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WIAA Girls' Basketball Playoff Changes for 2022-23

06/28/2022, 11:15am CDT
By Norbert Durst

The WIAA has released girls' basketball divisional placement and sectional assignments for the 2022-23 season. 

Divisional Cutlines
Division 1 - 71 schools with an enrollment of 1,200 or above 
Division 2 - 71 schools with an enrollment between 600 and 1,199
Division 3 - 94 schools (remaining teams split equally between D3 and D4) 
Division 4 - 94 schools (remaining teams split equally between D3 and D4) 
Division 5 - Smallest 128 schools 

Sectional Groupings
Division 1 - 71 schools
Division 2 - 71 schools
Division 3 - 94 schools 
Division 4 - 94 schools 
Divison 5 - 128 schools 
Total: 458

The 2023 WIAA State Tournament is set for March 9-10-11 in Green Bay. Four teams advance to state in each of the five divisions. 

Division 1

New D1 Teams: 

Green Bay Southwest (previous D2) 
Oregon (previous D2) 
Oshkosh North (previous D2) 
Sun Prairie West (new school)
West Allis Central (previous D2) 

Notes: The Division 1 sectional placements are almost identical as last season. The only changes were the four teams moving up from Division 2 and Sun Prairie West (new school in 2022-23) being added. Early favorites across the sectionals: Sectional 1 -Neenah; Sectional 2 - Germantown and Kaukauna are the top teams; Sectional 3 - Brookfield East, Sun Prairie West, and Verona lead the way; Sectional 4 - Kettle Moraine, Oak Creek, and Kenosha Bradford are the top teams.  

Division 2

New D2 Teams: 

Martin Luther (previous D3) 
Milwaukee Marshall/Young Coggs (previous D1) 
Watertown (previous D1) 
Waupaca (previous D3) 

Notes: Similar to Division 1, there were not many notable changes to the Division 2 sectional placements. Early sectional favorites: Sectional 1 - Lakeland and Menomonie; Sectional 2 - two-time defending state champion Notre Dame is the top team with perennial power Beaver Dam on the other half of the sectional; Sectional 3 - Waukesha West is the favorite while Union Grove is a notable contender; Sectional 4 - Pewaukee is the team to beat. 

Division 3

New D3 Teams:

Brodhead (previous D4)
University Lake School/St. John's Northwestern/Trinity Academy (previous D5) 
Milwaukee Academy of Science (previous D4)
Racine Lutheran (previous D4)
St. Augustine Prep (new WIAA program) 

Notes: The most notable sectional change was Kewaskum moving from Sectional 3 to Sectional 2. The Indians advanced to a sectional semifinal last season before falling to East Central foe Waupun, 50-47, which went on to capture the D3 state title. Early sectional favorites: Sectional 1 - reigning sectional champion St. Croix Falls, Altoona, a sectional finalist last season, and Elk Mound stand out; Sectional 2 - state runner-up Freedom and Kewaskum highlight the group; Sectional 3 - defending D3 state champion Waupun leads the way; Sectional 4 - Dominican and Milwaukee Academy of Science are the early favorites. Dominican is listed in the Division 4 placements but due to them reaching the state tournament last season, they are not able to move down this year. Look for the WIAA to make that adjustment. 

Division 4

New D4 Teams: 

Bangor (previous D5)
Iowa-Grant (previous D5)
Kewaunee (previous D3) 
Menominee Indian (previous D3) 
New Holstein (previous D3) 
Randolph (previous D5)
Sheboygan Lutheran (previous D5) 
Spencer (previous D5)
Westby (previous D3) 

Notes: The most notable changes were Randolph, undefeated D5 state champions, and Sheboygan Lutheran moving up and joining Sectional 4. Early favorites across the sectionals: Sectional 1 - Ladysmith; Sectional 2 - Westfield; Sectional 3 - defending D4 state champion Mineral Point, New Glarus, and Cuba City lead the way; Sectional 4 - state runner-up Laconia, defending D5 state champion Randolph, and The Prairie School highlight the strong grouping. 

Division 5

New D5 Teams: 

Cashton (previous D4)
Chesterton Academy (new WIAA program) 
Cochrane-Fountain City (previous D4) 
Phelps (returning after not having a team since 2017-18)
Plum City/Elmwood (previous D4) 
Glenwood City (previous D4) 
Heritage Christian (previous D4) 
Iola-Scandinavia (previous D4) 
Palmyra-Eagle (previous D4) 
Salam (previous D4) 

Notes: The big change in Division 5 was Randoph, last year's undefeated state champion, moving up to Division 4. With that change along with Sheboygan Lutheran moving up, Sectional 4 is wide open. Early favorites in the sectionals: Sectional 1 - McDonell Central; Sectional 2 - Assumption; Sectional 3 - Blair-Taylor; Sectional 4 - Wild Rose, Lourdes Academy, and Oakfield lead the way. 

For the latest and most up to date girls' basketball news and recruiting information, follow Norbert on Twitter @NorbertDurst. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Norbert

Tag(s): News Archive  GBB News  Norbert Durst  Girls Hoops Playoffs  2022-23