After an exciting regular season, the WIAA state playoffs are set to kick off Friday evening. With that, BadgerBlitz.com takes a look at the Wisconsin targets to watch as schools across the state make their push towards Camp Randall Stadium.
Division 1
Group A:
Eau Claire Memorial (#8) (Cormac Sampson) at Bay Port (#1) @Bay Port - Friday, 07:00 PM
Stevens Point (#5) at Hudson (#4) @Hudson - Friday, 07:00 PM
Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (#6) at Neenah (#3) (Logan Eiden) @Neenah - Friday, 07:00 PM
Green Bay Preble (#7) at Appleton North (#2) @Appleton North - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Milwaukee Riverside University / Golda Meir (#8) at Kimberly (#1) @Kimberly (Boyd Dietzen) - Friday, 07:00 PM
Oshkosh West (#5) at Marquette University (#4) @Marquette University - Friday, 07:00 PM
Milwaukee Samuel Morse Marshall / Carmen Northwest / Juneau / Languages (#6) at Arrowhead (#3) @Arrowhead - Friday, 07:00 PM
Milwaukee King (#7) at Fond du Lac (#2) (Andrew Stone) @Fond du Lac - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Madison Memorial (#8) (Jeremiah Jordan) at Sun Prairie (#1) (Marty Strey) @Sun Prairie - Friday, 07:00 PM
Kettle Moraine (#5) (Trey Wedig) at Verona Area (#4) @Verona Area - Friday, 07:00 PM
Hamilton (#6) (William Enneking) at Madison West (#3) @Madison West - Friday, 07:00 PM
Madison La Follette (#7) at Middleton (#2) @Middleton - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Milwaukee Hamilton / Aubudon (#8) at Racine Horlick (#1) @Racine Horlick - Friday, 07:00 PM
Oak Creek (#5) at Muskego (#4) @Muskego - Friday, 07:00 PM
Kenosha Bradford / Kenosha Reuther (#6) (Andrew Lyons) at Badger (#3) @Badger - Friday, 07:00 PM
Janesville Craig (#7) at Franklin (#2) @Franklin - Friday, 07:00 PM
Outlook:
For much of the fall, it appeared powerhouses Kimberly and Franklin were on a path towards a Division 1 title rematch. That may still be the case, but the Sabers were tripped up in Week 8 by a talented Racine Horlick team led by Joe Garcia, one of the top athletes in the state. Those two schools could meet again for the right to play Group C's champion, which could very well be undefeated Sun Prairie.
Recruit watch:
Sampson and Dietzen are committed to Wisconsin as scholarship athletes in the 2018 class, with Strey locked in as a preferred walk-on. Bradford's Andrew Lyons could follow suit in the near future. Stone, Eiden and Jordan are intriguing prospects in the 2019 cycle, while Wedig, a huge offensive tackle from Kettle Moraine, is already on Wisconsin's radar in 2020.
Division 2
Group A:
La Crosse Central (#8) at Menomonie (#1) (Mason Platter) UW Stout Williams Stadium - Friday, 07:00 PM
Marshfield (#5) at Holmen (#4) @Holmen - Friday, 07:00 PM
Pulaski (#6) at Appleton West (#3) Banta Bowl - Friday, 07:00 PM
Ashwaubenon (#7) at Green Bay Southwest (#2) @Green Bay Southwest - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Beaver Dam (#8) at Waunakee (#1) (Nate Carter, Reed Ryan, L.O. Johnson - track) @Waunakee - Friday, 07:00 PM
DeForest (#5) at Slinger (#4) (Ben Hoitink) @Slinger - Friday, 07:00 PM
West Bend East (#6) at Hartford Union (#3) @Hartford Union - Friday, 07:00 PM
Watertown (#7) at Menasha (#2) @Menasha - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Wilmot Union (#8) at Monona Grove (#1) @Monona Grove - Friday, 07:00 PM
Burlington (#5) at Waterford (#4) @Waterford - Friday, 07:00 PM
Oregon (#6) at Stoughton (#3) (Brady Shipper) @Stoughton - Friday, 07:00 PM
Germantown (#7) at Waukesha West (#2) (Peter MacCudden) @Waukesha West - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Milwaukee Reagan (#8) at Brookfield Central (#1) @Brookfield Central - Friday, 07:00 PM
Greenfield (#5) at Milwaukee Bay View / Lifelong Learning (#4) @ Milwaukee South Stadium - Friday, 07:00 PM
Menomonee Falls (#6) (Julius Davis) at Brookfield East (#3) @Brookfield East - Friday, 07:00 PM
Milwaukee Washington / Acad Science / Collegiate Acad (#7) at Homestead (#2) (Jake Raddatz) @Homestead - Friday, 07:00 PM
Outlook:
The Division 2 bracket is just loaded. A Final 4 of Menomonie, Waunakee, Waukesha West and Brookfield Central - all of which are undefeated - is certainly a possibility. But all four schools have serious work to do along the way.
Recruit watch:
Platter is a long-time Wisconsin commit from Menomonie, while Carter, MacCudden and Schipper remain preferred walk-on possibilities in the 2018 class. Juniors Raddatz, Hoitnik and Ryan have already visited UW unofficially this fall.
Division 3
Group A:
Medford (#8) at Antigo (#1) @Antigo - Friday, 07:00 PM
New Richmond (#5) at West Salem (#4) @La Crosse Logan HS - Friday, 07:00 PM
Mosinee (#6) at Onalaska (#3) @Onalaska - Friday, 07:00 PM
Merrill (#7) at Rice Lake (#2) @Rice Lake - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Seymour (#8) at West De Pere (#1) (Jake Karchinski) @West De Pere - Friday, 07:00 PM
Berlin (#5) at Fox Valley Lutheran (Jacob Edwards) (#4) @Fox Valley Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM
Luxemburg-Casco (#6) at Notre Dame (#3) @Notre Dame - Friday, 07:00 PM
New London (#7) at Kewaskum (#2) @Kewaskum - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Monroe (#8) at New Berlin Eisenhower (#1) @New Berlin Eisenhower - Friday, 7:00 PM
Jefferson (#5) at Pewaukee (#4) @Pewaukee - Friday, 07:00 PM
Evansville / Albany (#6) at Mount Horeb / Barneveld (#3) @Mount Horeb/Barneveld - Friday, 07:00 PM
East Troy (#7) at Catholic Memorial (#2) (CJ Goetz, JC Latham, Andre Powell Jr.) @Catholic Memorial - Friday, 7:00 PM
Group D
Milwaukee Lutheran (#8) at Whitefish Bay (#1) (Thomas Brunner, Brady Weas) @Whitefish Bay - Friday, 07:00 PM
New Berlin West (#5) at Plymouth (#4) @Plymouth - Friday, 07:00 PM
Port Washington (#6) (Jacob Lippe, Deron Spicer) at Whitnall (#3) @Whitnall - Friday, 07:00 PM
Saint Francis (#7) at Greendale (#2) @Greendale - Friday, 07:00 PM
Outlook:
Catholic Memorial is the defending champs in Division 3, but the Crusaders enter the playoffs with a 7-2 record. Undefeated New Berlin Eisenhower is the No. 1 seed in that bracket. Whitefish Bay lost its only game in Week 9 but is still a serious threat to capture the Division 3 title.
Recruit watch:
Memorial is led by Goetz, who committed to Wisconsin in February. The Crusaders also feature two prospects in the 2021 class - Latham and Powell Jr. - who visited the Badgers already this fall. Karchinski and Lippe are UW targets in the 2019 class.
Division 4
Group A:
Nekoosa (#8) at Osceola (#1) @Osceola - Friday, 07:00 PM
Ellsworth (#5) at Bloomer (#4) @Bloomer - Friday, 07:00 PM
Northwestern (#6) at Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau (#3) @Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau - Friday, 07:00 PM
Mauston (#7) at Saint Croix Central (#2) @Saint Croix Central - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Peshtigo (#8) at Wrightstown (#1) @Wrightstown - Friday, 07:00 PM
Wautoma (#5) at Xavier (#4) @Xavier - Friday, 07:00 PM
Omro (#6) at Little Chute (#3) @Little Chute - Friday, 07:00 PM
Winneconne (#7) at Freedom (#2) @Freedom - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Mayville (#8) at Lodi (#1) @Lodi - Friday, 07:00 PM
Turner (#5) at Platteville (#4) @Platteville - Friday, 07:00 PM
Lakeside Lutheran (#6) at Lake Mills (#3) @Lake Mills - Friday, 07:00 PM
River Valley (#7) at Racine Saint Catherine’s (#2) (Da'Shaun Brown) @Racine Saint Catherine’s - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Obama SCTE (#8) at Sheboygan Falls (#1) @Sheboygan Falls - Friday, 07:00 PM
Chilton (#5) at Two Rivers (#4) @Two Rivers - Friday, 07:00 PM
Martin Luther (#6) at University School of Milwaukee (#3) @University School of Milwaukee - Friday, 07:00 PM
Kohler / Sheboygan Area Lutheran / Sheboygan County Christian (#7) at Kiel (#2) @Kiel - Friday, 07:00 PM
Recruit watch:
St. Catherine's Da'Shaun Brown already has an offer from the Badgers. The junior quarterback has rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards this season but is being recruited as an athlete by Wisconsin.
Division 5
Group A:
Saint Croix Falls (#8) (Tyler Cooper) at Grantsburg (#1) (John Chenal, Leo Chenal, Gabe Chenal) @Grantsburg - Friday, 07:00 PM
Durand (#5) at Cumberland (#4) @Cumberland - Friday, 07:00 PM
Spooner (#6) at Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (#3) @Chetek-Weyerhaeuser - Friday, 07:00 PM
Mondovi (#7) at Elk Mound (#2) @Elk Mound - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Wittenberg-Birnamwood (#8) at Stanley-Boyd (#1) @Stanley-Boyd - Friday, 07:00 PM
Stratford (#5) at Bonduel (#4) @Bonduel - Friday, 07:00 PM
Oconto (#6) at Spencer / Columbus Catholic (#3) @Spencer / Columbus Catholic - Friday, 07:00 PM
Colby (#7) at Amherst (#2) @Amherst - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Brookfield Academy (#8) at Clinton (#1) @Clinton - Friday, 07:00 PM
New Glarus / Monticello (#5) at Prairie du Chien (#4) @Prairie du Chien - Friday, 07:00 PM
Westby (#6) at Lancaster (#3) @Lancaster - Friday, 07:00 PM
Kenosha St. Joseph Catholic Academy (#7) at Lake Country Lutheran (#2) @Lake Country Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Horicon / Hustisford (#8) at Cedar Grove-Belgium (#1) @Cedar Grove-Belgium - Friday, 07:00 PM
New Holstein (#5) at Kewaunee (#4) @Kewaunee - Friday, 07:00 PM
Valders (#6) at Howards Grove (#3) @Howards Grove - Friday, 07:00 PM
Laconia (#7) at Southern Door (#2) (Derik LeCaptain) @Southern Door - Friday, 07:00 PM
Recruit watch:
Top-seed Grantsburg has the Chenal trio of John (committed as a preferred walk-on in 2018); Leo (committed as a scholarship linebacker in 2019); and Gabe (on Wisconsin's radar in 2020). They open against Saint Croix Falls, which features 2019 offensive lineman Tyler Cooper. In Group D, Derik LeCaptain, a junior standout from Southern Door, has been a frequent flyer to Madison this fall.
Division 6
Group A:
Lake Holcombe / Cornell (#8) at Melrose-Mindoro (#1) @Melrose-Mindoro - Friday, 07:00 PM
Webster (#5) at Unity (#4) @Unity - Friday, 07:00 PM
Fall Creek (#6) at Regis (#3) @Regis - Friday, 07:00 PM
Whitehall (#7) at Spring Valley (#2) @Spring Valley - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Mishicot (#8) at Iola-Scandinavia (#1) @Iola-Scandinavia - Friday, 07:00 PM
Crivitz (#5) at Wabeno Area / Laona (#4) @Wabeno Area / Laona - Friday, 07:00 PM
Auburndale (#6) at Crandon (#3) @Crandon - Friday, 07:00 PM
Niagara / Goodman / Pembine (#7) at Marathon (#2) @Marathon - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
Darlington (#8) at Markesan (#1) @Markesan - Friday, 07:00 PM
Pecatonica / Argyle (#5) at Fennimore (#4) @Fennimore - Friday, 07:00 PM
Brookwood (#6) at Mineral Point (#3) @Dodgeville - Friday, 07:00 PM
Pardeeville (#7) at Cuba City (#2) @Cuba City - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Reedsville (#8) at Saint Mary's Springs (#1) @Saint Mary's Springs - Friday, 07:00 PM
Dodgeland (#5) at Johnson Creek (#4) @Johnson Creek - Friday, 07:00 PM
Cambridge (#6) at Manitowoc Lutheran (#3) @Manitowoc Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM
Belleville (#7) at Racine Lutheran (#2) @Racine Lutheran - Friday, 07:00 PM
Division 7
Group A:
Elmwood / Plum City (#8) at Clear Lake (#1) @Clear Lake - Friday, 07:00 PM
Hurley (#5) at Turtle Lake (#4) @Turtle Lake - Friday, 06:00 PM
Frederic (#6) at Abbotsford (#3) @Abbotsford - Friday, 07:00 PM
Owen-Withee (#7) at Loyal (#2) @Loyal - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group B:
Athens (#8) at Edgar (#1) @Edgar - Friday, 07:00 PM
Assumption (#5) at Pittsville (#4) @Pittsville - Friday, 07:00 PM
Hillsboro (#6) at Independence / Gilmanton (#3) @Independence / Gilmanton - Friday, 07:00 PM
Royall (#7) at Bangor (#2) @Bangor - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group C:
North Crawford (#8) at Black Hawk (#1) @Black Hawk - Friday, 07:00 PM
Iowa-Grant (#5) at Ithaca (#4) @Ithaca - Friday, 07:00 PM
De Soto (#6) at Wauzeka-Steuben / Seneca (#3) @Wauzeka-Steuben / Seneca - Friday, 07:00 PM
River Ridge (#7) at Potosi / Cassville (#2) @Potosi / Cassville - Friday, 07:00 PM
Group D:
Cambria-Friesland (#8) at Wild Rose (#1) @Wild Rose - Friday, 07:00 PM
Hilbert / Stockbridge (#5) at Almond-Bancroft (#4) @Almond-Bancroft - Friday, 07:00 PM
Deerfield (#6) at Lourdes Academy (#3) @ UW Oshkosh - Friday, 07:00 PM
Tri-County (#7) at Fall River (#2) @COLUMBUS HS - Friday, 07:00 PM
