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2024 Season Info

2024 Season Recap

Iola-Scandinavia (14-10 overall) claimed the Central Wisconsin East Division a season ago. Amherst (14-9) followed in 2nd. Manawa (16-7), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (16-11-1), Bonduel (13-10), Weyauwega-Fremont (10-12), Shiocton (10-17) and Menominee Nation (1-16) finished out the Standings. Both Manawa (Division 4) and Wittenberg-Birnamwood (Division 3) qualified for Sectionals falling in the Semifinals to Peshtigo and Coleman.

2025 Preview

2025 Predicted Order of Finish

1) Manawa
2) Iola-Scandinavia
3) Amherst
4) Wittenberg-Birnamwood
5) Weyauwega-Fremont
6) Bonduel
7) Shiocton
8) Menominee Nation

Players To Watch

Olivia Zielke So P Manawa
Kelsey Behnke Sr IF Manawa 
Brooklyn Berrens Jr C Iola-Scandinavia
Rayanne Clendenning Jr P Iola-Scandinavia
Sam Nooyen Jr P Amherst
Makenna Orsund Sr SS Amherst
Rory Salvesen Jr SS WIttenberg-Birnamwood 
Brieleigh Ladika Jr 2B Wittenberg-Birnamwood
Olivia Witkowski Sr SS Weyauwega-Fremont
Tatum Sporisky Sr P/OF Bonduel
Maddy Sokolski Sr C Bonduel
Abi Presteen Sr P Shiocton

Team Previews

Manawa Is viewed as the favorite to take the CWC East this season. The Wolves return a good chunk of their 2024 roster including one of the best pitchers in the conference in Olivia Zielke(13-5 114 IP 171 Strikeouts 1.35 ERA). Kelsey Behnke Sr returns a hot bat for the Wolves having 30 Hits and 12 RBI batting .429 as a Jr. Other notable returnees include Alayna Seeger So OF, Ellie Stroesenreuther Sr C/IF, Briley Rosen Sr IF/OF/P, Bre Bonikowske Sr OF/1B, Alayna Seeger So OF. Manawa looks to run deep in the playoffs but will have to navigate its conference rivals in Iola-Scandinavia, Bonduel and Shiocton and in the other half features Mishicot and St Mary’s Springs.

Iola-Scandinavia does lose five key players from a season ago but will look to reload with six juniors who all saw significant playing time last year. Brooklyn Berrens Jr C (Hit the inside the park grand slam in the 2023 State Championship Game, 2x All State Selection), Brylee Jueds Jr (Playing 1B this season), Ava Printz Jr OF (2023 State Championship starter in LF, Moving to CF this year), Katie Rosenthal Jr 3B, Maya Munoz Jr SS/2B, Rayanne Clendenning Jr P are some of Iola-Scandinavia’s top returnees this year for WFSCA Hall Of Fame Head Coach Tom Anderson who has a 454-267 in 34 years as the Thunderbirds leader. Anderson says for the T-Birds pitching will be young but the overall experience of the program will help the team progress throughout the year. Anderson sees the CWC-East race in anyone's field as six out of the eight teams are capable of beating anyone on any given afternoon which will make for a competitive conference season. Iola-Scandinavia also has some good non-conference competition with larger and smaller schools alike.

Notable Losses: Maci Heschke, Myah Heschke C, Abby Isermann, Maddie Much (Limited playing time due to injury) and Julia Munoz P.

Amherst welcomes back a majority of players who saw significant playing time a season ago. Leading the way for the Falcons will be Sam Nooyen Jr P, Makenna Orsund Sr SS, Presley Voss Jr C, Calee Schulist Jr OF, and Ivy Boelk Jr OF. The Falcons got an early start of the season down in Florida and have had some notable non-conference games early this season already and look to be a potential playoff contender in a tough Division 3 Sectional with multiple teams who can make a push for the state berth.

Notable Losses: Presley Firkus, Aleah Breed, Maddie Foster, Miranda Trebe, Carlee Patoka, Emma Juarez.

Other Returnees: Sacha Gollon So, Whytni Venne So, Aubrey Chandler Jr, Allison Lasaa Jr, Delaney Conner Jr.

Newcomers: Leah Kisting Fr 3B, Rachel Portmann Fr 2B, Ava Dambroski Fr, Taylor Klieforth Fr

Wittenberg-Birnamwood will look to make a jump in the conference standings this season. The Chargers return seven starters with four of them being three-year starters as well as their top two pitchers. “ We have a lot of depth (30+ program wide) that will compete for varsity playing time,” says third year Head Coach Joe Ladicka, Ladicka also says that while not a true weakness, team chemistry with a wide range of players will be key to the team's success this year. Rory Salvesen Jr SS (35 Hits, 42 Runs scored, 26 Walks, 22 RBI, 37 Stolen Bases .467 avg, 2x 1st Team All Conference, Committed to Minnesota) is one of the top returnees for the Chargers this season. Ella Eichman Sr P (12-9 128 ⅔ IP 3.10 ERA) will look to lead things in the Circle this year. Brieleigh Ladika Jr 2B (26 hits 24 RBI 19 Stolen Bases) are other players to watch this season. Wittenberg-Birnamwood went to Florida to start the season where they faced off with two Wisconsin teams in Adams-Friendship and Clintonville.

Other Returnees: Sophia Lemieux Sr 3B, Evelyn Fletcher Sr C/OF, Jayda Moenke SO C/UT, Kendall Lex So P/UT.

Notable Losses: Cameron Miller OF-All-Conference 2nd Team, Lillian Lemieux 1B-All-Conference Honorable Mention.

Newcomers: Zoey Thorson Fr C/INF, Chloe Hanson Fr P/Utility, Arianna Inderdahl Fr P

Weyauwega-Fremont Is one of the teams that can make some noise in the CWC-East this season. Notably standing out for the Warhawks is Olivia Witkowski Sr (4 year Varsity starter, 3 year unanimous 1st team, all district and all state honors, UW-Eau Claire Basketball Commit) and Hannah Pantzlaff Sr CF (4 year Varsity starter, all conference HM last year). Fifth year Head Coach Brianne McCoy mentions they have a dominant roster with upperclassman at the varsity level and are very experienced players, hardworking and determined, a ton of fun to coach! McCoy notes that they will be hosting our 5th Annual Play for Tay game that we play with Shiocton in memory of Taylor Folk (Passed away unexpectedly just shy of her Senior year in August 2019). With this game we raise funds for the scholarship established in her memory.

Notable Losses: LuLu Fernandez, Hailey Wohlt, Whitney Krueger

Other Returnees: Alyson Baehnman P, Josie Baril 3B ,Kendra Behn LF, Sydney Folk C, Abbie Hansen , Jalyn Loehrke, & Sophia McCoy

Newcomers: Mariah Baehnman So and Ebbie Thoma-Loehrke So

Bonduel has a change in the head coaching position this season with Mark Margelofsky taking over the duties of head coach. Margelofsky coached baseball at Bonduel for five seasons in the Mid 2000’s. The Bears welcome back Tatum Sporisky Sr P/OF (All CWC player, hit .420 last year, plays a good CF and was steady in the circle, leading team in ERA, tied for wins, and 2nd in IP) Maddy Sokolski Sr C (hitting .259, but had an OPS of .844) and Allison Zernicke Jr IF (hit .268 last year). Margelofsky said, “I believe a strength will be our pitching which is a good place to start. While we don't have a lot of production returning, we have a lot of athletes that have competed well in other sports and had success.We lost three of the top four hitters, and return only three players hitting over .250 with 50 at bats, so we lack experience. We have 12 players from seniors to freshman with opportunities to fill the rest of our roster”

Notable Losses: Hailee Thompson, Hailey Zernicke, and Lilah Pleshek

Shiocton looks to build off speed and team comradery but will have to work with youth and low roster numbers in 2025. Abi Presteen Sr Pitcher (Team MVP offense 23 Hits 19 RBI), Morgan Oskey Sr 3B, Ella Griesbach So C are some of the Chiefs' notable returnees for Head Coach Dawn Kanaman.

Notable Losses: Sydney Ritchie CF, Liz Pelky Utility

Newcomers: Cally Presteen OF, Abby Young IF/OF/P

Menominee Nation graduated three starters from 2024 and are projected to return six starters this season, including Shaye Sanapaw Jr SS, Natalie Peters Jr C, Charlotte Fish LF, Taylesia Blackowl So 1B, Cecelia Grignoon So P and Ravena Arliguin Sr 2B/RF.