Trailways-West Conference Preview - Boys Basketball

Below is a boys basketball conference preview. Included in each preview is the previous year standings, review, returning all-conference players, projected standings with writeup, a sleeper team, top players to watch, conference break out candidates.

Markesan dropped just one league game a season ago and took home the conference crown outright, edging out Pardeeville and Randolph. Come playoff time, Pardeeville and Markesan both played in a regional final with Pardeeville being the only team to advance to sectionals, ultimately losing to Lomira. Coach Lindert at Pardeeville hit win number 300 in 2025-26.

The West division of the Trailways will be super competitive with the top three teams vying for that conference crown but a few others that will have a say in the race. If Fall River can rattle off 16 wins this year, head coach Arnie Oelke will move into the top 20 of wins all-time in the state of Wisconsin.

Head Coach: Chris Lindert - 21st year (308 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Austin Dechert, Zach Hineman, Bodie Johansen, Brady Dolgner
Returners: Devin Jerome, 6-3, sr; Julian Wells, 6-1, sr; Cody Gentz, 6-4, sr; Chance Millard, 6-1, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors: Fletcher Hoffmann, soph Braylon Wendlandt
Breakout Candidate: Cody Gentz

Outlook: Three starters are back for the Pardeeville team that won a regional title a season ago. Coach Lindert, who surpassed 300 career wins will have the Player of the Year in the conference back to lead the way in Devin Jerome. Julian Wells and Cody Gentz were both all-league performers as juniors and provide a great nucleus for Lindert to work with. Pardeeville has consistently been in the conversation for title supremacy under Coach Lindert, so this group is likely hungry to get back to the top.

Head Coach: Arnie Oelke - 41st year (516 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Grant Osterhaus, Bryce Waterworth
Returners: Kaden Seim, 6-4, sr; Mason Bobholz, 6-7, soph; Jayden Abegglen, 6-1, jr; Ryder Rozinski, 6-2, jr; Jack Samplawski, 5-6, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors: Lucas Alvin, 6-1, soph (transfer), Oscar Zuhlke, frosh
Breakout Candidate: Mason Bobholz

Outlook: Head coach Arnie Oelke will have a really good group back in his 41st year on the Pirates sideline. Kaden Seim is one of the best wings in the conference while Mason Bobholz showed his dominance in the paint as just a sophomore a season ago. Jayden Abegglen and Ryder Rozinski are two skilled guards that can push tempo and Randolph transfer Lucas Alvin adds depth, defense, and toughness to this squad. The West conference race is going to be fun to watch as the teams at the top are experienced, have top end talent, and good coaches. Oelke’s group is one of those favorites to win the crown.

Head Coach: Jordan Jahnke - 2nd year (15 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Cohen Hoffman, Josh Herwig, Grayden Vredeveld, Alex Richter, Korbyn Dolgner, Ty Conklin, Caiden Lager
Returners: Graham Vredeveld, 6-3, jr; Brody Zerull, 6-9, sr; Benton Vande Berg, 5-7, jr;
Newcomers/New Contributors: Bowyn Laper, 6-0, jr; Jaxson Laper, 5-10, soph; Lucas Bruce, jr
Breakout Candidate: Brody Zerull

Outlook: Markesan is another of these teams that will likely be in the conference race come late February. Despite losing seven contributors from last season, Jordan Jahnke’s group has a lot to look forward to. Graham Vredeveld leads the Hornets into 2026-27 after being the top scorer on the team a season ago. Benton Vande Berg is another skilled guard on the perimeter and Brody Zerull is an enforcer in the paint on both ends of the floor. Players from the lower levels such as Bowyn and Jaxon Laper and others will need to step into big roles on the varsity squad for this Markesan team to reach its potential. There may be growing pains in November and December because of it.

Head Coach: Tim Struck - 12th year (127 career wins)
Lost Contributors: AJ Madrid, Cooper Krakow
Returners: Jaxon Tuchalski, 6-1, jr; Jack Becker, 6-1, sr; Miles Hall, 6-1, sr; Spencer Langsdorf, 6-3, sr; Nolan Proebstle, 5-10, jr; Charlie Homman, 6-2, jr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Miles Hall

Outlook: Rio won twelve games a season ago and will return four starters from that group. Tim Truck comes into year 12 with the Vikings and has a stable of experience to rely on, on the court. Jaxon Tuchalski was a first team all-league player and gives him a go-to scorer at the top of the roster. Jack Becker, Miles Hall, and Spencer Langsdorf all started a season ago while junior Nolan Proebstle and Charlie Homman saw extended action off the bench. The group up and down the lineup is not afraid to shoot it from the three-point line and that floor spacing opens up the paint for the dribble attack or basket cutters.

Head Coach: Paul Wedig - 4th year (124 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Kyle Walther, Kaleb Haynes
Returners: Mason Knaup, 5-11, jr; Nathan Fishbaugher, 5-9, sr; Drake Westfield, 5-11, jr; Landen Waters, 5-9, soph; Hank Haas, 5-9, soph; Hunter Kelma, 5-9, soph; Hunter Fresimuth, 6-3, sr; Quinn Lewis, 5-7, soph
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Drake Westfield

Outlook: Princeton/Green Lake finished last in the conference with just two league wins a season ago. However, Paul Wedig had a lot of underclassmen playing varsity minutes for the Tigersharks. That includes his top two scorers that were sophomores and are now juniors, Mason Knaup and Drake Westfield. Hunter Freismuth is the man in the middle and the depth of varsity experience behind that trio is in abundance. Eight freshman played varsity minutes a season ago and that experience will boost this group in their growth as a team and individually.

Head Coach: Tyler Fischer - 14th year (228 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Levi Kok, Ben Paul, Jared Buwalda, Troy Logan, Mason Gorsuch, Lukas Alvin (transfer)
Returners: Jakob Treptow, 6-3, sr; Brody Vree, 6-6, sr; Cade Jens,6-1, jr; Griffin Hemling, 6-5, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Cade Jens

Outlook: Randolph graduated its top five scorers from a season ago and promising freshman Lukas Alvin transferred to Fall River. Head coach Tyler Fischer enters year 14 with a group that has a lot of holes to fill and production to replace. The good news, there is good size with the returning players in Brody Vree, Griffin Hemling, and Jakob Treptow. Cade Jens played in every game as a sophomore and that experience he gained will be critical in his stepping into a more prominent role.

Head Coach: Michael Brouette - 2nd year (4 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Cody Schultz, Landon Larson, Kaleb Schumann, Jonathan Gonzalez
Returners: Daniel Kendall, 5-10, sr; Ja’veon Brooks, 5-10, sr; Ethan Skramstad, sr; Kaiden Schumann, jr; Ian Klein, jr; Shannen Elliott, sr; Thomas Olson, sr; Noah Schmudlach, jr

Outlook: Coach Brouette enters year three having to replace four seniors from last year that were major contributors to the Hilltoppers. The good news is the top two scorers are back in guard Daniel Kendall and Ja’Veon Brooks. There are a handful of other players who saw varsity action, but many will need to step into new roles where production output will have to increase.

Head Coach: Bailey Smit - 2nd year (6 career wins)
Lost Contributors: Dayton McBride, Alexander Raymond, Brock Dystrka, Jackson Drews, Jaiden Mendoza
Returners: Hoyt Helmer, 6-0, sr; Callen Drews, 5-9, sr; Gerrit Sjoerdsma, 6-2, sr; Gerrit DeBoer, 5-11, sr; Asher SearVogel, 5-9, sr
Newcomers/New Contributors:
Breakout Candidate: Callen Drews

Outlook: Cambria was a team dominated by seniors and juniors a season ago. Three starters and a few major contributors graduated from Coach Smit’s six-win squad. Back however are starters Callen Drews and Hoyt Helmer, two guards that will steer the ship for the Hilltoppers. Gerrit Sjoerdsma, Asher SearVogel, and Gerrit DeBoer are a trio of seniors that will help in the leading of the program in 2026-27.

Rio is a team to watch that is projected to finish in the middle of the standings. Nearly all production is back and there is proven scorers at the top of the rotation. The VIkings are primed to play spoiler for the teams vying for a conference title, and with some good bounces could be in that race come seasons end as well.

Jayden Abegglen, jr, Fall River
Abegglen earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore after he averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. The 6-1 guard sets the tempo with the ball in his hands as he’s comfortable in the open space, pick and roll, and in the one on one.

Jack Becker, sr, Rio
Becker was an honorable mention all-league selection as a junior after he averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. He’s a strong lead guard that is willing to share the ball, but can create those scoring opportunities for himself as well.

Mason Bobholz, soph, Fall River
Bobholz burst onto the season as a freshman a season ago and averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while earning second team all-league honors. He’s shot up to 6-7 and with his combination of size, footwork, and IQ, he’s growing into one of the better big men in the sophomore class.

Ja’veon Brooks, sr, Montello
Brooks, like his backcourt counterpart, is comfortable with the ball in his hands anywhere on the court. He averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game and was an honorable mention all-conference selection. He also has quick hands and good instincts on the defensive side where he averaged 2.8 steals per game.

Cody Gentz, sr, Pardeeville
Gentz controls the paint for Pardeeville to the tune of 8.3 points and also 10.8 rebounds per game. He was a second team all-league honoree and does a good job of limiting opposing teams to second scoring opportunities with his ability to clean up on the glass.

Devin Jerome, sr, Pardeeville
Jerome was the Player of the Year and honorable mention all-state selection as a junior after he averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He’s 17 points away from 1,000 in his prep career and can effect the game in every single facet on the court.

Daniel Kendall, sr, Montello
Kendall led the Hilltoppers in scoring as a junior, averaging 14.4 points per game. He does most of his damage with the ball in his hands and in the one-on-one. Kendall was a second team all-league honoree a season ago.

Mason Knaup, jr, Princeton/Green Lake
Knaup led the Tigersharks in scoring a season ago, averaging 16.2 points and earning second team all-league honors. His instincts on the defensive side lead to his skillset on the offensive side. He averaged 2.5 steals per game and turned those into transition opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Kaden Seim, sr, Fall River
Seim was a first team all-league selection a season ago after he averaged 17.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. At 6-5, he has great size and patience and can score at the rim or in the mid-range.

Jaxon Tuchalski, jr, Rio
Tuchalski was a first team all-league performer as a sophomore a season ago. He led the Vikings with 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and buried 43 triples. Tuchalski plays above his 6-2 frame and his ability to high point rebounds leads to second scoring opportunities for the athletic wing.

Graham Vredeveld, jr, Markesan
Vredeveld was a first team all-league performer and the top scorer for Markesan as a sophomore. He averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds and can score from all three levels in the half court.

Julian Wells, sr, Pardeeville
Wells was a first team all-league performer a season ago after he averaged 17.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. The 6-1 guard is half of a Bulldog backcourt that is difficult to contain as both he and Jerome can get downhill and cause havoc on opposing defenses.

Drake Westfield, jr, Princeton/Green Lake
Westfield averaged 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game as he earned honorable mention all-league recognition. The 5-11 guard is a pesky defender as well as he averaged 3.1 steals and nearly a block per game. He plays with instincts, decisiveness, and quick hands.