Athens in midst of rebuilding mode

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens boys basketball team is experiencing some early-season struggles as their younger players learn the varsity game. This is a rebuilding year for the Bluejays who only have two seniors on the varsity squad.

Jeramie Penney is in his eighth season as varsity head coach. Derek Czech is JV coach and varsity assistant coach.

Athens lost starting players Andy Schaer, Ty Johnson and Isaac Bushman to graduation from last year’s team that had a 10-16 record. The Bluejays have two returning starting players in junior guard Riley Schultz-Becker and sophomore guard Dax Diethelm this season.

The Bluejays’ top newcomers to this season’s varsity squad are senior wing Nick Pittman and senior post player Brayden Frahmann, junior guards Kam Zarnke and Eli Paul, junior post player Jordan Frahm, sophomore wing Kaleb Cracraft and sophomore post player Brock Beaty.

Athens has a 1-6 record thus far this season. The team’s win was against Newman Catholic, 58-31, at home in the second game of the year. The Cardinals’ top two players, junior guards Quincy Pfender and Lucas Pfiffner, were out with injuries.

Just like Athens, Newman Catholic has a young team with only one senior this season. The Cardinals, 1-8, won their only game this year when Pfender and Pfiffner were both healthy in the lineup. Two of Athens’ top players, Frahmann and Zarnke, also didn’t play in the team’s win against Newman Catholic. They are back on the court now.

Schultz-Becker, who has a nice step back jump shot, led Athens in its home victory against Newman Catholic with 14 points, six steals and four assists. Diethelm added 13 points. Beaty, Pittman and Paul contributed nine points apiece against the Cardinals. Frahm led the Bluejays with seven rebounds in the victory.

Athens lost its most recent game, 63-56, to Phillips at home before the holiday break. Schultz-Becker led the Bluejays with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Diethelm added 14 points and Frahmann had 13.

Schultz-Becker currently leads Athens in scoring by averaging 15 points per game this season. Diethelm is averaging 10.9 points per game and Frahm is averaging 8.7 points per game. Schultz-Becker also paces the Bluejays in rebounds with an average of 6.1 rebounds per game while Frahm is averaging 2.6 rebounds per game. Schultz-Becker also leads the team with an average of 3.1 assists per game while Zarnke is averaging two assists per game.

Athens will look to get back on track after the holiday break when it hosts Chequamegon, 2-5, at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 6.

ATHENS VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL - Introducing the 2024-25 Athens varsity boys basketball squad. Team members, pictured from left to right, front row: Mason Belter, Eli Paul, Kam Zarnke, Derek Yessa and Kaleb Cracraft; back row: Nick Pittman, Riley Schultz-Becker, Jordan Frahm, Brock Beaty, Eli Schaer, Dax Diethelm and Brayden Frahmann.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER