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From the Hip: Fearless (and some not-so-Fearless) Predictions for 2016

01/11/2016, 8:00am CST
By Travis Wilson

The following article was originally published in NOW Newspapers under the "State of Play" feature, a series of bi-weekly feature columns penned by WSN General Manager Travis Wilson.
 

As the calendar turns to 2016, it is time to make some fearless (and some not-so-fearless) predictions for the high school sports scene this year.
 
  • The Arrowhead football job will go to an established, well-known coach from Wisconsin. It's not really going out on too much of a limb, but consider that Warhawks Athletic Director Kevin Flegner hired Greg Malling out of Florida after a national search, and you can bet there will be plenty of interest outside the Badger State as well. While I don't have any particular inside knowledge on the process, I think the job is so attractive that it will yield some interesting names.
  • Kimberly will break the record for most consecutive wins...but won't win a fourth straight state football title. Papermakers head coach Steve Jones gave me a (deserved, and good-natured) hard time just last week about not picking his team to win the state title game against Arrowhead, and he'll probably have another opportunity to point out how wrong I am on this one, but I think this is the year someone knocks off Kimberly, though not until the playoffs. The Papermakers are just six games away from tying the current state record for consecutive victories (48), set first by Manitowoc Lincoln from 1984-1987 and tied by Waunakee from 2009 to 2012. I think they'll pass that and perhaps go unbeaten in the regular season. Who gets them in the playoffs? Maybe it's Arrowhead with some revenge. Maybe Oconomowoc, Bay Port, Mukwonago, or Fond du Lac.
  • Brookfield East's Sam Santiago-Lloyd will be the state's Football Player of the Year. A two-way WFCA All-State selection at running back and linebacker, he carried the Spartans at times last year and is an incredible high school football player. Oconomowoc quarterback Ben Nienhuis is another favorite for the award.
  • At least two, and perhaps three, members of the state's talented boys basketball Class of 2018 will commit to Wisconsin. Stevens Point's Joey Hauser and Whitnall's Tyler Herro already have offers from the Badgers, and Kaukauna's Jordan McCabe likely will very shortly as well. It would not be a surprise to see all three commit, but I think at least two will this year, even with the current uncertainty at the head coach spot.
  • The large-scale realignment in southeast Wisconsin will get passed. When, what it will be, who will oppose it? Well, that still remains to be seen. First consideration of a revised proposal will be heard later this month at the WIAA's Board of Control meeting, but there are some schools that had asked for realignment that did not get it under this plan, and will be very vocal about it. Still, this is something that has been on agendas for over a year, and needs to and will be addressed in some fashion with finality.
  • Speaking of the WIAA, they'll get sued. Maybe it will be related to conference realignment. Maybe it will be about competitive equity, gender equity, or the transfer rule. Perhaps media rights related or a playoff procedure. Concussions are a hot-button issue with some parties looking to make their mark (or money?), including recent concussion lawsuits against other state high school associations.
  • Rain will cause schedule problems at a spring state tournament. In other shocking news, the sun will rise in the east and set in the west.
  • People will complain about the team they have to play in playoffs, that they were better than a team at state, that their grouping wasn't fair, that the refs cheated them, that they had to drive too far, that the lights were too bright, and on and on.
  • Prices will rise; Politicians will philander; You, too, will get old. Oh wait, that's from Mary Schmich (and Baz Luhrmann).

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

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