A Look Into Division 1 Sectional 1

I don't have many articles left to do this month, so we might as well start highlighting sectionals. We'll dive deep into all four sectionals in all five divisions and make my predictions for the upcoming season. Today, we'll begin with Division One, Sectional One. We'll go in alphabetical order.   Appleton East   The Patriots didn't lose much talent in the 2024 class. Their issue is figuring out how to get the talent in their building to mesh.   Last season, Lilly Muelemans-[player_tooltip player_id='749048' first='Ella' last='Sweeney']-[player_tooltip player_id='448322' first='Torie' last='Neubauer'] lineups had as much balance as anyone in the FVA and this sectional, but it was up and down all season. There is no reason those three couldn't be productive enough in this sectional to make a run, but there's work needed there.   Another aspect of the Patriots is that they'll add a newcomer, [player_tooltip player_id='904623' first='Emilia' last='MontMarquette']. We'll see what sort of role she earns heading into this season. I think she'll probably see prominent time on the floor, and if she can figure out ways to make those three consistently better and balance out that trio, she could help them get over the hump.   Appleton North   The surprise of the FVA last season. The Lightning looks good on paper heading into this season, but things will look different than they did a season ago.   Shayna Williamson is off to Viterbo, which leaves a void heading into 24-25. We know what [player_tooltip player_id='838113' first='Avery' last='Werfal'] and Tay Maas can do, but they're missing a more creative piece. Willamson was a solid creator, even though it may not have been natural for her.   I look up and down this roster and see players I like, like Werfal and Maas, but there's plenty more. Sophia Busch, Ilah Schwerinski, and Lila Griffith are all kids who could find roles and make plays for them throughout the year. However, the question mark will be who their creative force off the dribble will be.   Appleton West   There's no way around it. The Terrors have a long road to return to where they were even a few years ago. West doesn't have the talent of any of their Appleton neighbor schools, public or private.   Players and coaches must buy in to get on the right path again. It's not easy for anyone. Players and coaches all want to win, and they even showed that they can compete by beating SPASH early last season, but it didn't lead to any continuous results.   I thought they played how they had to give them a chance to compete. The Terrors were a scrappy bunch and forced some turnovers by collapsing on post-touches and diving all over the place. From the outside looking in, it didn't look like they rolled over for anyone.   Chippewa Falls   The Cardinals had a season where they struggled last year, but there were things to like about last year's group.   Sarah Chaffee is a solid creator for Chippewa Falls and does some things off the dribble that would surprise most people, considering she's not a household name. However, the Cardinals get all their kids back in 24-25. That is not the norm in high school sports, but it allows them to keep a group together for a few years and see how much they can improve.   They should be able to improve on their six wins in 23-24, but only time will tell.   D.C. Everest   The Evergreens were another one of the teams that played in a play-in game to get to the last 16 of this sectional.   D.C. Everest finished with three wins on the season and beat a solid D2 Rhinelander team early in the season. Whenever you see teams with a 3-22 record, you assume they don't have kids who can hurt you, but Kirsten Hall can.   The 5'10 wing looks like she'll take the volleyball route at the next level, but she can play at a high level and scored 34 on 10/15 shooting against the Hodags in that early season win.   Eau Claire Memorial   Over the past few seasons, the Old Abes have been one of the most underrated teams in the state, and Jordyn was one of the more underrated kids in the state.   The step forward that [player_tooltip player_id='653806' first='Rayna' last='Welsch'] as a junior should be something the Memorial coaches should be excited about, and they have plenty of program depth.   [player_tooltip player_id='1045830' first='Raya' last='Shaw'], Lydia Paulmier, [player_tooltip player_id='448296' first='Ashlynn' last='Schroeder'], and Cora Graham are all kids who can play a role and help the Old Abes win games, and that level of continuity will help Memorial this season.   Eau Claire North   In 2023-24, the Huskies did a solid job punching up in the BRC. North played well against teams like River Falls, Hudson, and cross-town rivals Memorial on occasion last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='767276' first='Elli' last='O'Keefe'] took a significant step forward and was one of the leading scorers in the BRC last season, and as the No. 1 option against some talented squads, that's no small feat. They'll have some continuity with next season's roster, but they must keep punching above their weight to move up in this sectional.   Holmen   The Vikings are in an odd predicament. They have talent back this season with [player_tooltip player_id='723017' first='Charley' last='Casey'] and Danika Rebhahn but lost a significant amount of size and talent in their frontcourt in Izzy Jahr and Olivia Schnieder.   Casey missed most of last season but comes into 2024-25 as one of the most underrated kids in Wisconsin and the state 2026 class. Rebhahn has a reputation for being an off-ball kid who finds open space to take perimeter shots.   There are plenty of question marks here, but Casey's talent could keep Holmen competitive.   Hudson   One of the sleepers in D1 this season is the 2021 D1 runner-up, Hudson.   I'd argue that the young core they'll have with [player_tooltip player_id='751276' first='Olivia' last='LaBlanc'], [player_tooltip player_id='814306' first='Devin' last='Larson'], Libby Bartz, and Jadyn Mataczynski is as talented of a core as you'll find anywhere in D1 this season.   There will be some veteran presence there with kids like [player_tooltip player_id='914300' first='Ella' last='Wolfe'] and Maggie McConnell, which will help get the young kids up to speed.   The Raiders, coached by Jess Vaidnis, are always a well-prepared group and have been able to battle it out with some of the heavyweights from the Fox Valley in the past, and they could again this winter.   Hortonville   The best player in this sectional walks the halls of Hortonville High School. [player_tooltip player_id='374227' first='Rainey' last='Welson'] is one of the most talented kids I've seen in Wisconsin the past few seasons, and nobody in this sectional has a one-for-one answer for her on the defensive end of the floor.   Her backcourt mate, [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler'], is also one of the more talented guards in the state. Peppler rises to the occasion and isn't afraid of the moment.   The question for this group will be who else steps up alongside Peppler and Welson. The Polar Bears have talent in their locker room.   Marshfield   Over the last few seasons, the Tigers have had a talented group and have lived at or around the top of the Wisconsin Valley Standings. However, they lost a significant amount of talent to graduation.   Three of the Tigers' top four scorers are gone, and their leading returning scorer, Zaida Kolbeck, will have to assume a significantly higher-usage role. I'm not worried about Kolbeck being someone who can handle more. The issues arise when you must find ways to account for losing at least half of your offense.   I like Kolbeck, but I'll be interested to see what Marshfield looks like this season.   Neenah   The loss of Allie Ziebell will sting. No non-prep school in the country can lose a top-five kid and continue like there isn't a void. However, there are still some things to be excited about at Neenah.   [player_tooltip player_id='533065' first='Rowan' last='Klesmit'] and [player_tooltip player_id='509694' first='Ellie' last='Buss'] in the same backcourt is a dangerous offensive pairing, and Klesmit can handle the creative burden on her. Her ability to make things happen off the dribble hasn't been as prominent because Ziebell could do anything and everything. Klesmit could have a sneaky breakout season in 2024-25.   Buss will need to take another step this season, much like she did last season. She started on JV as a freshman and played minutes in a sectional final as a newcomer, and this past winter, Buss was a starting guard in a state title game. She's steadily improved year over year.   Oshkosh North   I don't think people realize it, but North had one of the best seasons they've had in recent memory. They went 9-16 but weren't far off the pace from most of the FVA.   [player_tooltip player_id='751246' first='Awut' last='Alic'] is among the top players in this sectional, and she's probably the best athlete. Her ability to make some things happen that nobody else here can do. That alone could give the Spartans an edge that people didn't expect.   They'll have to figure out who the creator is now that Ava Hanson is gone, but I like where they are heading into the season.   Oshkosh West   What has made West competitive against the top of the FVA over the past few seasons has been their defense. Now that a defensive gem like Paige Seckar isn't there, I expect some growing pains.   Five of their top six scorers aren't back this season, and more will be on [player_tooltip player_id='767266' first='Maddie' last='Rasmussen']'s plate in her senior season. I believe Coach Phillips will get this team to be one of the better defensive units in the FVA again, but it'll have a new look.   SPASH   [player_tooltip player_id='764935' first='Jada' last='Seubert'] came into her own this summer, and she's looked fantastic against some of the top programs in EYBL. SPASH should have some talented pieces back, and in year two under Janel McCarville, things will look smoother than they did to start last season.   Having a player you can trust to create shots for themselves and their teammates gives them a leg up on most of the teams in their sectional. I like where they're at heading into this season.   We'll see how they look early this season and if they continue the momentum they ended with, but it felt like they turned a corner.   Superior   Eva Peterson and Kloe Zentkowski are off to the next level, and with them leaves the old guard that had been successful for multiple years under two coaches.   The one name I'm intrigued by that's back is Ava Meirotto. She has all the talent you could ask for in a kid and has shown the ability to play productive minutes in her time at Superior and in her time at Duluth Marshall.   Wausau West   Losing Kelly Kray will sting, and that is the last of the core of Lexie White-Kenzie Deaton-Maddie Anderson and Kray, who led the Spartans to a regional championship group in 2023.   Ayla Christensen is the final piece of that puzzle from that 2023 group, and her leadership is required when there is plenty of change around the program.   Wisconsin Rapids-Lincoln   The Red Raiders struggled in 23-24 and likely won't take a significant leap this season, but there are things to keep tabs on.   Wisconsin Rapids only lost two kids. Each was a role player, but the Red Raiders should have some continuity to build with.   Anytime I see a group that mostly sticks together, I feel that most teams improve, but we'll see.

I don't have many articles left to do this month, so we might as well start highlighting sectionals. We'll dive deep into all four sectionals in all five divisions and make my predictions for the upcoming season. Today, we'll begin with Division One, Sectional One. We'll go in alphabetical order.