw on the floor, with the skill players like [player_tooltip player_id='652141' first='Rachael' last='Chilicki'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1232213' first='Peyton' last='Cochenet'], will cause headaches for any opposing defenses in their sectional. Those two players have been two of the top frontcourt talents from around the state. Chilicki is a physical post player who can use her physical tools to dominate around the basket and will force teams to send multiple bodies toward her when she gets a deep post touch or to space the floor and knock down shots from the perimeter. Cochenet has more versatility as a ball handler, using her athleticism to beat slower players off the dribble and her physicality to power through smaller defenders to get to the basket. The x-factor for Mukwonago will be the support cast for those two. Ella Maltby, Lilly Czeshinski, and Taylor Hingiss will get open looks from the perimeter. If they make most of them, they will be tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Milton</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Hawks from Milton High School may be the hottest team entering the Division Two field this season. The Red Hawks have played an excellent non-conference schedule, where they didn't play their best, but since the calendar flipped to 2026, they have gone 11-1, with the lone loss being on the road against a talented Waunakee team, where they gave them all they could handle. They have a reliable six players who all excel in their roles. [player_tooltip player_id='881307' first='Kylee' last='Buttchen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='888860' first='Nayeli' last='Kilen'] were two key pieces to the Red Hawks' 20-win season in 2024-25, and have continued to gel this season. Each has been a solid perimeter shooter and capable of creating off the dribble. The major change this season has been the development of [player_tooltip player_id='879894' first='Mady' last='Vind'] as a slasher. She has been a confident player who has used her athletic tools to attack off the dribble and make plays around the rim. Even players like [player_tooltip player_id='1220819' first='Sydney' last='Grady'], [player_tooltip player_id='883195' first='Allison' last='Kojo'], and [player_tooltip player_id='884030' first='Aubrey' last='Klug'] have thrived in their roles and made winning plays for a team that can make some noise here in the next few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wisconsin Lutheran</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few teams have been as unlucky as Wisconsin Lutheran this season, losing [player_tooltip player_id='879927' first='Londyn' last='Hollins'] to a knee injury early this season. However, the Vikings still have the pieces that can help them make a deep run in the postseason. [player_tooltip player_id='751262' first='Kaelyn' last='Nommensen'] is a player with the skillset to give opposing defenses problems from all three levels of the floor. Outside of her, Elizabeth Langebartels has had an excellent season by being a solid floor spacer and getting around the basket to help her team rebound. [player_tooltip player_id='888379' first='Layla' last='Walz'] will be tested by a few teams that want to press the opposing ball handler, which will be Walz. Keep an eye on her. The other two players who bring an edge to the floor will be [player_tooltip player_id='855854' first='Morgan' last='Martinez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='751277' first='Reese' last='Grudzielanek'], who will do a lot of dirty work and help their team win on the margins if things go well for the Vikings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->