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Star Badger bolts for East Troy, Rayfield

November 21, 2012 | 06:56 AM

The saga continues in area high school basketball concerning Lake Geneva Badger and East Troy.

Junior Jacob Growel, who started at point guard for Badger since his freshman year and averaged 13.9 points per contest last season, transferred to East Troy this school year and will play for the Trojans.

The Badgers opened their season last night at home with a 68-44 loss to Sussex Hamilton. Colton Andresen and Rob Slagle paced the local boys with 11 points. Andresen is now Badger's leading returning scorer with 8.3 points per game a year ago.

Growel joins a cast of all-star characters, including senior shooting guard Nate Dodge and 6-foot-9 twin brothers Brett and Alex Prahl. Dodge is committed to Division 1 Army, and the Prahls have given verbal commitments to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

So why would a player choose to share the wealth instead of returning to a team where he was the top guy?

It could be the wins. The Trojans were ranked in the top 10 in Division 3 all season last year and only a couple wins from state.

Or the coach. Daryl Rayfield, a Lake Geneva resident who has coached current Badgers in youth basketball, is the head man at East Troy. Rayfield ran into some controversy last season with a lopsided victory over Big Foot. With starters playing in the fourth quarter despite a 50-point halftime lead, Rayfield was accused of running up the score by Big Foot AD Tim Collins. However, the man knows basketball and he is earning wins with the Trojans at an alarming rate. And who wouldn't at least consider playing with Dodge, one of the state's best, and two 6-foot-9 studs?

It will be interesting to see how much Growel's game will improve, and how this shocker will impact Badger.

When I first noticed Growel attended East Troy, I was very surprised. Going into this season, I deemed Badger a contender for the SLC title.

Badger may still be a contender. Teams without their top scorer tend to rally together and concentrate more on team, with balanced scoring.

However, when the going gets tough, someone will have to step up and take the final shot. Look for Andresen and Tony Ashley to step up and emerge as scoring stars for the Badgers.

Stay tuned to this developing story, by far the biggest in area sports this winter.

Keep in mind Rayfield replaced Darin Lottig, who left for Badger last season.

I've talked to a Badger student who said Growel has a solid relationship with Rayfield.

On the flip side, I've talked to a Badger parent who wished Growel would've stayed.

Check the Regional News in the coming weeks for a feature on Growel.

What do you think? How will this affect both teams? Is East Troy now a state favorite? Please comment with your opinion.

Mike Ramczyk

November 21, 2012 | 08:35 AM

What you fail to mention is that five kids left or quit the program. Growel made a great decision going to East Troy but the bottom line is the program at Badger has an awful leader. The kids struggled to have fun at all playing there.

John
RE: John
November 21, 2012 | 10:41 AM

Thanks for the comment.
I don't think it has anything to do with the leader.
Lottig is a wonderful coach, and the kids seem to respond well to him. Most importantly, he is a good man who does things the right way.
A leader is not someone who teaches his players to win at all costs. When your team is up by 70 and you are full-court pressing, that's a problem. When kids on your team don't see the court all season, even when you're winning most games by 50 or more, that's a problem.
When you are teaching poor sportsmanship, that's bad.
What this comes down to is winning.
Badger is building a program, and yes, it takes time. You don't have young players and win a conference title immediately. It takes games on the varsity level, offseason training and chemistry with your teammates.
Badger will get back on top soon, and Lottig will take them there. There's no doubt in my mind.
The fact is varsity basketball is very competitive, and winning is important. Kids have fun winning, and East Troy has had great success recently.
So kids want to play for them because they think it would be easy to win right away, especially with three D1 recruits.

Mike the sports editor
Burlington
Still a big story
November 22, 2012 | 01:59 AM

Rayfield is an LG guy, he lives there. Growel is one of the area's best players. It will be VERY interesting to get his side of the story. Also, this is simply a blog.
Badger wrestling is a huge story, and they should contend for state again.
At the end of the day, we are the Lake Geneva REGIONAL News. Lake Geneva, Walworth, Walworth County, Burlington, it doesn't matter. If it's big and there's a local angle (Rayfield, Growel), we've got you covered.
Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming.

Mike the sports editor
Burlington
What?
November 22, 2012 | 11:41 AM

The biggest story on the area? Are you kidding? One team is not in your readership area & the other will struggle to win a few games. You have a wrestling program that has a chance to go back to state, that is your biggest story.

Ray
Lake Geneva
November 25, 2012 | 08:23 PM

Growel made the right decision to leave and from what i've seen he seems like a great kid. With him, East Troy should be the favorite to win state. Wow. wouldn't that be something. from 3=20 to state champ. I'm just hoping everyone is doing their homework before they comment stuff that could be false.

Brian
lake geneva
mountain from a mole hill
November 25, 2012 | 09:20 PM

I personally know the Growel Family, you make it sound as if Jacob made the decision to move his Mother and Brother and Sister, this is not true he is a 16 year old boy. The Family moved for personal reasons and that is all!!! Stop making this more than what it really was. That basketball had nothing to do with it! Good luck to Badger this year and Good luck to the Growel family.

Lake Geneva Residen
Lake Geneva
November 26, 2012 | 05:19 PM

I find it hard to believe that people forget about what goes on behind the scenes. Coach Rayfield stepped into a very good position over in East Troy. Who wouldn't mind stepping into a position will 4 D1 recruits and 5 college basketball players in the last two years. All of the players' skills and preparatory work up to high school was developed by the coaches before he got there. I'm basically responding just to John because I find it absurd that someone who probably just hides behind his computer has never been involved in the game whatsoever. You have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. State championships cannot be won right away. Give the LG coach a couple years and then see where they are. Wouldn't be surprised to see if they are right on top just like the East Troy teams were of the past. Remember Rayfield is responsible for 1 conference championship. Lottig is responsible for 6. Both are very good coaches. Remember "Rome wasn't built in one day".

Greg
Blowhards
November 29, 2012 | 06:43 PM

Regardless of family, jobs, sisters or brothers, the kid went to East Troy for one reason and one reason only. To play for Rayfield and ET. Who could blame him or their family for making the change. ET will play to win, and they will win. They will also be arrogant about it. So folks stop your crying. Your local sports editor is just throwing it out there, and just like clockwork, the idiots come to the fore..

Timothy Spouge
Lake Geneva
Moving Around
November 29, 2012 | 09:04 PM

Why is it that these students are able to move between teams? Are they enrolled as students within these districts or are they entering under open enrollment programs? Are they meeting the residency requirements?

Whose job is it to follow up on these questions?

Wondering?
RE: Wondering?
December 07, 2012 | 12:32 AM

Thanks for the comment.
If a family moves to a new district, as the Growels moved to East Troy, you can play right away. However, if you remain where you are and drive to a different district, you have to sit a year.

Mike the sports editor
Burlington

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