(WIAC) – MADISON, Wis.–The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its men’s basketball awards for the 2026 season, based on voting by the conference coaches.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Sam Grieger received Player of the Year recognition, while UW-Oshkosh’s Aiden Hawkinson and UW-Stevens Point’s Max Raimer were tabbed the Co-Newcomers of the Year. UW-Whitewater’s Jarod Wichser collected Coach of the Year accolades.
Grieger claimed first team honors for the second consecutive season and is the seventh Eagle to receive the player of the year distinction, joining Eric Haug (1975), John Mielke (1981), Joe Werner (2007), Tony Mane (2011), Jared Staege (2016) and Wyatt Cook (2021). Grieger leads the WIAC with 25.8 points per game, while ranking second with 7.9 rebounds per contest and 99 assists, and third with a .597 field goal percentage and .857 free throw percentage. He has reached double-figures in scoring in all 29 games this season and produced at least 20 points in 22 contests, including a program-record 46 points at UW-Oshkosh on Jan. 7.
Hawkinson played in all 26 games for the Titans and is 10th in the conference with a .366 three-point field goal percentage. He tallied a season-high 21 points against UW-Eau Claire on Feb. 11. Raimer has played in all 26 contests for the Pointers and recorded a season-best 20 points against UW-La Crosse on Feb. 14. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used his first season of participation in men’s basketball this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in men’s basketball at their previous institution.
Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago include: UW-Eau Claire’s Andre Renta; UW-La Crosse’s Dustin Derousseau and JJ Paider; and UW-Stevens Point’s Josiah Butler. Paider added first team honors in 2024, along with UW-Oshkosh’s Michael Metcalf-Grassman, who was also named the Newcomer of the Year.
Wichser secured the coaching award after leading the Warhawks to the 16th regular-season WIAC championship in program history and first since the 2015 campaign. UW-Whitewater has a 20-7 record and earned a bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.
UW-La Crosse’s Dustin Derousseau and UW-Stout’s Collin Vick landed on the all-defensive team for the second straight year, while UW-Stout’s Aidan Shore was a defensive honoree in 2024.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was announced for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each team as selected by that team.
2026 All-WIAC Men’s Basketball Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Josiah Butler, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, Appleton, Wis. (Fox Valley Lutheran)
Dustin Derousseau, La Crosse, Senior, Guard, Tomah, Wis. (Tomah)
Joey Fuhremann, Platteville, Senior, Forward, Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)
Sam Grieger, La Crosse, Junior, Guard, Randolph, Wis. (Randolph)
Collin Madson, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago)
Michael Metcalf-Grassman, Oshkosh, Junior, Guard, Shawano/Waukesha, Wis. (Shawano)
Seth Miron, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard/Forward, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)
JJ Paider, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
Andre Renta, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, Hudson, Wis. (Hudson)
Isaac Verges, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Honorable Mention
Logan Baumgartner, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard/Forward, Medford, Wis. (Medford)
Joey LaChapell, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Guard, Appleton, Wis. (Appleton East)
Jack Leifker, River Falls, Senior, Center, Blaine, Minn. (Spring Lake Park)
Bristol Lewis, Platteville, Junior, Guard, East Moline, Ill. (United)
AJ Uttech, Stout, Junior, Guard, Fall River, Wis. (Columbus)
Collin Vick, Stout, Junior, Guard, Owatonna, Minn. (Owatonna)
Richie Warren, Whitewater, Senior, Forward, Racine, Wis. (Racine Park)
All-Defensive Team
Carter Combs, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Guard, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Dustin Derousseau, La Crosse, Senior, Guard, Tomah, Wis. (Tomah)
Aidan Shore, Stout, Graduate Student, Center, Sterling, Ill. (Sterling)
Isaac Verges, Whitewater, Senior, Guard, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Collin Vick, Stout, Junior, Guard, Owatonna, Minn. (Owatonna)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Austin Ambrose, Whitewater, Senior, Forward, Batavia, Ill. (Batavia)
Will Boser, Eau Claire, Junior, Guard, Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial)
James Jacobs, Stevens Point, Junior, Guard, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Carson Leuzinger, Stout, Junior, Guard, Monroe, Wis. (Monroe)
Max Lucey, Platteville, Junior, Forward, Kieler, Wis. (Cuba City)
Gavin Ralph, River Falls, Senior, Guard, Wauzeka, Wis. (Wauzeka-Steuben)
Reed Seckar, Oshkosh, Senior, Guard, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh North)
Kade Van Asten, La Crosse, Senior, Forward, Little Chute, Wis. (Little Chute)
Player of the Year: Sam Grieger – La Crosse
Co-Newcomers of the Year: Aiden Hawkinson – Oshkosh and Max Raimer – Stevens Point
Coach of the Year: Jarod Wichser – Whitewater
Max Sparger Scholar Athlete: Jack Leifker – River Falls
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