Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

2024 Season Information

2024 Recap

Waupun finished first (20-4 overall) and won the Division 2 State Championship last season, Plymouth (21-7) & Kewaskum (17-10) Tied for 2nd, Kettle Moraine Lutheran (11-11), Winneconne (12-12), Berlin (6-14) & Ripon (2-18) rounded out the standings.

2025 Preview

Note: This will be the final season of the East Central Conference as Waupun will be moving to the Capitol, Berlin and Ripon to the South Central, Winneconne to the Bay Conference and Kettle Moraine Lutheran, Kewaskum and Plymouth will make up the Glacier Trails Conference.

Predicted order of finish

1) Waupun
2) Kewaskum
3) Plymouth
4) Winneconne
5) Kettle Moraine Lutheran
6) Berlin
7) Ripon

Players to watch

Addison Braun Jr P Waupun 
Kailie Westphal Sr C Waupun 
Bri Donner Jr P Plymouth 
Aubrey Fischer Jr OF Plymouth 
Julia Prochnow Sr OF Kewaskum 
Macy Sabish Sr P Kewaskum 
Claire Kollat Sr SS/CF Winneconne
Grace Mitchell So IF Winneconne 
Makenzie Luehring Sr SS Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Elizabeth Ehlke Jr C Kettle Moraine Lutheran
Lakelyn Sobieski Jr C/SS Berlin
Becca Bartol Jr CF Berlin
Addisyn Johnson Jr P Ripon
Brynn Carlson Sr SS Ripon

Team Previews

Waupun is the defending Division 2 State Champion, Waupun will have its pitching and overall defense returning from last season but will need to replace four seniors, including Lexie Gerritson, a four year starter for the Warriors. Catcher Kailie Westphal (Reigning Conference Player of the year, 1st Team All State, 43 Hits, 31 RBI .551 avg and DePaul Commit) and Pitcher Addison Braun (19-1, 132 IP, 1.01 ERA 204 Strikeouts) will highlight the Warriors this season. Third year head coach Josh Navis, who has been in the program at various levels for 16 years mentions that, “Every season comes with its own challenges and as long as we continue to work on getting a little better every day and compete not just in games but at practice, I am confident that our girls will find success. Our girls' expectations are always high because of the great legacy our past players have set, and this year's team will no doubt represent this history well.” Waupun will look to challenge themselves when they face West Salem, Laconia (2024 D3 Runner Up), Luxemburg-Casco, New London and Sussex Hamilton (2024 D1 State Qualifier).

Notable Losses: Lexie Gerritson 1B (34 RBI), Ava Vande Zande OF (Season Ending Injury)

Returnees:Rowan Harder Sr. Outfielder - HM All-Conference, Madison University Volleyball Commitment.

Newcomers: Carley White IF

Kewaskum and third year head coach Chris Sabish will rely on its pitching this season, highlighted by Macy Sabish (8-3 41IP, 2.22 ERA, 53 Strikeouts, 1st Team All District). The Indians will also look to Sr Julia Prochnow (1st Team All Conference) and Sr Lauren Retler 3x All Conference Selection. Kewaskum will compete in Triangulars in Denmark and Mishicot this season.

Newcomers: Maddyn Sabish P/SS/2B, Brianna Krause P/3B/OF

Plymouth will be a team to watch in the top half of the East Central this season. The Panthers return a solid core that fell to Waupun in the sectional semifinals last season. Highlighting the returning players is Pitcher Bri Donner Jr (107 ⅓ IP, 3.46 ERA, 15-6 record, 41 hits .477 Avg 29 RBI), and Aubrey Fischer Jr ( 45 Hits, .455 Avg, 36 Runs) and Caia Lund Sr (HM 2B - MATC commit, led the team with 6 Home Runs). Gale Grahn has compiled 32 years as the Panthers head coach (403-230) which includes two trips to the State Tournament (2006 & 2012), nine Regional crowns, and 3 Conference Championships. Grahn says that they return a strong team batting average but have key infield positions to replace. The Panthers took a late spring break trip to Nashville, TN to play two games, one being against a state participant from last season.

Notable Losses: SS Shea McMullen (Concordia University), 1B Boden Budrecki, LF Evelyn Flunker

Other Returnees: Katy Fischer Jr (1B/OF), Natalie Lensmire So (2B/3B),, Madelyn Weber Sr P/OF

Newcomers: Emmerson Arbuckle So C, Clara Henschel So 1B, Brianna Klahn Jr SS, Ella Morrison Sr IF, Emily Entringer Sr OF, Aubrey Vaughn Sr IF/OF

Winneconne graduated its pitcher and catcher but look to reload at these positions this spring. “We do have some great young talent, even at those positions," said third-year coach Tyler Lee. "Winneconne has a lot of well-rounded athletes that make for very tough outs. This year's squad is returning seven players from last year's starting lineup including five being Claire Kollat Sr SS/CF (39 Hits, 27 Runs Scored, .470 avg, 11 Stolen Bases, 2x First team all-conference, HM all-district 2x,), Claire Schaffer Sr CF (15 RBI, 21 hits, 21 Runs Scored, HM all-conf 2024, 2nd team OF 2023) Grace Mitchell So IF (32 Hits, 22 RBI, .410 Avg, 1st team INF 2024) Audra Schaffer Jr IF (Team high 14 walks), Libby Jahnke So, IF (23 hits 16 RBI) that held the top spots in that lineup. Defensively our speed is our biggest strength, these players can cover a lot of ground."

Notable Losses: Eden Youngbauer P, Maddox Stille C/U, Izzy Schaffer 2B

Newcomers: Aubrey Thorpe Sr DP/OF (Returning from Injury) Julia Youngbauer So P, Jaidyn Halder So P/U, Neela Gardner Jr OF/U

Kettle Moraine Lutheran will be one of the teams that is capable of shaking up the standings again this season. The Chargers have big bats in Makenzie Luehring Sr SS (28 Hits 22 Runs Scored 25 Stolen Bases, .475 avg) and Elizabeth Ehlke Jr C (19 Hits 17 RBI) as well as 2 Pitching options in Charis Winkelman Sr and Katie Brandt Jr. Kettle Moraine Lutheran will shift back to Sectional 2 this season where they are grouped with several familiar faces from the conference.

Notable Losses: Kierah Schultz OF, Emily Hovorka 1B

Newcomers: Ella Paz Fr 2B, Brooklyn Luehring Fr OF,

Berlin has returning players Abigale Klotz Sr 2B/OF, Sophia Olofson Sr P/IF, Becca Bartol Jr CF (28 Hits, 19 Stolen Bases), Lakelyn Sobieski Jr C (30 hits, 26 RBI, .500 avg) and Riley Dempsey So IF/OF with notable playing time and numbers from last season.

Notable Losses: Josie Farmer, Macy Rilling, Jenna Nigbor, Claire Bartol, Morgan Helmuth.

Newcomers: Anika Pulvermacher So 1B, Jasmyn Cerros So 2B/OF, Mackenzie Fox So P, Peyton Herbst Fr 3B, Faith Meyer Fr, 2B/OF, Jaiden Buckholt Fr P/3B/IF, Melissa Kurczek Fr C/IF/OF

Ripon has a new head coach in 2025, as Robert Bruce took over in the off season. Addisyn Johnson Jr P was the team's leader in the circle and at the plate last season. Bryn Carlson Sr IF, Jocelyn Baker So OF, and Gabbi Gaffney Sr IF are other players noteworthy for the Tigers this season.

Notable Losses: Ronia Leavitt,

Newcomers: Sasha Lovell Fr, Milee Simonis Fr, Brena Carlson Fr, Kennedy Jansma Fr, Lillian Kwakkel Fr.