Wisconsin high school girls basketball: SWAL Preview

2025-26 Southwest Wisconsin Activities League Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Cuba City
2) Darlington
3) Fennimore
4) Mineral Point
5) Riverdale
6) Southwestern
7) Boscobel
8) Iowa-Grant 

Players to Watch

Sadie Goebel, Darlington – Goebel was selected first-team all-SWAL as a junior, averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 steals per contest. Saide also made 46 threes.



Maddie Gratz, Darlington – As a junior, Gratz was named first-team all-league, tallying 11.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

Aly Ingersoll, Cuba City – Ingersol contributed 5.4 points per game and connected on 35 three-pointers as a junior.


Brooklyn Ritchie, Fennimore – As a sophomore, Ritchie earned first-team all-SWAL, averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per contest.

Ashley Rowe, Cuba City – Rowe was named first-team all-SWAL and WBCA all-state as a junior. She averaged 10.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. Ashley also made 52 three-pointers.

Team Capsules



Boscobel
Coach: Erik Kinney, 4th year
2024-25 Record: 4-21
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th, 1-13
Notable Returnees: Kylee Johnson (jr., 9.2 PPG, 2 SPG), Avery Updike (5-6, sr., 5.6 PPG), Aubrey Seep (sr., 5.6 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.6 SPG), Maya Baumeister (5-5, sr., 5.1 PPG), Addison Rounds (5-10, sr., 5 RPG)

Team Notes: The Bulldogs returned several contributors from last year's team.
Coach: Jason Derby, 5th year (93-22)
2024-25 Record: 25-5, Division 4 state champions
2024-25 Conference Finish: SWAL co-champions (13-1)
Returning Starters: Ashley Rowe (5-7, sr., 10.8 PPG, 52 3PM, 5.1 APG, 2.7 SPG), Aly Ingersol (5-8, sr., 5.4 PPG, 35 3PM)
Other Returnees: Lainey Welp (5-3, sr.), Bethany Daugherty (5-7, soph.), Trina Redfern (5-1, sr.), Brooke Terpstra (5-7, soph.), Emerysn Niles (5-4, soph.), Erika Droessler (5-5, jr.)
Newcomers: Ali Morovits (5-5, fr.), Lola Droessler (5-7, fr.), Lily Shireman (5-8, fr.), Audrey Schauff (5-4, fr.), Addie Nicely (5-1, fr.)

Team Notes: The Cubans have won at least a share of the last three SWAL titles, going 41-1 in that span. They will need to fill the void left by the graduation of five of their top six scorers from last year's team, which claimed the Division 4 WIAA state championship.

Darlington
Coach: Michael Flanagan, 2nd year; 17th overall (325-80)
2024-25 Record: 16-9
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 10-4
Returning Starters: Maddie Gratz (5-10, sr., 11.6 PPG, 7 RPG, 3 APG, 2.6 SPG), Sadie Goebel (5-3, sr., 9.7 PPG, 46 3PM, 5.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.7 SPG), Catie Hartwig (5-10, sr., 8.8 PPG), Lilly Ritchie (5-10, jr., 6.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Sydney Wiegel (5-9, sr.), Olivea Winslow (5-4-, sr.), Lexie Meyers (5-4, soph.), Chloe O'Brien (5-11, soph.)
Newcomers: Kayli Buschor (5-5, fr.), Maicy Norgard (5-10, fr.), Brenna Edgerton (5-7, fr.)

Team Notes: Coach Flanagan, a WBCA Hall of Famer, told MaxPreps they have good length, which should equate to good rebounding and strong interior defense. "From a systems standpoint, we should be ahead of last year's curve, and we will continue to get better at shooting the ball." He went on to say that team energy and chemistry are always a work in progress, and if they can elevate those elements, it will directly correlate with reaching their potential.

Fennimore
Coach: Benjamin Wood, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 9-16
2024-25 Conference Finish: T4th, 6-8
Returning Starters: Brooklyn Ritchie (5-10, jr.), Kate Kenney (5-8, jr.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Brylie Zink (5-6, jr.), Eden Fry (5-9, soph.), Peyton Lendosky (5-9, sr.), Kylie Cole (5-10, jr.), Ava Winkers (5-5, soph.), Kathryn Nelson (5-9, jr.), Campbell Fitzgerald (5-10, jr.)

Team Notes: "We have a lot of returning players with varsity experience," coach Wood told MaxPreps.


Coach: Jessica Schultz, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 5-20
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 3-11
Returning Starters: Brynne Pettit (soph.), Kylie Breuer (soph.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Payton Freymiller (sr.), Rena Pettit (soph.), Trinity Loeffelholz (soph.)

Team Notes: Coach Schultz said that speed and toughness are team strengths.

Mineral Point
Coach: Merrill Brunson, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 19-7
2024-25 Conference Finish: SWAL co-champions (13-1)
Returning Starters: Madalyn Kabat (sr., 9.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.7 SPG), Jadyn Schultz (sr., 6.3 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Sophie Miller (jr., 5.5 PPG, 35 3PM), Sadie Miller (jr., 5.1 PPG), Bree Swenson (jr.), Ava Ingwell (jr.)
Newcomers: Stephanie Wallace (jr.), Payton Christopher (jr.), Lilly Houtakker (jr.), Kate James (jr.)

Team Notes: The Pointers return two starters from last year's team, which claimed a share of the league title. Coach Brunson told MaxPreps their strengths include defensive intensity, hustle, and basketball IQ.

Riverdale (Muscoda)
Coach: Larry Swiggum, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 12-13
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 6-8
Notable Returnees: Macy McKay (sr., 12.8 PPG, 11.6 RPG), Lily Barr (sr., 4.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG), Bailey Harris (jr.), Allie Goplin (sr.), Kaitlyn Miess (soph.)

Team Notes: The Chieftians returned several contributors from last year's team, including leading scorer Macy McKay.



Southwestern (Hazel Green)
Coach: Tanner Middendorf, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 5-20
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 4-10
Returning Starters: Morgan Rogers (5-7, jr., 9.1 PPG, 5 RPG, 2.1 SPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Abigail Foley (5-8, soph.), Charlee Kaiser (5-6, soph.), Megan Roepsch (5-5, sr.)
Newcomers: Peyton Busch (fr.), Natalie Birkel (fr.), Ella Roepsch (fr.), Kylie Lutes (fr.)

Team Notes: Coach Middendorf said they have a good group of returning pieces and solid newcomers.