UW-Fox Valley Men’s Basketball
2009-2010 Season
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News
-11/02/09-
2009-10 UW-Fox Valley Men’s Basketball Preview
The UW-Fox Valley men’s basketball team enters the 2009-10 season with a lot of new faces and many unknowns. With a new head coach and coaching staff, seven new players, and only 4 returning players the one thing Cyclones’ fans can count on is the unexpected. UW-Fox opens their season on November 6 against UW-Marshfield in the opening round of the UW-Fond du Lac tournament.
Lee Rabas took over the reigns of the program as the new head coach in early June. Rabas brings 19 years of basketball coaching experience to the position including a successful 7 year stint as head coach at Xavier High School in Appleton where his teams went 103-56 including 2 conference championships and a WISAA state-runner up finish in 1997-98. For the last 5 years he served as an assistant coach at Lawrence University where the Vikings were 99-27 and made four appearances in the NCAA DIII national tournament.
Rabas has assembled an assistant coaching staff that includes several former college players, and some familiar faces from his tenure at Xavier High School. Drew Demerath, Bob Klein, Rick Vander Wyst, Dave Mader, Zach Zeuske, and John Vermeern bring many talents and strengths to the staff that will help Coach Rabas in building a successful men’s basketball program at UW-Fox Valley.
Karl Sachs (Seymour), Isiah Mader (Appleton East), Bill Wildenburg (Manawa), and Max Anderson (Appleton East) give the Cyclones four experienced players in the WCC. Sachs is the team’s leading returning scorer and will be a key contributor in 09-10. In addition to experience Mader brings size, leadership, and shooting ability to the floor. Wildenburg will provide depth, rebounding, and a physical presence to the UW-Fox front- court, while Anderson will provide steady ball handling and outside shooting.
The list of newcomers includes Chris Searl (Appleton West), Jake Coenen (Kimberly), Phil Landua (Kaukauna), Joe Dachelet (Menash), Cole Meyer (Bayport), Ryan VandeHey (Kimberly), and Kyle Bloedow (Little Chute). Searl and Coenen will provide depth on the perimeter. Meyer, Dachelet, and Bloedow will man the Cyclone frontcourt. Landua and VandeHey give the Cyclones two athletic and versatile wing players.
How quickly the newcomers can mesh with the veterans will be key to the Cyclones early season schedule, as will staying healthy as the team learns to handle a smaller roster. Also pivotal to the season will be the team’s ability to adapt to a new system and coaching staff. One thing is for sure. Every member of the team and coaching staff will work hard in building the program and team in 2009-10.