2025-26 Big East South Conference Preview Predicted Order of Finish1)
Oostburg2)
Kohler3)
Sheboygan Area Lutheran4)
Cedar Grove-Belgium
5)
Sheboygan Christian6)
Random Lake7)
Ozaukee (Fredonia)
Players to Watch Claire Brotz, Kohler – Brotz tallied 11.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game as a junior.
Gwenn Elliott, Kohler – Elliott, a Division I prospect, took home second-team all-league recognition as a freshman, averaging 17.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.
Samantha Gilchrist, Sheboygan Lutheran – As a junior, Gilchrist collected 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She also made 48 three-pointers.
Lexi Gruman, Random Lake – Gruman missed last season due to injury. She averaged 11.7 points per game as a freshman.
Ady Ketterhagen, Oostburg – Ketterhagen was named the Big East South Player of the Year and a WBCA all-state selection as a junior. The Division I UW-Green Bay recruit averaged 22.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.6 steals per game. Ady also made 46 three-pointers.
Kinsley Ketterhagen, Oostburg – Ketterhagen, who holds several Division I offers, was named WBCA all-state and a unanimous first-team all-conference as a freshman. Kinsley averaged 20.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals per contest, and connected on 62 of 147 from three.
Riley Ketterhagen, Oostburg – As a junior, Ketterhagen was named unanimous first-team all-conference and honorable mention WBCA all-state. The Division I UW-Green Bay recruit tallied 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Riley also shot 58-for-136 from behind the arc.
Samantha Veldkamp, Sheboygan Christian – Veldkamp received second-team all-Big East South honors as a sophomore, averaging 15 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 4.1 blocks per game.
Megan Walz, Sheboygan Lutheran – Walz averaged 9.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.0 steals per contest as a junior. Megan also knocked down 41 triples.
Team Capsules Cedar Grove-BelgiumCoach: Nicole Depies, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 16-10
2
024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 7-5
Returning Starters: Gracie Schmidt (5-7, sr., 9.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Laila Arrowood (5-6, sr.), Arden Getschman (5-7, jr.), Claire Prinsen (5-3, jr.), Kami Horn (5-6, sr.), Ava Peterson (5-10, jr.), Sydnee Kurth (sr.)
Newcomers: Tessa Krause (fr.), Carissa Konzak (fr.), Polly Lemberg (fr.), Mara Getschman (fr.), Raygan Bialzik (fr.), Claire Lukens (fr.), Analeigh Holman (fr.), Grace Huenink
Team Notes: Coach Depies told MaxPreps their strengths include athleticism, overall speed, quickness, and defense.
KohlerCoach: Rich Wiese, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 16-9
2024-25 Conference Finish: T3rd, 7-5
Top Returnees: Gwenn Elliott (6-0, soph., 17.5 PPG, 10.7 RPG), Claire Brotz (sr., 11.2 PPG, 6 RPG), Avery Buzaitis (jr., 6.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG), Lauren Brotz (soph., 6.1 PPG), Emily Hocevar (soph., 6 PPG, 3.2 APG)
Other Notable Returnees: Riley Holzrichter (sr.), Ella Loest (sr.)
Team Notes: The Blue Bombers welcomed back six of their top seven scorers from last season, headlined by Division I prospect Gwenn Elliott.
OostburgCoach: Isaiah Ketterhagen, 9th year (176-35); 22nd overall (324-175)
2024-25 Record: 28-2, Division 3 state champions
2024-25 Conference Finish: Big East South champions (12-0)
Returning Starters: Ady Ketterhagen (5-11, sr., 22.5 PPG, 46 3PM, 8.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 3.6 SPG), Kinsley Ketterhagen (6-1, soph., 20.1 PPG, 62 3PM, 4.9 RPG, 3 APG, 2.3 SPG), Riley Ketterhagen (5-11, sr., 16.2 PPG, 58 3PM, 3.4 APG, 2 SPG), Macy Bruggink (5-8, sr., 5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 3.2 SPG)
Other Returnees: Josie Spielvogel (5-7, sr.), Taylor Brasser (5-11, jr.), Addy Gephart (5-8, soph.), Allison Schmitz (5-7, sr.)
Newcomers: Soraya Benton (6-0, soph.), Johanna Molina (5-10, jr.), Lucy Soerens (5-7, jr.)
Team Notes: The Lady Dutch are the defending Division 3 state champions and six-time defending conference champions, entering the year with a 60-game league winning streak. Oostburg is the favorite to repeat as D3 state champions with the return of the trio of Ketterhaggen sisters; seniors Ady and Riley are committed to UW-Green Bay, and Kinsley, just a sophomore, has a long list of Division I offers.
Ozaukee (Fredonia) Coach: Linda Weyker, 5th year
2024-25 Record: 10-15
2024-25 Conference Finish: T5th, 3-9
Top Returnees: Savannah Quade (5-5, sr., 10.1 PPG, 33 3PM, Mya Schroeder (soph., 8.2 PPG)
Other Notable Returnees: Chloe Dybul (5-4, sr.), Kenedeigh Harness (jr.), Bianca Marini (soph.),
Team Notes: The Warriors return two of their top three scorers from last year's team, which won three Big East games after going winless in the conference in 2023-24.
Random LakeCoach: Aaron Rathke, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 6-19
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 1-11
Notable Returnees: Lexi Gruman (5-6, jr., missed last season due to injury; 11.7 PPG as a fr.), Mara Kinstler (5-9, sr., 8.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG), Alivia Stefanich (5-9, sr., 8.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG), McKenzie Nejedlo (sr.)
Team Notes: The Rams return two of their top three scorers from last season. Lexi Gruman is also back after missing last season due to injury.
Sheboygan ChristianCoach: Dustin Veldkamp, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 6-18
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 3-9
Returning Starters: Samantha Veldkamp (6-1, jr., 15 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 4.1 BPG), Madelyn VanDenend (5-10, jr., 7.8 PPG), Gabbi Bulkow (5-10, sr., 6.7 PPG, 8.8 RPG), Lilly Grasse (5-7, jr.), Isabel Otte (5-6, jr.)
Other Returnees: Sawyer Gesch (5-9, jr.), Emma Leikip (5-7, jr.), Emily Grasse (5-8, soph.), Addi Norton (5-7, sr.), Iris Ordonez (5-6, jr.), Naomi Atkinson (5-6, jr.)
Team Notes: The Eagles welcome back all five starters from last year's squad, led by junior Samantha Veldkamp.
Sheboygan Area LutheranCoach: Tyler Thomas, 4th year; 16th overall
2024-25 Record: 22-6, lost to Lourdes in D5 state semis
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 9-3
Returning Starters: Samantha Gilchrist (sr., 9.1 PPG), Megan Walz (sr., 9 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3 SPG), Maddie Thomas (jr., 5.7 PPG)
Other Returning Letterwinners: Courtney Kaiser (jr.), Alanah Gallimore (jr.), Cylee Wegner (soph.)
Newcomers: Grace Leibham (fr.), Izzy Thomas (fr.), Zoey Hirt (fr.), Lyla Collins (fr.), Lucy Leibham (fr.), Cylee Wegner (soph.), Alanah Gallimore (jr.), Courtney Kaiser (jr.)
Team Notes: The Crusaders return three starters, but will need to replace Addy Verhagen and Taylor Brigham, both first-team all-league picks last season. Coach Thomas told MaxPreps they work hard, have experience, and are coachable. He noted that youth is a weakness.
