Updated Wisconsin Power 25 Team Rankings
May 14, 2018
It was a fun week for the Power 25 that featured some movement all around the board -- except for the top-three. That looks the same with Arrowhead, Sun Prairie, and Janesville Craig confirming why they’ve been the top dogs so far this spring. But elsewhere, Beaver Dam is proving to their new rivals in the Badger North why they belong and Catholic Memorial endured a tough week that saw them slide way out of the top-10.
With the Golden Beavers’ debut on the Power 25, see which team was on the unfortunate end of their inclusion, having to wave goodbye to their top-25 rank.
Continue reading on below to see how last week’s action shook up the Power 25.
TOP THREE MAINTAIN STATUS QUO
No. 1 Arrowhead (13-2), No. 2 Sun Prairie (15-3), and No. 3 Janesville Craig (15-2) are rooted in the same spots that they were handed last week. The Warhawks got a win over Jefferson and two on Milwaukee Lutheran to defend their role as the top-ranked team in the state.
The Cardinals actually put together an enormous week. They boasted wins over two top-10-ranked teams: Oconomowoc and Waunakee. Those two impressive victories have them breathing down the necks of the Warhawks.
As for the Craig Cougars, they downed Madison East 11-0 and cruised through Madison Memorial, with an 11-5 win on Tuesday and a 8-2 win on Thursday, to preserve their hold on the No. 3 spot in the Power 25.
EAU CLAIRE NORTH, WEST DE PERE CRASH TOP-FIVE
Last week, Wilmot and Oconomowoc occupied the No. 4 and 5 spots in the Power 25. This week, things look much different. Both slipped a few spots, making way for West De Pere (15-3) and Eau Claire North (12-1) to seize a place in the top-five ranks.
The Huskies came into the season ranked as the No. 18 squad and the poor weather affected them among the most heavily in the state, preventing them from proving that they were just as talented as last year’s state semifinalist side. They’ve been steadily climbing up the board ever since and this week’s seven-spot hurdle puts them at No. 5 in the latest rankings update. Their only loss was to Minnesota’s Stillwater, but have been undefeated this season otherwise in their own state. They have a big week ahead, too, considering they have a meeting with rival Eau Claire Memorial scheduled.
The Phantoms were in a relatively similar spot as the Huskies when we unveiled our Preseason Power 25. At No. 13, we knew West De Pere had the arms to make a deep run down state, but their offense carried some question marks. Since, their offense has come alive and their rotation is as advertised. Like the Huskies, the Phantoms have steadily increased in rank all spring, but they leap three spots this time around to land at No. 4.
WEBSTER KEEPS UP ITS IMMACULATE STREAK
We knew Webster’s (15-2) pitching staff was going to be formidable this season, but this is getting ridiculous. They’re now at 10 consecutive games – 10 – without having allowed a run. They shutout Shell Lake, Unity, and Grantsburg to keep the streak alive, scoring 25 runs of their own.
With Jack Washburn and Hunter Rosenbaum sitting atop their rotation, the rest of their Division-3 competition should be worried this shutout streak is a sign of what they’ll be capable of in the state playoffs. They move up to No. 19 in this update.
PAPERMAKERS PUMMEL FVA
Kimberly (11-4) had held a spot in the top-three all season long until they sputtered in the beginning of May, pushing them down six spots. Well, this past week went a long way to finding their way back on course. The Papermakers notched three crucial wins in the Fox Valley Association against Appleton West, Appleton East, and Oshkosh North.
The big week nudges them up three spots to No. 6. They’re just on the outside looking into the top-five, but if they can prove their early May slump was just a bump in the road, they’ll be back near the top of the Power 25 in no time.
RED ROBINS SOAR TO SEVEN WINS
Antigo (18-1) is coming off a phenomenal, but grueling, week of action that featured three doubleheaders. However, as difficult and daunting that can be, the Red Robins are coming out of the grind with seven wins. They were ranked on the Preseason Power 25 at No. 19 entering the spring and hovered around that spot until last week when they were elevated to No. 16. This week’s 7-0 mark was impactful enough to push them up another four spots, to No. 12.
The Red Robins returned a lot of talent to their team this spring but it was unknown just how well they would gel and plug the holes that caught up with them in their Regional last season. At 18-1, they seem to be gelling just fine.
BEAVER DAM’S GOLDEN DEBUT
Beaver Dam (11-3) earned a wins over Badger North Conference rivals Reedsburg, Sauk Prairie, and DeForest this past week to enter the Power 25 for the first time this season, debuting at No. 24. In addition to their conference wins this past week, they also own a win over last season’s Sectional winners and reigning Badger North co-champs Waunakee.
And it’s important to remember that the Golden Beavers aren’t just debuting on the Power 25, they’re also in the middle of their first season in their own conference. They were a part of the since-disbanded Little Ten last season, making their loud introduction to their new surroundings that much more impressive. Head coach Nate Wilke has done a mighty job taking over in his first spring at the helm, stepping into the shoes of hall-of-famer Joe Loizzo.
KEY NOTES
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Catholic Memorial (10-5) slide 14 spots after a rough week that saw them drop games to Slinger and Hartford. They were on the edge of the top-five after last week’s update but they’ll have to do some digging the get back there.
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With the inclusion of Beaver Dam, Division-4 Athens (9-0) falls out of the rankings. The Fighting Blue Jays had occupied the No. 25 spot since the preseason rankings, but having only played nine games, the defending D-4 champs will need a stronger resume to climb back on the board.
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Waupun (15-1) keeps its rank as No. 10 with two wins over Winnecone last week. The Division-2 heavyweights are now 15-1 this spring, with their only loss coming to St. Mary’s Springs Academy.
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Like Waupun, Columbus (9-0) is another D-2 powerhouse and they’re also maintaining the same spot they were at last week, No. 11. The Cardinals have some starpower within their lineup and it’s helped them groom an undefeated record so far this spring, though they’ve yet to play their 10th game.
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