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: Arrowhead
Preseason Rank: 10
2016 Record: 28-3
Conference: Little Ten
WIAA Division: 1
Head Coach: Nick Brengosz
Playoff Run: Division I Runner Up
2016 Final Rank: 2

TOP PLAYERS

Key Players lost

Nick Brown, RHP/SS (Florida)
Ryan Schmitt, RHP (Illinois)
Dominic Clementi, OF (Michigan)
Johnny Duranso, OF (UW-Oshkosh)

X-FACTOR

Junior C Jeff Holtz is one of the most talented hitters in the state of Wisconsin and has been in the Warhawks lineup since his freshman year. Last year as a sophomore he hit .462 with 40 RBIs for the Division I runners up. This year Holtz will again be the focal point of the lineup, and less weapons around him he may reach base more in 2017 via the walk. Holtz will have to lead the pitching staff from behind the plate with only one major contributor returning to the mound with varsity experience.

STAT RAT

34: The number of consecutive Wisconsin Little Ten Spring wins the Warhawks have. Since joining the WIAA Spring Season for the 2015 year, the Warhawks have gone a perfect 34-0 in conference. They will be tested right out of the gate in 2017 as they start conference play with Oconomowoc on April 4^th at home.

OUTLOOK

The Warhawks will be a new look squad in 2017, gone is former head coach Vince Mancuso who is now an assistant at Oconomowoc along with three seniors who are now at Division I schools. Nick Brengosz, who was an assistant, takes over as head coach. The new look Warhawks will be lead by junior catcher and Indiana commit Jeff Holtz. Holtz hit .462 in 2017 with an astounding 40 RBIs. Senior Tanner Williams batted .438 last year and will hit near the top of the order in 2017. The team returns starter Derek Crawley, who went 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA. The Warhawks JV team went 21-5 last year and will be looking for some of those players to step up and contribute on varsity in 2017. Arrowhead will have to count on a lot of unproven talent in 2017 especially on the mound, but they return enough to compete for a Little Ten title.

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