The Wisconsin high school baseball season kicks off on March 31, opening day for regular season action under WIAA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we'll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Wisconsin 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-term preseason analysis. 

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Kaukauna Ghosts
Preseason Rank: No. 19
Head Coach: Mike Jenkins
WIAA Division: 1
Conference: Fox Valley Association
2025 Record (Finish): 15-12 (most wins in a season in 15 years)
Key Players Lost: Zander Leick, Kyle Kress, Andrew Luckow

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Players: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Pitching, defense, veteran leadership; top RBI leaders return.

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DATA CENTER

TEAM RANKS:

This data is sourced from the 2026 Wisconsin winter showcase circuit and select 2025 events, compiled by Prep Baseball. We took the top-three metrics recorded by players from each high school in the following categories. Here is how Kaukauna's top-three performers averaged across each category:

Category	Top-3 Avg.	State Rank	Out of
Avg. Exit Velocity	88.8 mph	No. 32	of 102
Max Exit Velocity	100.3 mph	T-No. 6	of 102
Bat Speed	71.6 mph	No. 24	of 102
Top 60-Yard	6.89 s	No. 14	of 102

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Bron Schaefer (6-foot-1, 169 pounds)
  • max fastball: 87.0 mph
  • SL spin: 2,428 rpm (89th state percentile)
• Paxton Schuh (6-foot-1, 200 pounds)
  • max fastball: 90.0 mph (No. 4 overall in Wisconsin among LHPs)
• Blake VandeLoo (5-foot-11, 183 pounds)
  
  • max EV: 105.0 mph (T-No. 11 overall in Wisconsin)
  • avg EV: 90.8 mph (90th state percentile)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.62s (No. 7 in state's 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.64s (90th state percentile)
  • vert. jump: 26.6 in (No. 21 in state's 2027 class)
• Bryce Urban (5-foot-8, 174 pounds)
  
  • bat speed: 73.7 mph (93rd state percentile)
  • rot. accel.: 17.0g (83rd state percentile)
• Bennett Geitner (6-foot, 180 pounds)
  
  • max EV: 100.0 mph (93rd state percentile)
  • SL spin: 2,410 rpm (No. 19 in state's 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 7.01s (83rd state percentile)
• Quentin Gustman (6-foot-1, 174 pounds)
  
  • avg EV: 90.1 mph (88th state percentile)
• Tyler Urban (5-foot-6, 168 pounds)
  
  • bat speed: 72.5 mph (89th state percentile)
  • rot. accel.: 21.0g (95th state percentile)

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X-FACTOR

Earlier this winter at the Green Bay Preseason ID, OF Blake VandeLoo (2027) put together a performance that was among the best of the winter. The junior showcased raw power and speed that is hard to find anywhere else in the state, highlighted by his 105.5 max exit velo and 6.62 60-yard dash, which were both top-15 results in the state from this past winter circuit. The profile he possesses could be a problem for opposing teams in many different areas, and it has us incredibly excited to see how it will translate in game.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Kaukauna enters 2026 riding the momentum of its most successful season in more than 15 years. Much like last season, the rotation is the clearest strength on paper heading into opening day. They return with five returning pitchers slated to carry the bulk of the workload. Helping lead the Kaukauna rotation are a pair of southpaws in LHP Bron Schaefer (2026; Madison JC) and LHP Paxton Schuh (2026; State College of Florida JC). Schaefer was one of the most effective pitchers in the Fox Valley area in 2025, with a 1.07 ERA and a 0.766 WHIP across 45.2 innings while striking out 79 batters. His performance last year earned him a nod on the Fox Valley 1st Team All-Conference team, as well as our Third Team All-State squad. Schuh also found consistent innings, making five starts and finishing with a 2.74 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 30.2 innings last spring. RHP Carson Gates (2026) will return to the rotation after posting a 4-2 record and a 2.29 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 33.2 innings last spring. That trio gives Kaukauna as experienced a top three as any Division 1 program in the region. 

Keep an eye on RHP Max Hietpas (2026) to be an option out of the ‘pen for Head Coach Mike Jenkins to go to. When not playing the field, RHP Brayden Jenkins (2027), RHP Quentin Gustman (2027), while RHP Bennett Geitner (2027), and RHP Kaden Kress (2026) could also prove to be options to help round out an impressive Kaukauna pitching staff. 

Offensively, the Ghosts must replace meaningful production from three departed seniors in Zander Leick, Kyle Kress, and Drew Luckow. Some of the top returnees that will be called upon to fill is the aforementioned INF Brayden Jenkins and OF Ryker Donnermeyer (2026; St. Norbert College) Jenkins batted .250 with a team-high 12 RBIs in just 19 games last season, a figure that led the club despite his limited sample. Donnermeyer hit .293 with a .420 on-base percentage in 21 games. Another name to keep an eye on is 1B Taron Seghers (2026; Highland JC), who showed some pop, hitting a home run and driving in 10 runs last year. OF Bron Schaefer will return to the lineup, hitting .246 with a .398 on-base percentage in 93 plate appearances. The junior class adds OF/RHP Blake VandeLoo (2027), whose showing Green Bay performance showing a 105.0 mph max exit velocity and 6.62 in the 60-yard dash is worthy of another mention.

We also saw a good amount of players from the winter circuit that has us excited to see what Kaukauna can do at the plate. C/OF Bryce Urban (2027) posted a 73.7 mph bat speed at the 93rd state percentile in winter showcase work, while INF Tyler Urban (2027) registered a 21.0g rotational acceleration mark at the 95th state percentile, ranking tied for 23rd in the 2027 class statewide. Bryce Urban also looked like one of the top defensive catchers that we saw this winter, and his fit alongside this pitching staff could be a great match. The previously mentioned INF Bennett Geitner checked in with a 100.0 mph max exit velocity at the 93rd state percentile. If the pitching staff performs as expected and the lineup finds consistency from its returners, the Ghosts have the ingredients to challenge for double-digit wins and make their presence felt in what figures to be a competitive Division 1 postseason field.

Head coach Mike Jenkins is confident the program can build on that foundation, citing a senior class with varsity seasoning and a junior class ready to step into larger roles. "We are bringing back a strong group of seniors to partner with a strong group of juniors to put a very competitive team on the field," Jenkins commented. 

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BOTTOM LINE

Kaukauna's pitching staff is legitimate enough to keep the Ghosts in virtually every game, and the combination of experienced seniors and a junior class with elite athleticism metrics gives this program a real ceiling in Division 1. The floor here is a competitive .500 season, but if the offense can play to the potential that we saw this winter, this could be a team that is poised to make a deep playoff run.

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Find more information on the 2026 Kaukauna program below:

+ Follow them on social media @GhostHSBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Wisconsin Preseason Power 25 homepage

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