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2023-24 Recap

Cochrane-Fountain City (25-2) won the Dairyland Small title with a perfect 13-0 record. The Pirates ended the year one win away from the WIAA State Tournament, dropping a 59-46 contest against eventual Division 5 state runner-up Argyle/Pecatonica. Independence/Gilmanton (19-8) finished in second place, going 11-2, followed by Alma/Pepin (13-10, 7-6) and Alma Center Lincoln (14-11, 6-7). Rounding out the league standings, Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran (8-11, 4-9). 

Whitehall (15-9) won the Dairyland Large with an 8-5 record. Blair-Taylor (11-15) and Melrose-Mindoro (14-12) tied for second, going 7-6, while Eleva-Strum (5-18, 2-11) and Augusta (3-21, 0-13) rounded out the conference standings.  

2023-24 Season Information (Standings, Stats, and All-Conference)

2024-25 Conference Preview 

Note: Blair-Taylor joins the Dairyland Small, switching spots with Independence/Gilmantown. 

Predicted Order of Finish 

1) Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 
2) Blair-Taylor 
3) Cochrane-Fountain City 
4) Alma/Pepin
5) Alma Center Lincoln

Players to Watch

Samantha Aguilar, jr., Blair-Taylor – Aguilar, a 5-7 wing, received first-team all-Dairyland last season, averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per contest. 

Andi Beck, jr., Blair-Taylor – Beck, a 5-4 guard, tallied 11 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.0 steals per game last season on her way to taking home second-team all-conference. 

Sophia Carstensen, sr., Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran – Carstensen, a 5-8 wing, contributed 9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.5 steals per game last season.  

Ava Cummings, jr., Alma Center Lincoln – Cummings, a 5-7 guard, was voted first-team all-conference last season, averaging 15 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per contest. 

Allidah Luff, sr., Alma/Pepin – Luff, a 5-5 guard, was named first-team all-league last season, averaging 12.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per contest. She also connected on 53 of 136 from 3-point land. 

Finley Noll, sr., Alma/Pepin – Noll, a 5-7 guard, contributed 9.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game last season, earning second-team all-Dairyland. 

Gabi Radichel, jr., Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran – Radichel, a 5-9 forward, was chosen as a second-team all-league performer last season, averaging 8.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.4 steals per game. 

Andrea Waldera, jr., Blair-Taylor – Waldera, a 6-1 forward, tallied 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game last season, receiving second-team all-league. 

Cheyenne Wales, sr., Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran – Wales, a 5-11 wing, averaged 10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.7 blocks per contest last season, earning second-team all-league. 

Mackenzie Wenger, jr., Cochrane-Fountain City – Wenger, a 5-5 point guard, will take on a leading role after averaging 4.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.0 steals per contest last season. 

2024-25 Team Previews 

1) Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran is the team to beat. The Lancers bring back the bulk of their roster from last year’s team which finished 4-9 in the Dairyland Small and 8-11 overall. Cheyenne Wales and Sophia Cartensen lead the way for the Lancers. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran opens the season with a Dairyland contest versus Blair-Taylor on opening night (Nov. 19). The Lancers’ first meeting against defending Dairyland Small champion Cochrane-Fountain City is December 16. 

Notable Returnees: Cheyenne Wales (5-11, sr., 10.7 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.7 bpg), Sophia Cartensen (5-8, sr., 9.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.5 spg), Gabi Radichel (5-9, jr., 8 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.4 spg), Savannah Quade (5-8, soph.), Natalie Gurgel (5-2, sr.) 

Notable Losses: Julia Mayhew (8.7 ppg), Hannah Goodman 

2) Blair-Taylor returns its entire roster from last year’s team which went 7-6 in the Dairyland Large and 11-15 overall. Samantha Aguilar, the third-leading scorer in the Dairyland Large last season, highlights the returning group for the Wildcats. 

Returning Starters: Samantha Aguilar (5-7, jr., 12.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.4 spg), Andrea Waldera (6-1, jr., 11.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 2.8 bpg), Andi Beck (5-4, jr., 11 ppg, 3.7 apg, 3 spg), Elissa Smetana (jr., 7.2 ppg), Madalynn Frederixon (5-6, sr., 2 spg) 
Other Returning Players: Brenna Thorson (soph.), Addison Lejcher (soph.), Frankie Zentgraf (sr.) 

Starters Lost: None 

3) Cochrane-Fountain City is the defending Dairyland Small champion. The Pirates graduated their starting five from last year’s team which went unbeaten in the Dairyland and finished one win away from the WIAA State Tournament, ending the season with a 25-2 record. Rick Peterson, who enters his fifth season as the Pirates’ head coach, told WSN that they have a great group of athletes, but lack overall experience. 

Returning Starters: None 
Other Returning Players: Mackenzie Wenger (5-5, jr., 4.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 2 spg), Aubrey Smith (5-7, sr.), Ana Knecht (5-7, sr.), Andrea Stolz (5-6, sr.), Cecelia Dittrich (5-6, sr.), Kaelyn Comero (5-8, jr.) 
Newcomers: Addy Duellman (jr.), Madison Ward (jr.), Kiera Worthington (jr.) 

Starters Lost: Emma Mann (16.4 ppg), Bella Holzer (13 ppg), Lexi Pronschinske (12 ppg), Grace Wenger, Gina Guenther

4) Alma/Pepin brings back two starters from last year’s team which finished 7-6 in the conference and 13-10 overall. Allidah Luff, fifth in the Dairyland Small in scoring last season, highlights the returning group for the Eagles. 

Returning Starters: Allidah Luff (5-5, sr., 12.5 ppg, 53 3PM, 7 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.5 spg), Finley Noll (5-7, sr., 9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.9 spg), 
Other Returning Players: Macy Stewart (5-7, soph.), Tori Creighton (5-5, jr.), Nessa Noll (5-10, soph.), Leah Green (5-5, sr.)

Starters Lost: Cora Komisar, Wallice Helmin, Bella Post

5) Alma Center Lincoln returns three starters from its 2023-24 team which went 6-7 in the Dairyland Small and 14-11 overall. Bill Schulte, who has a 138-74 record in 10 years as head coach, told WSN they will need to develop as the season progresses. Ava Cummings, the second-leading scorer in the conference last season, headlines the Hornets’ roster. 

Returning Starters: Ava Cummings (5-7, jr., 15 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.6 spg), Felicity Frey (5-6, sr., 5.1 ppg, 3.9 spg), Isabelle Huber (5-6, jr., 5.4 ppg)
Other Returning Players: Kaylee Carrillo (5-6, jr.), Maddy Rauss (5-3, soph.), Emily Janicki (soph.), Marlee Winchell (5-4, soph.) 

Starters Lost: Gabbie Heredia (8.2 ppg), Monse Sanchez (6 ppg), Sammy Prindle