Reedsburg’s Gavin Budnik looks for room earlier this year against Sparta
DIVISION 3 | BRACKET
(Times, dates, & locations subject to change)
The Placements
Defending state champion Notre Dame is elevated to D2 this season, meaning we’ll have a new champ in the division. Grafton is the top overall seed in Division 3 and assigned to Group A, where fellow unbeaten Plymouth is the number two seed. Catholic Memorial was the runner-up in Division 3 last year and has just one loss this season, a 23-20 decision against D1 powerhouse Franklin to open the year. The Crusaders get the top seed in Group B, which also features Mount Horeb/Barneveld as the two-seed. Edgewood knocked off Mount Horeb/Barneveld in Week 8 but fell to Sauk Prairie in the final regular season game, but the Crusaders still snagged a number one seed. Onalaska is the two-seed, while Sauk Prairie’s first league title (shared) in more than 40 years earns them the three-seed. New Berlin West lost two games, including Week 9 against rival New Berlin Eisenhower, but the Vikings still managed to get a top seed in Group D. Whitnall, the second place team in the Woodland with an 8-1 overall record, is the two-seed there.
Six to Watch
Here are six of the most electric offensive players that will be lining it up beginning this weekend:
Gannon Bagstad, Edgewood - Bagstad helped the Crusaders to an 8-1 record and share of the Badger-Small title, throwing for 1,333 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 541 yards and a team-high eight scores on the ground.
Tanner Effertz, Whitnall - Effertz is a four-year varsity performer who has continued to put up big numbers as a senior, with 1,943 passing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He’s also gotten more involved in the rushing game with 635 yards and 12 scores on the ground.
Brooks Hendrickson, Mount Horeb/Barneveld - Hendrickson burst onto the scene last year and has continued with a strong senior campaign, including 1,729 passing yards and 23 touchdowns during the regular season, as he completed 64.6% of his passes. he added 225 yards and three scores on the ground.
Ian Kowal, Onalaska - Kowal threw for 1,658 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, completing 65.2% of his passes for the Hilltoppers, who earned a two-seed in the playoffs.
Will Mikonowicz, Reedsburg - Mikonowicz began the year at quarterback but slid back to fullback for the Beavers’ Wing-T offense, and finished the regular season with 1,250 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense. He also returned three punts for touchdowns, leads the team in tackles, and had three interceptions including a pick-6.
Deven Miller, Plymouth - Miller is the top offensive weapon for the unbeaten Panthers, carrying the ball 132 times for 1,272 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s also thrown a touchdown and caught a touchdown this season.
Upset Alert
Pewaukee and Menomonie are teams that would qualify for the “Dropdown Effect”, moving down to Division 3 after competing in larger conferences. Sixth-seeded Pewaukee has quality wins over Port Washington and larger Classic Eight teams Waukesha West and Kettle Moraine, with the teams five losses all coming against Division 1 playoff opponents. They’ll be ready for anything Sauk Prairie can throw at them. Menomonie played all Division 1 and 2 teams this season, so despite a 4-5 overall record, they’ll be a challenge for second-seeded Onalaska.
Best Level 1 Game
Wisconsin Lutheran made it all the way to the state semi-finals last season, and have relied heavily on sophomore quarterback Jonah Sadler this year, who leads the team in passing and rushing. As the number five seed, they’ll make the lengthy trip to La Crosse to take on the Logan Rangers, who lean on senior running back Maxim Roberts and sophomore quarterback Thomas Check quite a bit.
Potential intriguing match-ups the rest of the way
Please note the emphasis on potential.
Grafton vs. Plymouth, Sectional Final - Both teams are undefeated, as Grafton is the top overall seed in Division 3, but because of how the seed lines are matched up geographically, the overall fifth seed Plymouth Panthers would be the matchup here.
Catholic Memorial vs. Mount Horeb/Barneveld, Sectional Final - Mount Horeb/Barneveld had Catholic Memorial beat in Level 3 last year before a heartbreaking fumble on a busted play led to the Crusaders scoring in the final minute to win. These two are among the most talented rosters in the state.
My Picks
Grafton over Medford
Merrill over Lakeland
Luxemburg-Casco over Fox Valley Lutheran
Plymouth over Marinette
Catholic Memorial over Jefferson
La Crosse Logan over Wisconsin Lutheran
Burlington over New Berlin Eisenhower
Mount Horeb/Barneveld over Wausau East
Edgewood over Rhinelander
Reedsburg versus Waterford (No selection)*
Pewaukee over Sauk Prairie
Onalaska over Menomonie
New Berlin West over Whitefish Bay
Port Washington over Milwaukee Washington
Martin Luther over Pius XI Catholic
Whitnall over McFarland
* - Disclaimer: I am an assistant coach at Reedsburg
Travis Wilson serves as the Bound Wisconsin Manager. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisBound or reach him at [email protected].