Preseason Power 25: No. 13 Wausau West

March 10, 2017

The Wisconsin high school season kicks off on March 28, the first day for regular season games. Most teams will begin practicing on March 20, getting their rosters set and finalizing their lineups.

Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.

We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team. If you don’t see your team’s season preview make sure your head coach fills out his Preseason Questionnaire.

Team: Wausau West
Preseason Rank: 13
2016 Record: 18-8
Conference: Wisconsin Valley
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Ryan Whalen
Playoff Run: Lost Sectional Semifinal
2016 Final Rank: NR

TOP PLAYERS

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Payton Nelson	WI	Wausau West	2017	OF
Paul Weise	WI	Wausau West	2017	C	Wisocnsin-Parkside
Logan Grunenwald	WI	Wausau West	2017	SS/RHP	Winona State
Zach Pearson	WI	Wausau West	2017	1B
Jacob Wokatsch	WI	Wausau West	2017	OF
Grant Hill	WI	Wausau West	2018	3B/RHP
Chandler Fochs	WI	Wausau West	2018	RHP
Zach Raeder	WI	Wausau West	2017	2B

X-FACTOR

Senior SS/RHP Logan Grunenwald will again be key for the Warriors success in 2017. Last year he hit .375 while posting a 3-4 record on the mound with a 1.95 ERA. Grunenwald, a Winona State commit, is currently ranked No. 73 in the PBR 2017 Wisconsin rankings. His fastball works 83-84 mph and shows feel for his slider and changeup. Defensively he has a strong arm in the infield and is a solid runner. He was named second team all-conference as a junior.

STAT RAT

1.81: ERA posted by junior pitcher Chandler Fochs last season. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hander works 84-86 mph with his fastball and compliments it with a slider at 74-77 mph. Fochs posted a 4-1 record last year and will again be a key at the top of the Warriors rotation.

OUTLOOK

2011 was the last time Wausau West won the Wisconsin Valley Conference. SPASH has dominated the conference since 2012 winning five straight titles, including going 12-0 last year. This year Wausau West has the players to end SPASH’s run as champions. They lineup returns six hitters who batted over .350 last year headlined by Payton Nelson who hit a team leading .407. Senior first baseman Zach Pearson hit .390, catcher Paul Weise hit .370, and second baseman Zach Raeder hit .359. Junior Grant Hill hit .351 and posted a perfect 4-0 record with a 3.85 ERA. The Warriors have the experience to take the Wisconsin Valley Title this spring and make a deep playoff run.