Team: Wisner-Pilger
Mascot: Gators
Colors: Green and White
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Duane Mendlik
2018-2019 record: 15-10 (lost to Wakefield in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: 2
Overview:
The Wisner-Pilger Boys Basketball Team expects big and great things this year.
The Gators return two starters in 6'2 Forward Dylan Kneifl and 6'2 Colby Heller.
Head Coach Duane Mendlik says the team is scrambling to find someone to play point guard right now as Justin Pieper broke his arm the last football game of the season and may not be back this year.
Other key returners are Caden Schweers (6'0, SR C), Regan Bellar (5'8, JR), Klay Koehlmoos (JR PG/SG), Rockney Peck (JR SG), Trevor Styskal (6'0, SR SF/SG), and Cole Jacobsen (6'4, SR PG/SG/SF).
Wisner-Pilger lost Caden Jackson and Jayden Raabe to graduation last year.
I think the Gators have what it takes to be very successful this year.
Pieper is obviously a very big loss, but if Wisner-Pilger can figure out their point guard issue then they should go on to be good and have a very fine season.
I look for the Gators to make a strong run and push this year.
Coach Mendlik became the state's all-time winningest coach last year and so it would be awesome to see Wisner-Pilger make state this year.
I feel the Gators have it in them to make a postseason run this year, but there's a long ways to go before we get to that point.
Wisner-Pilger just has to come out and play with maximum effort all season long.
The Gators have to outwork, outhustle, and outplay their opponents.
Wisner-Pilger has to want it more than the other guy, and must take pride in their play.
The Gators have to work hard and earn everything they get.
Wisner-Pilger has to give 110% effort at all times and not let up at any point in the season.
Kneifl has to really step up and score and help kind of shoulder the load for this team.
I was really impressed with him last year and look for him to lead the Gators once again this season.
Season Outlook:
The Wisner-Pilger Boys look for a big year this year.
Tough games on the schedule include Lutheran High Northeast, Oakland-Craig, Wayne, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Howells-Dodge, Logan View/Scribner-Snyder, North Bend Central, BRLD, and Laurel-Concord-Coleridge.
Many difficult challenges await the Gators, but none that they can't overcome and conquer.
Wisner-Pilger hosts Lutheran High Northeast in the season opener on Thursday. Mendlik says the Eagles are the complete package. "They have all starters back. They're starting five, they were juniors last year that started most of the year. I'm sure they're going to try and run the ball, they usually shoot pretty well. Defensively, they're probably going to be in a man-to-man so we have to be ready for that."
Mendlik feels the East Husker Conference will be stronger this year than it was last year.
The Gators are in Sub-District C2-5 with Stanton, Lutheran High Northeast, Hartington Cedar Catholic, and Crofton. "I think Northeast is going to be good. I think Hartington Cedar Catholic's always a pretty good team. We would like to think that we're going to step up and be better. The other two teams that in there they can beat anybody on a given night. They may not be as strong when you look at them on paper, but anytime you keep score it gets to be difficult." Mendlik said.
Mendlik says goals include winning conference and making the state tournament.
I think both of those things are very possible and attainable for Wisner-Pilger.
I feel the Gators have what it takes to make a run at the end of the season and get to state.
It would be a pretty neat and special deal for Wisner-Pilger to get to State this year too.
And it can definitely happen, the Gators just have to go out there and work hard night in and night out.
Taking extra shots in practice, coming in before practice and staying after are all things great players and great teams do and so this team has to be dedicated to being great.
Wisner-Pilger has to put in the long hours and work on the court and in the classroom.
These kids have to work extremely hard to achieve and accomplish their goals and dreams.
This is a team that can make state if they put their minds to it so the Gators have to turn that dream into a reality.
2019-2020 Wisner-Pilger Gators Boys Basketball Schedule:
12/05/19 Lutheran High Northeast
12/06/19 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic
12/13/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
12/19/19 Oakland-Craig
12/20/19 @ Wayne
12/28-12/30 (To Be Determined) Wisner-Pilger Holiday Tournament Wisner-Pilger
01/03/20 @ Stanton
01/07/20 Arlington
01/10/20 @ West Point-Beemer
01/14/20 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
01/17/20 Howells-Dodge
01/18/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/21/20 Twin River
01/23/20 @ Pender
01/28/20 @ Clarkson/Leigh
01/30/20 North Bend Central
02/01-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker BBB Tournament TBD
02/11/20 @ BRLD
02/13/20 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
02/21/20 @ Madison
Team: Wisner-Pilger
Mascot: Gators
Colors: Green and White
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Brooke Scheitel (1st season)
2018-2019 record: 7-17 (lost to Oakland-Craig in Sub-Districts)
Returning Starters: N/A
Overview:
The Wisner-Pilger Girls are under new leadership as Brooke Scheitel takes over the reigns of the program, replacing Karrie Bodwell.
Scheitel, a native of Falls City, spent last year as an assistant for the Gators.
Wisner-Pilger returns 9 letterwinners, including include Macy Stuhr, Makenzi Brown, Reagan Scholting, Aspin Waterman, Karrin Jindra, Hannah Stoffel, Adi Meyer, Emily Hatterman, and Lindsey Kneifl.
Scheitel says there are many good returners and newcomers. "We have a strong returning nucleus for our team, along with an athletic freshman class. I look for our team to make big strides of improvement this year. We are fortunate enough to have both height and speed on our team. This will allow us to have many offensive and defensive options. The hard work and commitment of the athletes that I have been seeing is what will drive this team to improve each day."
Wisner-Pilger said goodbye to Jordan Wegner, Cassidy Gooch, and Taylor Stuhr last year.
Scheitel says she was very hands on with the team over the summer. "During the offseason I helped in the weightroom. And so that was one thing I wanted to do right away. There was a lot of them in the weightroom. Held them pretty accountable. They knew that I was going to be there so I think they realized that I would realize who wasn't there everyday. We did some camps this summer, we did some summer leagues."
I feel the Gators have a chance to do very well this year given their success in Volleyball and Softball.
Wisner-Pilger had a lot of success in fall sports, and I look for that to carry over into the winter.
It sounds like Coach Scheitel brings a lot of energy and passion, and I think those are two things that can and will rub off on the girls.
The Gators return a lot of good talent and players have a lot of good freshmen coming in so the present and future looks to be very bright for Wisner-Pilger.
I have no doubt the Gators can get things turned around and become a strong force for years to come in the area.
I think this year has a chance to be really good, but it's really all about laying a foundation and establishing a high level of play that hopefully future teams build and feed off of.
Wisner-Pilger has to do their best to win, and win now, all while establishing a winning culture for years to come.
Season Outlook:
The Wisner-Pilger Girls look to do well this year.
The Gators have tough games against the likes of GACC, Oakland-Craig, Wayne, West Point-Beemer, Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family, Clarkson/Leigh, North Bend Central, and BRLD.
I feel there are lots of opportunities for wins out there for Wisner-Pilger this season though.
I think 15 wins is a very realistic number for the Gators if they work hard and play up to their potential.
Wisner-Pilger opens up the season on Thursday at home against Lutheran High Northeast.
Scheitel on the matchup. "The expectations for the girls this year have been set high, and they've been doing nothing but working to achieve them. So I'm looking forward to that game. I think it will be a good matchup. The Eagles do have some speed and some quickness, but I think that with the athletes we have we can definitely match them."
Scheitel says the team has to do the little things right.
She goes on to talk about what the team hopes to accomplish this year. "It's showing everyone, it's proving to themselves first of all, proving to the young athletes that they're role models for that winning and success those are things that we want to do."
Scheitel adds being average is not the expectation.
The Gators certainly want to be great as do all teams, and I think Wisner-Pilger can be a great team and program for years to come.
The potential and opportunity is out there for the Gators...now all Wisner-Pilger has to do is go out there and seize the opportunity and moment.
The Gators have to go out there and take charge and take the bull by the horns.
Wisner-Pilger has to expect to be great, and must go out there and do the things necessary to become a great team.
The Gators have to try and establish a winning culture, and change the team's fortunes of recent years.
The future is now for Wisner-Pilger, and the sooner they win the quicker they will be on to great things.
2019-2020 Wisner-Pilger Gators Girls Basketball Schedule:
12/05/19 Lutheran High Northeast
12/06/19 @ Guardian Angels Central Catholic
12/13/19 @ Tekamah-Herman
12/19/19 Oakland-Craig
12/20/19 @ Wayne
12/28-12/30 (To Be Determined) Wisner-Pilger Holiday Tournament Wisner-Pilger
01/03/20 @ Stanton
01/07/20 Arlington
01/09/20 Madison
01/10/20 @ West Point-Beemer
01/14/20 @ Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family
01/17/20 Howells-Dodge
01/18/20 @ Logan View-Scribner-Snyder
01/21/20 Twin River
01/23/20 @ Pender
01/28/20 @ Clarkson/Leigh
01/30/20 North Bend Central
01/31-02/08 (To Be Determined) East Husker GBB Tournament TBA
02/11/20 @ BRLD
02/13/20 Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
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