Pressure is a privilege

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon’s varsity boys basketball team is tasked with not paying too much attention to the state rankings this season. With lots of talent returning, including almost seven-foot-tall Grant Warren, the Red Raiders were ranked No. 2 in the wissports.net Division 4 coaches poll before they even played a game. Marathon has met state expectations thus far with a 7-0 record and thus has maintained its No. 2 ranking in Division 4.

Adam Jacobson is in the midst of his 13th year as Marathon’s varsity head boys basketball coach. His assistant coaches are Claude Seubert, Chuck Woelfel, Phil Seubert, Alex Blume and Hunter Seubert. Jacobson said his players realize the team is being touted as one of the best Division 4 teams this season.

“We understand there are publications out there, but honestly our goals don’t change each year depending on what other people think of our team,” Jacobson said. “We want to become the best version of ourselves individually and collectively. We want to compete night in and night out for a conference championship and ultimately play our best basketball when it matters most through the playoff run in March. Our guys know pressure is a privilege. It is a privilege that our community and school district support our players so much. It is a privilege that there are people who think highly of our team. Our guys want to go out and play to the best of their ability and meet their full potential as a player and as a team.”

Marathon’s top returning varsity players this season are senior guards Tyler Underwood, Cooper Hoeksema and Andrew Glenn, senior forward Grant Warren, junior guard Cody Radtke, sophomore guard True Thurs and sophomore forward Drew Woelfel.

Warren signed his National Letter of Intent in early November, before this season began, to play Division 2 college basketball at Michigan Tech next year. He was slowed by an ankle injury that he sustained in an open gym to start this season but now he’s back up to speed.

See MARATHON HOOPS/ page 11

RED RAIDERS VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL- Introducing the 2023-24 Marathon varsity boys basketball team. Players pictured, from left to right, front row are: Landon Sneider, Wilson Marks, Blake Kraft and Ean Shuda; middle row: Nathan Huebsch, True Thurs, Cody Radtke, Cooper Hoeksema and Andy Glennon; back row: Tyler Underwood, Grant Warren and Drew Woelfel.

PHOTO BY STACY STUBBE Marathon hoops

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His head coach certainly has nothing but praise for him.

“Grant is a major difference maker for us on both ends of the floor,” Jacobson said. “Yes, his height is an asset but beyond that he is an athletic and highly skilled basketball player.” He has gotten stronger and expanded his game in many different areas over the past year. We look for Grant to bring great energy and effort to our team and to be a leader of our program both on and off the court.”

Jacobson is proud that Warren was awarded for his hard work by receiving a scholarship to play basketball at Michigan Tech.

“We are very excited for Grant and his future both in the gym and in the classroom,” Jacobson said. “We are happy for Grant and his family that he found a university that was a great fit for him academically and athletically. Our community, school district and basketball program are very proud of Grant. We know he is excited for his future ahead, but we also know he has much that he wants to accomplish with his teammates yet throughout Marathon’s winter and spring sports seasons.”

Marathon won the Marawood South Conference championship last season. Marathon finished last season with a 23-4 record after losing to Auburndale in the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal in Marshfield. Jacobson outlines what this season’s team needs to do in order to repeat as conference champions and have a much longer run in the playoffs.

“We need to be hungry and humble,” he said. “We need to be mentally and physically tough. The guys are highly motivated. We want to approach each opportunity in front of us with the confidence of a champion and the fight of an

underdog.”