Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader file photo Bowler’s Ezra Spencer drives with the basketball during last year’s game against Menominee Indian. Spencer was a second-team all-conference selection a season ago.
Coming off a first-place finish in the Central Wisconsin Conference-North Division, the Gresham Community High School boys basketball team will have some new faces leading the charge this upcoming season.
The Wildcats must find a way to replace both Drew Haffner and Todd Otradovec, who were each first-team all-conference selections a season ago and led Gresham to a 12-0 conference mark.
The team does return senior Justice Paiser, a second-team selection, and sophomores Raven Bennett and Jake Hoffman from last year’s starting lineup. Junior Waylon Welch should see more minutes this fall in trying to fill the void left by the graduated players.
Coach Jeff Zobeck knows the Wildcats have some issues that need addressing as the season starts up. Zobeck also knows a team effort will be needed in order for the players to reach their season goals.
“Size will be an issue. Rebounding and defense overall will be some things we will need to work hard at,” Zobeck said. “Building a team identity with players most likely represented by all grades ninth (through) 12th will be a focus as well.”
Although Gresham has players it must replace and Manawa — which placed second last year — returns its core players, the Wildcats still believe they can compete for the conference title.
Aside from Gresham and Manawa, the CWC-North only had two other teams finish at .500 or better in conference — Wisconsin Valley Lutheran (8-4) and Northland Lutheran (6-6).
Marion (3-9), Bowler (2-10) and Tigerton (1-11) rounded out the division standings and are all hoping for bounce-back seasons this winter.
Marion enters the season looking to replace two graduated players that were named to all-conference teams last fall while under the direction of new coach Dave Roe.
“This is my first year as head coach but had the summer to start installing a new system,” Roe said. “The guys worked hard, and I think we made some positive strides this summer. But we have a ways to go to get where we want (and) need to be. The guys are hungry to win and prove that we can play with anyone.”
Leading the team on the court this winter will be three returning starters — senior Dhonivan Hass and juniors Jared Krueger and Cody Clegg. Senior Blake Stumpf, juniors Ethan Tischauser and McGregor Matz and sophomore Brandon Beechy are all returning letter-winners and will help fill out the rotation.
Bowler will be led by senior Ezra Spencer, who was a second-team all-conference selection a season ago.
Junior Zach Fehrman and senior Landan Kroening also figure to serve big roles for the Panthers, who are coached by Adam Spencer.
Tigerton will need to replace both of its all-conference selections from last season along with Braxton Michaelis, who suffered an injury during the football season and will miss the entire basketball season.
New coach Matt Herrbold knows the challenge that the team faces this winter, but he still expects the team to be competitive.
“Overall expectations for the team this year are mixed,” Herrbold said. “We have a decent sized group of athletes giving us more options this year as compared to last. We are returning three starters from last year and are hoping to become more competitive in our conference.”
Seniors Izaiah Hidde and Steven Parrott and junior Allen Jobe are the three returning starters, while senior John Uttenreither, juniors Austin Hoffmann and Landon Prey and sophomore Kaeden Miller are all returning letter-winners that coach Herrbold could utilize.
North Eastern Conference
Like Marion, Tigerton and Bowler, Clintonville is also hoping the winter season produces more wins, both overall and in the tough North Eastern Conference. The Truckers finished 4-19 overall and 2-16 in conference play last year.
Clintonville heads into its first season under Ryan Mattson with plenty of experience on its side. The Truckers will return four starters — seniors Sam Wittman and Sean Finger and juniors Presley Rosenow and Aidan Polzin. Polzin was the team’s lone all-conference selection a season ago, making the honorable mention team.
Seniors Gerald Wood and Matthew Morse are also returning letter-winners for the Truckers.
High school basketball teams could open the regular seasons Tuesday. Regional games begin near the end of February, and state games will take place March 14-16 at the Kohl Center in Madison.