The local teams and names to remember for 2016

Who doesn't love to peer into the crystal ball? Each year, I take a glance at some of the teams and athletes from the area primed for success in 2016, and if 2015's predictions are any indication, many of those you see here will be hoisting some serious hardware.

Mukwonago girls basketball.After returning to the top-ranked spot in the state coaches poll for Division 1 teams, Mukwonago headed into a huge battle Jan. 8 against Waukesha West for Classic 8 supremacy. With two Division 1 recruits (an injured Bre Cera, who could return soon, and a triple-double threat in 6-5 post Morgan Glatczak), not to mention superb supplementary players and exciting freshman Grace Beyer, Mukwonago has firepower few teams can match. With West in Division 2 this year, the biggest threat in the sectional is Bay Port, currently ranked No. 2.

Arrowhead boys hockey.It's hard not to notice the team's eight-game winning streak after a big league win over Waukesha on Jan. 5, and the Admirals Cup champion has a wide-open sectional with only one state-ranked team, No. 9 University School, as part of the field. Coach Carl Valimont, in his first year back with the program, has authored an overnight turnaround.

Hamilton girls track and field.The junior trio of Chelsea Parker, Mariana Feudner and Bianca Stubler are back, as is senior Taylor Klug, so the foursome will be favored to repeat as 4x400-meter state champions in Division 1. Stubler (400) and senior Claire Birk (300 hurdles) also took second at state, while Feudner (100 dash) and Meghan Joyner (100 hurdles) both qualified for the year-end showcase in events last year. Three-fourths of the sixth-place 4x100 team is back, as well. The entire 4x800, which just missed qualifying for state, also returns. Basically, almost the same lineup that scored 29 points and took seventh overall in last year's team standings returns with room to get better, and that's a very exciting prospect.

Mukwonago boys track and field.The entire 4x100-meter relay team (Liam Chones, Zach Zaborowski, Collin Radowicz, Zach Genrich) that missed a state championship by an eyelash is back, and there are other returnees that could make this a special year for the overall team. Mike Waller (800), Zach Dybul (third place in the high jump) and Radowicz (eighth in long jump) all showed well at state last year, and other key runners (Tom Hodkiewicz, Dylan Scherff) will ensure strong relays across the board.

Oconomowoc baseball.Obviously, it's hard to replace the state's Tri-Player of the Year, ace pitcher Logan Wonn, now pitching for Jacksonville University. But the returning state qualifier has almost everyone else back, including shortstop/pitcher Zach Clayton, pitcher/outfielder Jonah Landowski, pitcher/infielder Alec Esenther, catcher Sean Meyer and other key position players Marek Williams, Nick Lambert and Austin Meunier. At the very least, the team should be a serious threat in the Wisconsin Little Ten.

Oconomowoc football.And then there's the Cooney football team, which shocked everyone by transforming from a seventh-place team in the Wisconsin Little Ten to the 11-1 team that reached Level 3 and fell in a thriller to Arrowhead. Three of the biggest reasons for that — quarterback Ben Nienhuis, receiver Zach Clayton and running back Jacob Rams — are all back in 2016, and there will be plenty of additional returnees that will keep the target on the Raccoons' back for another season.

Arrowhead baseball.Though the Warhawks shockingly fell short of the spring state tournament last year, many of the top players will be back with a score to settle in 2016. Pitchers Ryan Schmitt (pictured) and Nate Brown will again be part of what could be the state's best rotation, with All-State outfielder Johnny Duranso, Dominic Clementi, Nick Bastien and sensational sophomore catcher Jeff Holtz all returning. Holtz, Clementi and Schmitt were all second-team All District last year.

Lake Country Lutheran girls soccer.You didn't think the LCL uprising would be tapering off anytime soon, did you? Though the returning state finalist loses a key piece in Margaret Tovar, the squad graduates only three seniors among its 18 players on last year's team, with leading goal scorers Haddie Carlson, Erika VanDerBoort and Evyn Fickau all among the returnees. The Lightning have reached each of the past four state tournaments.

Mukwonago wrestling.Returning state champion Nathan Smith and state finalist Aaron Schulist are just the tip of the iceberg for the program, which has been gearing toward a big 2016 for several seasons now. Freshman Jake Schulte is also on the state radar, ranked fourth, and other wrestlers who have at least appeared in the state rankings this year are Nick Armstrong, Jon Ryback and Aric Bohn. A challenging regional foe in Burlington and sectional foe in Pewaukee will make a run to state very interesting.

Pewaukee girls cross country.The returning state champion has a hammer at the top of the lineup (current freshman Zoe Goodmanson) and ample depth, with five of its top six runners returning from this year's state champion squad. They include the team's No. 2 runner, Sophie Desidero, and No. 3 runner, Alison Zigler, as well as Jordan Schlender and Emily Hoffins.

Arrowhead girls cross country.Always a top team, Arrowhead returns its top two runners (Annie Hughes and Anna Hayes) and five of its top six from last year's runner-up state finisher. The boys, who took sixth, return top runner Cole Sandvold and four of their top five.

Arrowhead football.Per usual. The Warhawks lose plenty (including their coach) but also retain plenty. Can they make it five straight state-title games, and if they do, can they beat Kimberly when they get there?

Names to remember

Jacob Raschka and Blaze Beltran, Pewaukee wrestling. Really, the entire Pewaukee wrestling team is one to watch for, but these two will be serious contenders for state championships in their respective classes. It's worth noting which weight class Hartford standout Beau Breske ultimately chooses for the postseason and if other elite wrestlers around the state move up or down to avoid him. Raschka hasn't tried to avoid him in the past and fell last year in the state semifinals to Breske. He'd certainly welcome the challenge again and is good enough to beat the nationally-ranked Breske, so that will be a potential clash to watch for. Beltran could be the state's best heavyweight.

Taryn Sherman, Arrowhead gymnastics.The defending state champion in the uneven bars will play a big role in trying to help AHS repeat as team gymnastics champion.

Zach Jasinski, Hamilton boys track and field.The second-place finisher in the pole vault last year will be back, and last year's state champion – Dan Becker of Sheboygan North – has graduated.

Brett Samson, Oconomowoc wrestling.After reaching the state-championship match at 220 pounds this year, Samson has opened the year undefeated, but will be run into defending state champion Mason Stokke of Menomonie along the way?

Erin Manion, Kettle Moraine girls soccer.She scored 20 goals last year, second on the team, and will be a big piece for the returning state finalist.

Brooke Andersen, Lake Country Lutheran girls volleyball.The Iowa State recruit will be a junior next year when LCL looks to return to the state-championship match.

Robert Wagner, Pwaukee track and field.Fresh off a huge cross-country season, Wagner will be among the favorites in the distance events at the state meet.

Alex Dallman and David Waltz, Kettle Moraine boys tennis. The pair will look for a third straight appearance in the individual state meet, and they are two of seven returnees in the lineup from last year's team-state qualifier.

Kaylee Beyer, Mukwonago girls cross country.The freshman burst on to the scene by taking 14th at the state cross-country meet, and she's sure to make some noise in her first track and field season, as well.

Logan Roberts, Arrowhead boys swimming.The senior took fourth at state last year in the 100-yard freestyle and competed on two relays.

Abby Gerrits, Pewaukee girls basketball.The senior, committed to play for Northern Iowa, will be one of the main reasons a talented Pewaukee team gets its first state berth if it can bypass some powerful competition in Division 2.