BONDUEL, WI- The Bonduel Bears boys basketball program is preparing for a new challenge this winter after being moved up to WIAA Division 3.
The move comes after the WIAA’s performance factor system placed Bonduel in a higher division following multiple postseason runs, including another trip to the state tournament last season.
Bonduel head coach Duke Copp says the school appealed the decision, hoping to remain in Division 4, but the request was denied.
“It was all performance factor. They go over three years. You get so many points for sectional finals, state appearance, state finals,” Copp said. “We felt there really wasn’t anything in those criteria that had to do with our situation.”
Copp says Bonduel argued that its recent success was not the result of recruiting or a growing enrollment, but rather the impact of one standout player.
“We pretty much stated we don’t recruit kids. All of our players are homegrown. Our enrollment isn’t really increasing,” Copp said. “Bottom line, common sense would say we had a 6-foot-6, 245-pound elite athlete that probably was a huge, massive reason why we went to state a couple of years and he’s gone.”
Despite the appeal being denied, Copp says the Bears are ready to move forward and embrace the challenge of competing in Division 3.
“We’re just moving on and excited to play,” Copp said.
Bonduel’s goals remain the same despite the jump in division. The Bears will still aim for a conference championship, a high tournament seed, and another deep postseason run.
Copp says the move should not become a distraction for his players, especially since many of the teams they will face in the tournament are already familiar opponents.
“I don’t think it’s really affecting us much at all,” Copp said. “We’ll have the same goals, try to win conference, get the best seed we can and see what happens.”
Bonduel’s regional and sectional assignments include several familiar programs, including Amherst, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Menominee, along with Division 3 powers like Seymour and Freedom.
The biggest adjustment for the Bears will come on the court, where they must replace the production of former standout Ryan Westrich, who provided a dominant inside presence.
Copp says the team has already started working on developing a different style of play.
“It’s exciting to get back. It’s interesting because we have to find, develop probably a little bit different style without relying on Ryan in there,” Copp said. “He always could bail us out inside, and we don’t have that now.”
The Bears have been busy during the offseason, competing in summer leagues and tournaments while preparing for the transition.
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