Wisconsin Valley 2026 Football Preview

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be previewing every conference in the state as part of our preseason preparations.

Check out all of our Football Conference Previews for every league in the state, here.

2025 Recap: D.C. Everest was the champion of the Wisconsin Valley Conference last year, winning the title outright. Marshfield was second, followed by Wausau West as the only playoff teams from the conference, though none were able to secure a postseason victory.

Note: The Wisconsin Valley Conference is a seven-team league that is paired with the Big Rivers for one crossover game.

2025 Season Information:
Standings
Stats
All-Conference

2026 PREVIEW:

Predicted Order of Finish:

1) D.C. Everest
2) Stevens Point
3) Marshfield
4) Wausau West
5) Eau Claire North
6) Wisconsin Rapids
7) Eau Claire Memorial

Players to Watch:

Trent Breitbach, QB, Stevens Point: Breitbach is one of the best athletes in the state, earning First Team All-Conference recognition last year, when he accounted for more than 2600 yards of offense and 34 touchdowns.

Haiden Carlson, RB, Marshfield: Carlson was a First Team All-Conference selection and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year last season after leading the conference in rushing with 1,538 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Chris Ferrario, OL, D.C. Everest: The son of former Packers offensive lineman Bill Ferrario, Chris is making a name for himself as a unanimous First Team All-Conference pick as just a sophomore last year.

Ethan Foemmel, QB, Marshfield: Foemmel split time at quarterback as a freshman but showed that he is one to watch the rest of the way in his career, completing 54% for 796 yards and six scores.

Niko Kleinschmidt, DL, D.C. Everest: Kleinschmidt earned First Team All-Conference and WVC Defensive Player of the Year honors last year.

2026 Team Previews

1) D.C. Everest went a perfect 6-0 against teams from the Wisconsin Valley Conference, claiming the outright league title. However, the Evergreens struggled outside the conference, dropping all four games, including a 19-13 loss to Brookfield East in a Level 1 playoff game. “We have a smaller senior class than the previous two years, so depth will be something we have to work on. We do have some key guys coming back in our skill positions and some good young guys to fill in some of the spots. Up front is where games are won though and we still need to solidify both our offensive and defensive lines after graduating a lot from last years team up front.” Ty Rohde saw the majority of the snaps at quarterback as a sophomore last year, while Andrew Bangston is a versatile weapon in the backfield who will see his role increase substantially. Four starters are back on offense, as well as four on defense, including WVC Defensive Player of the Year Niko Kleinschmidt.

2) Stevens Point went 5-4 last year, with the four losses all coming in very competitive games, by a combined 33 points. However, due to the five wins coming against weaker competition, the Panthers were on the outside looking in when the WIAA’s new playoff system announced its qualifiers. Head coach Ryan Eigenberger returns an experienced and athletic squad that has the pieces to not just push for a playoff berth, but potentially win a conference title. The Panthers get a kick start with the return of dynamic senior quarterback Trent Breitbach, who threw for more than 1700 yards and 14 touchdowns with 854 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. A total of seven starters are back on both offense and defense this season, with 40 letterwinners returning.

3) Marshfield dropped the first three games of the year and four of the first five, but rallied to finish in second place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference standings thanks to four consecutive wins to close the year. The Tigers would go on the road in the first playoff game, falling to Oshkosh North. It would not be a surprise to see the Tigers competing towards the top of the league this fall, especially with the return of 1500-yard rusher Haiden Carlson. He’s joined in the backfield by a couple quarterbacks that split time last year, senior Trevyn Freis and sophomore Ethan Foemmel.

4) Wausau West scratched out five wins during the regular season, enough to qualify for the playoffs. They’d make a lengthy road trip in the first game to Arrowhead, where they’d fall to the eventual Division 1 state champions 56-12. The Warriors return leading rusher Miles Waldvogel, who doubles as an All-Conference defensive back. Taeden Moua also saw time carrying the football for the Warriors.

5) Eau Claire North hasn’t seen much of a change in success since moving to the Wisconsin Valley a few years ago, as the Huskies went 2-7 last year and missed the playoffs once again. In fact, North hasn’t made the WIAA playoffs since 1998. It will be another coaching change for the North program this fall, as Matt McGinnis stepped down, and former Menomonie coach Mike Sinz makes the move back to Eau Claire after also coaching at Memorial a few years ago. He’ll have to replace Zachary Shipman, last year’s quarterback who provided most of the offense last year, passing for more than 1100 yards and rushing for more than 1200, accounting for 21 touchdowns.

6) Wisconsin Rapids did not win a game last year, unfortunately, though the Red Raiders had five games decided by two or fewer scores. “We’re looking to continue building on both sides of the ball,” said second-year coach Michael Krenz. “We have returning starters in key positions will help facilitate that. Will still be a young team with a lot of young talented sophomores that are hungry to prove themselves and earn significant playing time.”There are 36 letterwinners back as they try to make a push up the standings, with seven starters returning on offense and eight on defense. Among the returning regulars is quarterback Owen Richardson, who threw for more than 1400 yards with 11 touchdowns.

7) Eau Claire Memorial scored just one win last season, a 29-20 victory over Wisconsin Rapids in early October. “We will be a young team in the 2026 campaign after graduating half of our starters on both sides of the ball,” said head coach Tom Westcott. “The Abes will look to continue build confidence in scheme and fundamentals in their third year in the Wisconsin Valley.” Marcus Holmberg got the bulk of the snaps at quarterback last year and returns after throwing for more than 1000 yards. Top receiver Jackson Zuleger also returns.