Midseason Report: D1 Sectionals Getting Clear For Some, Muddy For Others
The WIAA just released information on the sectional meetings that will be held anywhere between Sunday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 16. Some have an in-person meeting, others do email, and some have a conference call. Imagine a really scaled…
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Continue ReadingThe WIAA just released information on the sectional meetings that will be held anywhere between Sunday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 16. Some have an in-person meeting, others do email, and some have a conference call. Imagine a really scaled down version of the NCAA Selection Committee for March Madness. In some years, it might be pretty cut and dry as to who is seeded where, but others it can be a little bit of a trickle down effect debating the quality wins, bad losses, who did you beat when you were healthy vs. who did you lose to when your team had injuries. There is no perfect system, but with it being the midway point of the season here are some things to think about from an outside perspective heading into the section seedings which is two weeks away!
Section 1
River Falls started the year with a little adversity with an emphasis on finishing the year the opposite how it started. Week one of the preseason had significant injuries with to athletes where they were down four before the fourth day of practice. Senior and UMD recruit Maddi Kealy was in a boot with a stress fracture and Junior, Minnesota commit Anna Wolf was out with a back injury. With Kealy back and Wolf nearing her return, the Wildcats have been playing a top schedule with some of the best teams out of Minnesota. Their only loss to a Wisconsin team came to Oconomowoc in the Charger Challenge finals. Other teams who will be looking for high seeds out of this section will be SPASH, Wausau West, Merrill, Eau Claire North, and Hudson.
Kimberly Seniors Carlee Doering and Courtney PearsonSection 2
This could get a little interesting and teams should know a little bit more after this week. Kimberly and Appleton North have been the top two teams out of this section the past three years. They have played each other three times so far with North taking them 2 out of 3 and Kimberly winning the most recent one at the Charger Challenge. The two will face off in a FVA conference matchup at Kimberly this Thursday with title hopes on the line (and a significant win towards seeding). Bay Port has only one loss on the year and will be looking to break into the top four and create some challenges. The Pirates are led by Alyssa Koska and Brooke Clement from the outside, but will have trouble challenging for a one or two seed when comparing quality wins against the likes of Appleton North and Kimberly.
Section 3
Yikes, this one is going to be so close to call. Right now the one seed goes to Verona after defeating Sun Prairie followed by Sun Prairie and Waunakee. What a sectional semifinal that would be with Sun Prairie and Waunakee. Another couple of teams that intrigue me are DeForest and Madison Memorial. After seeing DeFo at the beginning of the season they definitely have the pieces to give teams some fits with Kayce Meiners in the middle. Sun Prairie has been points away from erasing some of those close losses, but can they make the small tweaks to turn those close losses into big wins come October? They will host the sectional final this year while Verona will host the sectional semifinal
Section 4
Oconomowoc
Three D1 Defensive Players in Ashley Sharkus, Caitlin Crawford, and Tahya PozorskiWatertown
West Bend West
4 – Manitowoc Lincoln, Neenah, Oshkosh West, Hartford, Slinger
Oconomowoc is the number one team out of this section, but they still have Watertown and West Bend West who are capable of beating anyone on a given night. I think what could be interesting is how the four through eight seeds play out. There are a whole batch of teams who have kind of beaten up on each other throughout the year. Would it be bold to request a six instead of a four seed to play a West Bend West in the Regional Final in hopes of not getting an Oconomowoc for a sectional semifinal?
Section 5
Here is just a preliminary thought as to how this might work. These teams have all played each other multiple times. I feel like each weekend is another version of the Section 5 preview special:
- Arrowhead
- DSHA
- Brookfield Central
- Hamilton
- Cedarburg
- Germantown
- Menomonee Falls
I have no ties to Milwaukee. I haven’t coached there, I haven’t lived there, I don’t have any real bias towards any of those teams. I look at a team like Menomonee Falls who is having a solid year, great athletes and they are the potentially seventh-best team in this section. What? All have Division 1 players on their roster. This is nothing new to them. It’s just unfortunate that there isn’t a way to disperse the talent/teams into other sections of the state….Thank you for attending my TED Talk.
Section 6
This section has traditionally come down to Westosha Central and Burlington with Union Grove being in the mix the past couple of years. Its a Southern Lakes Conference reunion. With Union Grove heading to Section 7 and Westosha Central rebuilding after losing a legendary senior class for 2018, Burlington is a clear favorite to make it to the state tournament again. The Demons know how to win on the Resch Center floor.
Section 7
Union Grove made a major statement this past weekend at the Sprawl taking third place overall. With Karlee Lois, Olivia Dir, and Kelsey Henderson leading the way, the Broncos are now in conversation among the top teams in Division 1. With their record, their quality wins, and getting out of the sectional with Burlington has made them a big time threat. With Greendale losing key players due to graduation the past year, the four straight state tournament run may be at risk.
Section 8
Nicole Pozorski and Erin Powers of MukwonagoKettle Moraine has asserted itself as a favorite in Section 8 this year. They are extremely physical and athletic, posing a real problem to the other side of the net. However, some other teams in this section are just real wildcards that I don’t think anyone really wants to play. Pewaukee is so balanced. Running a 6-2, they have weapons across the front row and with Elsa Shepard controlling the middle, presents a real matchup problem. Then there is Mukwonago. Nicole Pozorski and Erin Powers are two Seniors who have found a way to beat teams with their high IQ, and just knowing where others are vulnerable. Pozorski is extremely offensive and just frustrates a defense where Powers is one of the top defenders in the state and just finds a way to score points. One team that I think is really scary is Waukesha West. They may not be the most consistent team, but they have had some big wins the past two weekends defeating Appleton North, Hamilton, Kettle Moraine Lutheran, and Neenah. With Anna Holland passing in the backrow along with Abby Fregein, these two are rock solid. Alexis Boling can score a ton of points from anywhere in the front row. This could be a real interesting sectional where it will come down to certain matchups.