Can Kaukauna softball win a fourth title? Will area state soccer drought end? Here are the top spring postseason storylines
The Kaukauna softball team's quest for a fourth consecutive state championship is the prevailing storyline heading into the WIAA tournament season.
The Ghosts have won the past three Division 1 state titles and are on course for a fourth this season. They just wrapped up a 23-0 regular season with back-to-back nonconference wins Saturday against Westosha Central and Kenosha Bradford, the ninth- and second-ranked teams in the state, respectively. That extended their winning streak to 104 games, the longest ever in Wisconsin and one of the top streaks in the nation.
The bad news for the rest of the state? The Ghosts are still ascending and expect to be 100% healthy soon, according to head coach Tim Roehrig.
"We are getting healthy," he said. "For a bit there, we were out three starters that combined were batting .472. That was not an easy task. The kids that stepped in did a great job. We have one more (out) but she should be ready for (this) week. Once we are completely healthy, we will be dangerous."
Pivotal to the Ghosts' success will be the play of standout junior Karly Meredith. The defending Gatorade state player of the year is having another stellar season with a 23-0 record and has yet to lose in her high school career (64-0).
Meredith was stellar Saturday against Westosha Central and Kenosha Bradford. She allowed two hits against Central and struck out 17 in a 3-0 victory before recording a no-hitter and striking out 15 in an 8-0 win over Bradford.
"She was lights out," Roehrig said of Meredith. "She dominated the day. The kid was phenomenal."
Kaukauna finished 30-0 last season and was 31-0 in 2022. The Ghosts' last loss was to Neenah on May 18, 2021.
Here's a look at the other top storylines heading into the WIAA postseason.
Can Freedom make it a three-peat in Division 2 softball?
WIAA state softball: June 6-8, Goodman Diamond, Madison
Freedom is looking to win its third straight D2 state title. The Irish are 20-6 and finished a game behind Luxemburg-Casco in the North Eastern Conference. The rivals split their regular-season matchups and are likely to meet in a sectional semifinal Tuesday.
The Irish have met New London at the state tournament the past two seasons as well, including last season's 8-0 win in the title game. The Bulldogs are 18-3 this season and have a win over Freedom on their résumé. They also play in a different sectional than Freedom, which means there's a chance they could head to the state tournament for the third straight season and meet the Irish.
Will Kimberly's Cudney contend for D1 golf title?
WIAA state boys golf: June 3-4, Blackwolf Run (Meadows Course), Kohler
Kimberly's Aiden Cudney had an incredible first day at last year's Division 1 state golf tournament, firing a 69 before ending up with a two-day total of 150, which tied him for third overall.
Cudney has a chance to place high this season but should face tough competition from Waunakee's KC Nickel (second last year) and Waukesha North's Jackson Piacsek, who also tied for third with Cudney.
Another top D1 player to watch is Jon Huenink, who was the Fox Valley Association's player of the year and medalist at the conference tournament last week.
Winneconne, led by Casey Peters, is perhaps the top contender in the team competition. Seymour is also in the top 10 and could find its way to the state meet as well.
Can shot putter Ben Smith put himself in elite company?
WIAA state boys and girls track: May 31-June 1, Veterans Memorial Stadium, La Crosse
Hortonville senior and Oregon commit Ben Smith has the top shot put throw in the nation at the high school level. His toss of 75 feet, 1 inch at the Fond du Lac Quad on May 6 underscored how he has dominated the state the past few seasons in winning back-to-back Division 1 state championships in the event.
Smith is the odds-on favorite to win the title a third time, but he has yet to set the D1 state meet record in the shot put, which is held by Green Bay Preble's Steve Marcelle. He recorded a throw of 67-6 in 2005.
Smith also has the second-best throw in the discus (208-11) with Waterford's Bryce Ruhland leading the way (210-10).
Merrick vying for repeat high jump title: Freedom junior Lydia Merrick won last year's Division 2 girls high jump with a leap of 5-6. She's tied for third in the state (5-6) during the regular season, but should be a favorite to repeat as state champ.
Merrick also has a chance to reach the state meet in the 300-meter hurdles as her time of :46.16 puts her in the top 5 of Division 2 this season.
Will an area baseball team reach state?
WIAA state baseball: June 10-13, Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium, Grand Chute
Kimberly (19-3) is ranked No. 6 in the final Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association state rankings in Division 1, but lost a pair of critical starting pitchers — Sawyer Deering and Alex Vanderloop. Deering is still a threat at the plate, but losing both players could hinder the Papermakers' quest to reach the state tournament.
Keep an eye on Appleton North, which has had a solid season and is second in the Fox Valley Association behind Kimberly. The Lightning would potentially have to beat second-ranked De Pere and Kimberly at sectionals to advance to state.
Little Chute (17-2) won the North Eastern Conference and could surprise in D2, with Shiocton (13-3) a dark horse to reach Fox Cities Stadium in D3.
Can Papermakers end area girls soccer drought?
WIAA state girls soccer: June 13-15, Uihlein Soccer Park, Milwaukee
Area girls soccer teams have struggled to get to the WIAA state tournament at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee this decade.
St. Mary Catholic was the last team from the Post-Crescent coverage area to reach the state tournament, reaching the Division 4 semifinals in 2019. The last team to reach the championship game was Winneconne in D3 in 2017. The last state champion from the area was Appleton North in 2011.
The best area team the past few seasons has been Kimberly and the fourth-ranked Papermakers definitely have the roster to make a state push. They have an awesome 1-2 combo with Senah Hanes (28 goals) and Emily McCarthy (26 goals), with Abby Lom one of the state's top distributors (21 assists). The team's two losses this season have been close defeats to second-ranked Muskego and third-ranked Waunakee.
The key for Kimberly is getting a bit more offense in the postseason. The Papermakers fell to Bay Port 1-1 in a regional final by a shootout last season and were shut out in a regional final by Arrowhead in 2022.
This year's team averages 4.58 goals per game, slightly more than the 2023 (4.29) and 2022 (4.26) teams.
WIAA to hold inaugural state finals in lacrosse
WIAA state boys and girls lacrosse: June 8, Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium, Sun Prairie
The Appleton United boys lacrosse team is on a roll, having won eight of its last nine games including a critical 7-6 victory over top-seeded Neenah last Monday.
Appleton senior attacker Ryder Hill is one of the state's top scorers with 61 goals and 12 assists. Landon Larson (29 goals, 49 assists) and Hans Ridlehoover (27 goals, 22 assists) give the offense balance with Aiden Eckes leading the team with caused turnovers (50).
Which tennis players will contend in Madison?
WIAA state individual tennis: May 30-June 1, Nielsen Stadium, Madison
WIAA state team tennis: June 7-8, Nielsen Stadium, Madison
Neenah reached the D1 state team quarterfinals a year ago, falling to Brookfield Central. The Rockets are a mainstay in Madison for the team tournament, having reached the event nine out of the last 10 years, not counting the COVID-19 pandemic season.
Vote for the top athlete: Nominees from softball, track and field, golf and baseball: Vote for Cellcom Post-Crescent high school athlete of the week
The Rockets recently wrapped up their 25th consecutive Fox Valley Association title, beating second-place Kimberly by two points. The team's strength is its doubles teams, which swept through the FVA conference tournament.
In individual play, Kimberly junior Aiden Meixl nearly reached the quarterfinal round at state last season. He's the FVA champ at No. 1 singles and could be the area's best chance to reach the podium. The Papermakers also won the three other singles flights at the FVA meet.
In D2, Xavier's doubles combo of seniors Nick Bittner and Nate Hall are looking to reach state for the third consecutive season. The duo placed third last season after entering the individual meet top-ranked and undefeated. They were also fourth in 2022.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Top storylines as the WIAA spring sports postseason begins
