After pouring through oodles of statistics, all-state, all-conference and all-area teams, last year's state tournament bracket and plenty of postseason rankings, we have uncovered our Goldenrod Conference projections for 2025-26.
Last March, Archangels Catholic edged Stuart (61-59), fell to eventual Class D2 state champion St. Mary's (59-46) and upended Wausa (45-39) to secure the third-place hardware and end the year with a win and a 21-7 record. Defender coach Eric Kessler returns several key players as Archangels Catholic goes after another deep postseason run.
Junior Ethan Wieseler returns following a First Team All-Goldenrod Conference season in which he averaged 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds and reeled in 70 steals. Senior Brenden Johannes is Kessler's top returning scorer after averaging 11.4 points a year ago.
The Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference guard also averaged 4.2 rebounds, dished out 40 assists, grabbed 48 steals and blocked 31 shots. Seniors Tucker Czarnick and Gage Braun both earned Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference honors
Enough of my rambling. Enjoy!
Boys Goldenrod Conference
Archangels Catholic (21-7)
Fullerton (17-9)
Riverside (15-10)
Central Valley (17-8)
Grand Island Lutheran (6-16)
Palmer (4-15)
Nebraska Christian (6-16)
Newman Grove/St. Edward (7-13)
Elba (1-20)
Burwell (0-0)
Archangels Catholic
2024-25 Record: 21-7
Record Over Past Decade: 206-57
2024-25 Postseason: 2-1 | Class D2 Third Place
Head Coach: Eric Kessler
Top Returning Players:
Senior Brenden Johannes | 6-foot-6 | Guard
11.4 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 40 Assists | 48 Steals | 31 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
Third Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Junior Ethan Wieseler | 6-foot | Forward
10.7 Points | 6.8 Rebounds | 49 Assists | 70 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Tucker Czarnick | 5-foot-11 | Guard
5.8 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 31 Assists | 56 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Gage Braun | 6-foot-2 | Center
4.0 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 11 Assists | 42 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Fullerton
2024-25 Record: 17-9
Record Over Past Decade: 135-107
2024-25 Postseason: 0-1 | Lost in D2 Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Will Wagner
Top Returning Players:
Junior Kane Wetovick | 6-foot-7 | Forward
17.6 Points | 11.3 Rebounds | 85 Assists | 45 Steals | 30 Blocked Shots
First Team Class D2 Omaha World Herald | First Team Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star
First Team All-Goldenrod Conference | Second Team All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Terrick Gonsior | 5-foot-11 | Guard
6.6 Points | 4.2 Rebounds | 68 Assists | 30 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Riverside
2024-25 Record: 15-10
Record Over Past Decade: 248-159
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Scott Schmieding
Top Returning Players:
Senior Larry Diessner | Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
11.6 Points | 6.3 Rebounds | 104 Assists | 117 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
HM Class D1 Omaha World Herald | HM Class D1 Lincoln Journal Star
Second Team All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Central Valley
2024-25 Record: 17-8
Record Over Past Decade: 118-106
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Nolan Kratzer
Top returning Players:
Sophomore Zevan Wolf | 6-foot-3 | Small Forward | Power Forward
7.8 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 42 Assists | 19 Steals | 19 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Grand Island Lutheran
2024-25 Record: 6-16
Record Over Past Decade: 76-144
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Jeremiah Slough
Top Returning Players:
Sophomore Luke Olson | Power Forward
14.2 Points | 9.0 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 37 Steals | 37 Blocked Shots
HM Class D2 Lincoln Journal Star | Second Team All-Goldenrod Conference
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Colton Zehendner | Center
5.2 Points | 6.8 Rebounds | 7 Assists | 21 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Chad Rostvet | Power Forward | Shooting Guard
6.7 Points | 5.9 Rebounds | 48 Assists | 26 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Sophomore Xander Rivera | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
4.9 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 67 Assists | 35 Steals | 0 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Cole Lindner | Shooting Guard
6.0 Points | 2.3 Rebounds | 22 Assists | 14 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Palmer
2024-25 Record: 4-15
Record Over Past Decade: 50-150
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Heath McClellan
Top Returning Players:
Junior Bruno Navarro | Shooting Guard
10.1 Points | 1.5 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 8 Steals | 2 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Junior Payton Coplen | Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
6.3 Points | 2.1 Rebounds | 12 Assists | 3 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Goldenrod Conference
Senior Lane Mottl | 6-foot-1
7.2 Points | 1.8 Rebounds | 15 Assists | 2 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Nebraska Christian
2024-25 Record: 6-16
Record Over Past Decade: 95-133
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Andy Perdew
Top Returning Players:
Senior Kendehl Oswald | Shooting Guard | Small Forward
5.5 Points | 3.3 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 23 Steals | 8 Blocked Shots
Newman Grove/St. Edward
2024-25 Record: 7-13
Record Over Past Decade: 120-210
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Tyler Gray
Top Returning Players:
Senior Ryan Cumming | 6-foot-5 | Post
4.7 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 12 Steals | 12 Blocked Shots
Sophomore Parker Fitchner | 6-foot-1
2.5 Points | 3.7 Rebounds | 19 Assists | 12 Steals | 5 Blocked Shots
Elba
2024-25 Record: 1-20
Record Over Past Decade: 11-178
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: Logan Simmerman
Top Returning Players:
Senior Blake Barg | 5-foot-9
8.8 Points | 6.5 Rebounds | 10 Assists | 22 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
HM All-Goldenrod Conference | HM All-Heartland Super Squad
Senior Kjell Brockhoff | 6-foot-2
1.8 Points | 6.3 Rebounds | 17 Assists | 34 Steals | 3 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Junior Ethan Lange | 5-foot-11 | Shooting Guard
7.9 Points | 4.5 Rebounds | 7 Assists | 30 Steals | 33 Blocked Shots
Honorable Mention All-Heartland Super Squad
Burwell
2024-25 Record: 0-0
Record Over Past Decade: 132-83
2024-25 Postseason: Did Not Qualify
Head Coach: John Novicki
Top Returning Players:
Senior Binyam Sikes | 6-foot | Shooting Guard | Point Guard
5.7 Points | 2.0 Rebounds | 13 Assists | 8 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
Senior Landon Critel | 5-foot-10 | Point Guard
11.3 Points | 3.4 Rebounds | 34 Assists | 27 Steals | 1 Blocked Shot
*Burwell Player Stats From 2023-24*
