Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Coulee Preview

2025-26 Coulee Conference Preview

Predicted Order of Finish

1) West Salem
2) Arcadia
3) Luther
4) Viroqua
5) Black River Falls
6) Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
7) Westby

Players to Watch

Josie Brudos, West Salem – Brudos received first-team all-Coulee recognition as a junior, averaging 13.7 points and 2.5 steals per game, while knocking down 54 three-pointers.

Tatum Drazkowskii, Arcadia – Drazkowski was named first-team all-Coulee as a sophomore, averaging 15.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 3.6 steals, and 2.3 blocks per game.

Madison Grotjahn, Arcadia – As a sophomore, Grotjahn earned second-team all-league honors, tallying 9.6 points, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest.

Allyah Schwem, Viroqua – Schwem was voted second-team all-Coulee as a freshman, averaging 22.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 5.4 steals per game. She also connected on 47 three-pointers.

Cara Unke, Luther – Unke contributed 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.9 steals per contest as a freshman.

Team Capsules

Arcadia
Coach: Brooke Evenson, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 13-12
2024-25 Conference Finish: 3rd, 8-4
Returning Starters: Tatum Drazkowski (5-10, jr., 15.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.6 SPG, 2.3 SPG), Madison Grotjahn (5-5, jr., 9.6 PPG, 2 APG, 2 SPG), Justine Sonsalla (5-5, sr., 5.7 PPG), Joselyn Lockington (5-9, sr., 5.6 PPG)
Other Returnees: Amaya Schlesser (5-6, jr.), Chloe Schlosstein (5-10, jr.), Sacia Boland (5-7, jr.), Adella Anderson (5-6, sr.)

Team Notes: The Raiders welcomed back nearly their entire roster from last season.

Black River Falls
Coach: Nate Erickson, 5th year
2024-25 Record: 9-17
2024-25 Conference Finish: T4th, 4-8
Notable Returnees: Olivia Larkin (5-10, soph., 7.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG), Morgan Kundinger (jr.)

Team Notes: The Tigers graduated the majority of their key players from last season.

Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 
Coach: John Schmidtknecht, 3rd year
2024-25 Record: 2-23
2024-25 Conference Finish: 7th, 1-11
Notable Returnees: Lexi James (sr., 6.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG), Amara Brantner (5-8, sr., 5.2 PPG), Joshlyn Lunsford (jr.), Sami Filla (jr.), Alexis Ouellette (soph.), Ava Lightfoot (jr.)

Team Notes: The Red Hawks brought back several contributors from last season.
Coach: Ryan Svendsen, 8th year
2024-25 Record: 19-7
2024-25 Conference Finish: 2nd, 10-2
Notable Returnees: Cara Unke (5-9, soph., 6.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.9 SPG), Natalie Hackbarth (5-5, soph., 6 PPG, 2.2 SPG), Jaeyda Livingston (5-6, soph.), Brinley Schmitz (5-11, soph.), Kayla Schiebel (sr.)

Viroqua
Coach: Tyler Gabrielson, 2nd year
2024-25 Record: 9-14
2024-25 Conference Finish: T4th, 4-8
Returning Starters: Allyah Schwem (soph., 22.5 PPG, 47 3PM, 2.3 APG, 5.4 SPG), Emily Hubatch (sr., 8.6 PPG, 30 3PM, 2.9 SPG), Emma Moilien (sr., 4.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG), Kate Quackenbush (sr.), Sam Schneider (sr.)
Other Notable Returnees: Sytara Gald (jr., 5.1 PPG)

Team Notes: The Blackhawks returned nearly all of their key players from last season.

West Salem
Coach: Mike Malott, 24th year (369-128)
2024-25 Record: 22-5, lost to D2 state runner-up Edgwood in a sectional final
2024-25 Conference Finish: Coulee champions, 12-0
Returning Starters: Josie Brudos (5-8, sr., 13.7 PPG, 54 3PM, 2.5 SPG),
Other Notable Returnees: Anna Witte (5-7, soph.), Addy Ferguson (sr.)

Team Notes: The Panthers entered the year with a 40-game Coulee winning streak. They will build around Josie Brudos after the graduation of four starters from last year's team, which claimed their fourth straight league title and finished one win away from the WIAA state tournament.

Westby
Coach: Alex Gluch, 1st year
2024-25 Record: 7-16
2024-25 Conference Finish: 6th, 3-9
Notable Returnees: Katelyn Benish (sr., 8.9 PPG), Alexandra Wang (sr., 5.7 PPG), McKenna Jothen (jr.), Morgan Stenslien (jr.)

Team Notes: The Norsemen returned a few key players from last season.