2024 Season Recap
West Salem (14-5 Overall) won the Coulee crown in 2024. Arcadia (13-7) and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (10-10) tied for second. Black River Falls (10-9), Viroqua/Youth Initiative (8-15), Westby (4-17) and Luther (4-19) finished the standings out. West Salem would advance the furthest in the postseason falling to Mount Horeb in the sectional semifinals.
2025 Preview
2025 Predicted Order of Finish
1) West Salem
2) Arcadia
3) Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
4) Viroqua/Youth Initiative
5) Westby
6) Black River Falls
7) Luther
Players To Watch
Josie Brudos Jr P West Salem
Megan Johnson Sr C West Salem
Tatum Drazkowski So SS Arcadia
Kaitlyn Bremer Sr P Arcadia
Halne DeJager Sr P/SS Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
Caroline Mack Sr 1B Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau
Kaylee Bekkum Sr C Viroqua/Youth Initiative
Megan Brendel So IF Viroqua/Youth Initiative
Ava Berg Jr P Westby
Kylie Molledahl Sr CF Westby
Rylea Lindow Sr Black River Falls
Sam Berra Jr Black River Falls
Julia Sill Sr C Luther
Karly Miller Sr CF Luther
Team Previews
West Salem will look to be at the top of the Coulee once again this season. The Panthers return Josie Brudos Jr P (1st team all-State, Winona State Commit) and Megan Johnson Sr C (2nd team All-State, Winona State Basketball Commit). Brian Babiash is in his 22nd year as the Head Coach for West Salem has games scheduled with three defending state champions in Fall Creek, Pacelli and Waupun as well as competing in the Portage Tournament at the end of April. West Salem looks to make a deep playoff run where it could see Mount Horeb, Brodhead, or Monroe down the stretch.
Notable Losses: Signe Roesler SS, Sydney Laursen CF
Newcomers: Briauna Mathison So SS, Brooklyn Lee Fr OF
Arcadia returns much of its production from last season, notably returning for the Raiders is Tatum Drazkowski So SS and Kaitlyn Bremer Sr P. Amaya Schlesser So and Layna Wazeny So also return to the lineup this season.
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau will look to compete for a top spot in the Coulee this season. The Redhawks return four all-conference selections from 2024 including Halene DeJager Sr P/SS, Carlone Mack Sr 1B, Kinley Anderson Sr C and Ellie Cox Sr CF. Tori Thoma Jr 3B, Kyra Donaldson Jr LF, Samantha Stanton Jr P, and Amara Brantner Jr SS also return this season.
Viroqua/Youth Initiative returns just one all-conference player in Kaylee Bekkum in 2025. Emily Berra Sr will look to handle most of the innings in the circle with the graduation of Madi Zube. Megan Brendel So IF and Emily Hubatch Jr SS also look to lead the team this season.
Westby doesn't have any all-conference returnees but do return much of their roster from 2024 including Ava Berg Jr P, Kylie Molledahl Sr CF, Haidyn Thurin So 1B, Emma Kirner Jr 2B, and Aspyn Flemming So OF/DP.
Black River Falls graduated conference player of the year Madyson Schultz. The Tigers will have to look at its youth to lead in most categories this season. Kaylee Wood Jr and Rylea Lindow Sr will look to handle the pitching while Sam Berra Jr and Morgan Berg Jr to lead the offense.
Luther returns a bulk of its roster from 2024. Julia Sill Sr C and Karly Miller Sr CF were listed by Head Coach Mark Ross as the Knights notable returning players. Ross has 25 years as Head Coach which includes a State Appearance in 2022 and a record of 329-203-1 and several Regional and Conference Championships.
Notable Losses: Jenna Harrington (SS), Allsion Buege (1B)
Newcomers: Addy Palubicki So P
Tag(s): News Archive News SB Conference Previews