The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 17, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2025 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: McHenry Warriors
Preseason Rank: No. 4
Head Coach: Brian Rockweiler
Classification: 4A
Conference: Fox Valley
2024 Record (Finish): 30-8 (Lost in Super-Sectional)
Key Players Lost: Ryan Nagel (Rock Valley), Payton Sensabaugh (McHenry County JC), Jack Stecker (McHenry County JC), Owen Micklinghoff (McHenry County JC), Kadin Borck (Concordia University), Kamrin Borck (MSOE)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Pitching and overall talent on the roster.

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X-FACTOR

RHP/UTL Kaden Wasniewski (2027) is one of the top sophomore prospects in the country, and starred for the Warriors last spring as a freshman. He batted .487 while in the heart of the order in 2024 and also appeared on the mound both as a starter and a reliever. In 2025, expect Wasniewski to fully take on the No. 2 spot in the rotation from start to finish, while continuing to bat in the heart of the lineup. We’ve long known him to have a silent assassin-like mentality on the mound with loud stuff to go with it. In the past, he’s been up to 92 mph with his fastball while also being able to go to a potent slider as his out-pitch. If Wasniewski can pick up where he left off last season while continuing to progress like we’ve seen, he could be the catalyst in helping McHenry get to Joliet for the second time in four years.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

OF Carver Cohn (2028) is another national prospect to know for the Warriors. Currently the No. 1 player in the state, we have seen Cohn continue to elevate his game since having him as a member of our Junior Future Games team last summer. Acclimating to varsity baseball can be particularly challenging, especially as a freshman, and in the Fox Valley Conference it makes it even more difficult. However, if Cohn performs like we think he can with both the bat and in the outfield, he could be a mainstay in the Warriors lineup from day one.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Head Coach Brian Rockweiler and the McHenry Warriors enter 2025 with high expectations behind one of the stronger pitching staffs in the state. Additionally, they have some young, exciting pieces on offense to pair with the already established veterans in the lineup.

On the mound, it starts with RHP Brandon Shannon (2025; Louisville), who is the team’s ace entering 2025. In 2024, Shannon went a perfect 10-0 on the mound, performing to a 1.85 ERA over 60 ⅓ innings, while striking out 82 to earn Second Team All-State honors. We recently saw Shannon shine at the Super 60; where he was sitting 92-94 mph (T95) with his fastball, he was in the zone 100% of the time with an 82-84 mph slider that played more laterally, while also going to an 82-83 mph curveball that showed downer action, and rounded things out with a splitter that played at 88-90 mph with dive. Shannon will give the Warriors a chance to win every time he takes the ball in ‘25, and will likely draw pro scouts to his starts over the course of the season. Look for Shannon to put up big numbers again this spring.

Likely following the aforementioned Shannon and Wasniewski in the rotation is RHP Bryson Elbrecht (2025; McHenry County JC). Elbrecht is another McHenry arm who has been on a positive trajectory since we saw him throw well last spring. We last saw him sitting in the low-to-mid 80s with his fastball while going to a potent slider that can induce swing and miss when he needs it. If Elbrecht continues on this trajectory, he could be in line to have a stellar senior season while providing the Warriors with one of the better three-man rotations in the state.

Two junior arms who will also likely see a lot of time on the mound in 2025 are RHP Jeffry Schwab (2026; uncommitted) and LHP Nathan Niedhardt (2026; uncommitted).

The Warriors have even more depth on the mound coming into this season as RHPs Zach Readdy (2025; Saint Xavier), Donovan Christman (2025; Morton JC), and Scott Cole (2026; uncommitted) will likely get innings out of the ‘pen to begin the year, but could see their roles evolve throughout the season.

On offense, joining the already mentioned Wasniewski in the lineup are infielders Connor McLean (2025; uncommitted) and Kyle Maness (2025; uncommitted), as well as C Aj Chavera (2025; Rock Valley), and the previously mentioned Christman in the outfield.

Maness is going into his third year as a varsity starter and will be a reliable presence for the McHenry arms up the middle, playing shortstop.

Chavera is a hard-working backstop who took over the starting catching job as McHenry made their playoff run last spring. The future Golden Eagle should be a quality veteran presence to have behind the plate for the highly-talented arms on the staff.

Christman showed well with the bat when we saw him last spring, and is yet another senior who should provide stability for the lineup.

The previously mentioned Schwab and Readdy will also be expected to help contribute on offense this season, with both being in line for starting jobs along the infield. Another underclassmen who could break out in 2025 is INF Landon Clements (2027). Clements was a big winner earlier this winter at our McHenry Preseason ID, where he showed well on both sides of the ball and could be asked to contribute as early as Opening Day.

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BOTTOM LINE & DIRECTOR’S NOTE

There is a lot to like with this McHenry team coming into the spring. Coming off a 30-win season, they have the luxury of bringing back some important pieces off that team that is now older and more experienced. The one-two punch of Shannon and Wasniewski is arguably as good as it gets in the state, and if Elbrecht continues to trend up, it would give the Warriors a scary three-man rotation to take into the playoffs. There will be some new faces in the lineup this spring and navigating the Fox Valley Conference will be tough, but this McHenry team looks to have the makings of a team that could be playing in Joliet come season’s end.

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Find more information on the 2025 McHenry program below:

+ Follow them on X: @mchenrybaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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Coach Rockweiler Joined The Bullpen...

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