Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Trailways West Preview

2025-26 Trailways West Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) Pardeeville
2) Fall River 
3) Randolph
4) Markesan 
5) Green Lake/Princeton (Green Lake)
6) Cambria-Friesland (Cambria)
7) Rio
8) Montello 

Players to Watch

Natalie Fietz, Fall River – Fietz was voted first-team all-Trailways West as a junior, tallying 14.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Peyton Jenkins, Markesan – Jenkins was chosen as a second-team all-league performer as a sophomore, averaging 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest.

Riley Kennedy, Rio – As a sophomore, Kennedy took home second-team all-league honors, averaging 9.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.

Rylee Hoffmann, Markesan – Hoffman tallied 7.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 steals per contest, receiving second-team all-Trailways West.

Bronte Hulberg, Pardeeville – Hulberg was named Trailways West Co-Player of the Year and honorable mention WBCA all-state as a junior. The UW-Stout commit averaged 18.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.6 steals per game for the Bulldogs. Bronte also made 46 three-pointers.

Maddie Medema, Randolph – Medema was named Trailways West Co-Player of the Year and honorable mention WBCA all-state as a sophomore. She averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 steals per game for the Rockets. Madelynn also connected on 40 three-pointers.

Greta Morris, Princeton/Green Lake – As a junior, Morris earned second-team all-conference honors, tallying 8.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game.

Emma Sampson, Fall River – Sampson was named first-team all-Trailways West as a junior, averaging 16.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.4 steals per contest.

Ava Wagner, Pardeeville – Wagner tallied 16.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game as a junior, earning unanimous first-team all-conference.

Lexie Zemlo, Randolph – As a freshman, Zemlo was voted first-team all-league, averaging 12.8 points per game.

Team Capsules

Cambria-Friesland (Cambria)
Coach: Gail Schneider, 5th year
2024-25 Record: 8-16
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 4-10
Returning Starters: Ashley Ramirez (5-3, sr.)
Other Notable Returnees: Janell Villarreal (5-3, sr., 7 PPG), Enya Heller (5-2, sr.), Rayna Helmer (5-2, soph.), Zoi Sabol (5-9, sr.)

Team Notes: The Hilltoppers graduated four starters from their 2024-25 squad.

Fall River 
Coach: Jim Doolittle, 14th year (246-93); 27th overall (452-182)
2024-25 Record: 19-8
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 10-4
Returning Starters: Emma Sampson (5-11, sr., 16.2 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 3.4 SPG), Natalie Fietz (5-11, sr., 14.7 PPG, 7.4 PPG),
Other Notable Returnees: Neveah Schultz (5-10, soph., 5.5 PPG), Cecelia Tavs (5-5, sr.), Ella Beaver (5-10, sr.)

Team Notes: Coach Doolittle, a WBCA Hall of Famer, enters the year tied for 30th on the state's all-time wins list in girls basketball with 452 victories.

Markesan 
Coach: Jake Vandeberg, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 18-8
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 11-3
Returning Starters: Peyton Jenkins (5-6, jr., 9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3 APG), Karlie Olson (5-6, sr., 7.9 PPG), Rylee Hoffmann (5-7, sr., 7.4 PPG), Brianna Boelter (5-10, sr., 6 PPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Taylor Moderow (5-9, jr.), Harper Dornfeld (5-5, soph.), Kennedy Baretta (5-7, sr.), Destry Kono (5-5, sr.), Klaire Jahnke (5-9, jr.)

Team Notes: The Hornets return four of their top five scorers from last year's squad.

Montello 
Coach: Curtis Morgan, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 4-18
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 2-12
Top Returnees: Kyla Calnin (5-0, jr.), Jada Kufal (5-8, sr.), Samantha Bond (soph.)

Team Notes: The Hilltoppers graduated several key players, including their leading scorer from last season.

Pardeeville 
Coach: Joe Guenther, 6th year
2024-25 Record: 22-5, lost to Westfield in D4 sectionals
2024-25 Conference Finish: Trailways West champion (13-1)
Returning Starters: Bronte Hulberg (5-10, sr., 18.1 PPG, 46 3PM, 6.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 3.6 SPG), Ava Wagner (6-0, sr., 16.1 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.9 BPG), Lexi Hughes (5-8, sr., 12.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 4.8 SPG), McKinley Becker (5-10, sr., 6.3 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Leyton Haseleu (5-11, soph.), Adalyn Schultz (5-9, soph.)

Team Notes: The Bulldogs welcome back their top four scorers from last year's team, which advanced to sectionals. Pardeeville is in search of its first WIAA state tournament appearance in team history.

Green Lake/Princeton (Green Lake)
Coach: Beth MacGowan, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 10-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: 5th, 6-8
Top Returnees: Emersen Sell (sr., 12.4 PPG, 50 3PM), Kerrigan Stelter (sr., 11.6 PPG, 41 3PM, 3.1 SPG), Greta Morris (sr., 8.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3 SPG)

Team Notes: The Tigersharks return three of their top four scorers from last season.

Randolph
Coach: Chad Kaufman, 9th year (161-48)
2024-25 Record: 14-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 10-4
Returning Starters: Madelynn Medema (5-9, jr., 15.8 PPG, 40 3PM, 7.5 RPG, 4.8 APG), Lexie Zemlo (5-7, soph., 12.8 PPG), Aubrey Kaufman (5-8, jr.)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Izzy Rodriguez (5-7, sr.), Madison Randall (5-8, jr.), Annika Reed (5-6, soph.), Lydia VanBuren (5-10, jr.)
Newcomers: Paisley Logan (5-8, fr.), Kaylee Bates (5-10, sr., injured last season)

Team Notes: Coach Kaufman told MaxPreps they have strong guard play, but lack size in the front court. "We need to do a quality job of boxing out on the defensive end."

Rio
Coach: Deb Hutzler, 14th year
2024-25 Record: 1-23
2024-25 Conference Finish: 8th, 0-14
Returning Starters: Riley Kennedy (5-3, jr., 9.6 PPG), Braylee Loging (5-5, soph., 5.3 PPG), Zoey Dahnke (5-4, sr.)
Newcomers: Kiley Baillies (fr.), Maycee Wells (fr.)

Team Notes: "We have a young, athletic group with room to grow," coach Hutzler told MaxPreps.