Wahlert returns nearly its entire lineup from a squad that set a school record for wins and advanced to the state semifinals. And Western Dubuque will be hungry after falling one victory short of the state tournament in a quest for a third straight state title.

Dubuque Hempstead returns one of the top players in the state in University of Nebraska commit Reed Strohmeyer, and Dubuque Senior boasts a veteran-laden lineup motivated to establish a winning tradition.

Here is a capsule look at the local Mississippi Valley Conference teams ahead of the season, which opens Monday:

DUBUQUE WAHLERT

Coach — Kory Tuescher (13th season as head coach, 298-204 overall, 21st season in the program)

Last year — 34-10, overall, 19-8 for first place in MVC Mississippi Division, Iowa Class 3A state semifinalists

Returning starters — Foti Rigopoulos (sr., P/UTIL, .315, 41-for-130, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 31 RBIs. 9-0, 2.02 ERA, 60 strikeouts, 66 innings), Will Specht (sr., CF/P, .349, 51-for-146, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, 20-for-22 stolen bases. 2-0, 1.17 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 12 innings), Bode Nagelmaker (sr., C, .298, 42-for-141, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 31 RBIs), Brandon Cummer (jr., OF/P, .341, 43-for-126, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 25 RBIs. 6-3, 3.56 ERA, 74 strikeouts, 57 innings), J.P. Elbert (soph., P/SS, .360, 32-for-89, 4 doubles, 19 RBIs. 6-0, 2.56 ERA, 40 strikeouts, 38 1/3 innings), Joe Huinker (sr., 2B, .283, 28-for-99, 7 doubles, 20 RBIs), Carter Brant (sr., C/P, .272, 31-for-114, 6 doubles, 4 triples, 14 RBIs), Will Pierro (sr., P/3B, .375, 3-for-8, 1 home run, 8 RBIs. 2-2, 3.50 ERA, 32 strikeouts, 34 innings), Parker Studtmann (sr., P/3B, .320, 16-for-50, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBIs. 4-1, 1.71 ERA, 11 strikeouts, 16 1/3 innings).

Promising newcomers — Keaton Besler (sr., P), Brody Schumacher (jr., UTIL), Noah Krapfl (jr., C), Graham Ahlers (jr., UTIL), Charlie Thole (jr., P/OF transfer from Cascade), Peyton Goedken (jr., 1B/P, transfer from Senior), Isaac Stille (jr., P), Aidan Jenaman (sr., INF), Brendan Fitzgerald (jr., INF), Will Welbes (jr., INF), Nate Budzisz (jr., P).

Alumni playing in college — Aaron Savary (Iowa), Ryan Brosius (Coe), Jake Brosius (Coe), Jack Walsh (Coe), Christian Prull (Clarke), Charlie Jaeger (Dubuque), Alex Kirman (Simpson).

Outlook — The Golden Eagles will likely earn the No. 1 preseason ranking in Class 3A with nine starters returning, including first-team all-stater Rigopoulos, first-team all-MVC Specht, second-team all-MVC Nagelmaker and Cummer and MVC honorable mention picks Elbert and Huinker. Five Golden Eagles will play in college next year, including Rigopoulos (University of Illinois), Pierro (St. Thomas), Specht and Studtmann (Iowa Central), and Nagelmaker (Wartburg). Wahlert set a program record for wins a year ago. A key challenge will be finding playing time for the wealth of talent on the roster. Studtmann will miss the start of the season after tearing his ACL in November.

WESTERN DUBUQUE

Coach — Casey Bryant (25th season, 625-339 overall)

Last year — 27-13 overall, 16-10 in MVC

Returning starters — Tanner Anderson (sr., 3B/P, .368, 46-for-125, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 36 RBIs. 5-1, 2.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 52 innings), Aaron Kraft (sr., P/2B, .348, 16-for-46, 3 doubles, 16 RBIs. 6-2, 1.91 ERA, 33 strikeouts, 36 2/3 innings), Collin Coyle (sr., OF, .283, 32-for-113, 6 doubles, 33 RBIs), Brett Harris (jr., C/P, .291, 30-for-103, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 35 RBIs, 43 walks. 6-2, 3.83 ERA, 29 strikeouts, 45 2/3 innings), Ben Wernimont (jr., 2B/SS, .352, 31-for-88, 3 doubles, 16 RBIs).

Other returning letterwinners — Sam McDermott (soph., C/OF), Brody Kremer (sr., P), Reegan Merkes (sr., P), Jaden Then (sr., UTIL).

Promising newcomers — Bradley Brosius (jr.), Drake Foxen (fr.), Carson Klein (fr.), Logan Plumley (jr.), Cooper Jacobi (sr.), Ethan Shepherd (soph.), Owen Duve (jr.), Adler Gibbs (8th), Elliott Kennedy (8th), Brohgan Staudenmaier (sr.), Tommy White (8th), David Hosch (soph.), Ben Kluesner (jr.), Milo Schroeder (8th), Justin Kurt (sr.), Owen Demmer (soph.), Ayden Ploegger (sr.).

Alumni playing in college — Caleb Klein (Southeastern), Bradyn Delaney (UW-Platteville), Bryn Vantiger (Clarke), Jonah Markham (Mount Mercy).

Outlook — The Bobcats, who spent most of last season at or near the top of the Class 3A rankings before falling to Center Point-Urbana in the substate final, return the bulk of their starting pitching rotation from a year ago and figure to crack the preseason rankings again. Harris, a University of Mississippi commit, earned third-team all-state and first-team all-district a year ago, while Anderson and Kraft were second-team all-district selections. Harris and Anderson also made first-team all-MVC. The Bobcats feature several multi-sport athletes who have been banged up, and they will need to be healthy for Western Dubuque to put its best lineup on the field in the always rugged MVC.

DUBUQUE HEMPSTEAD

Coach — Jeff Rapp (15th season, 306-210-3 overall)

Last season — 19-21 overall, 12-16 MVC

Returning starters — Reed Strohmeyer (sr., SS, .450, 58-for-129, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 32 RBIs), Jase Canfield (sr., OF/3B, .250, 9-for-36, 3 RBIs. 1-5, 5.35 ERA, 23 strikeouts, 36 2/3 innings), Kayden Hefel (sr., OF/P, .284, 23-for-81, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 17 RBIs), Xander Wiskus (sr., C/3B, .231, 6-for-26, 4 RBIs. 4-3, 3.47 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 40 1/3 innings), Dylan Duster (sr., 1B/P, .304, 14-for-46, 7 RBIs. 2-2, 6.54 ERA, 18 strikeouts, 20 1/3 innings), Will Steffen (jr., OF/P, 2-4, 3.27 ERA, 21 strikeouts, 40 2/3 innings),

Other returning letterwinners — Caleb Paulson (jr., C/3B), Tanner Bahl (sr., OF), Collin Bowers (sr., 2B/1B), Benjamin Roraff (sr., OF/P), Derrek Hall (sr., OF/3B).

Promising newcomers — Cole Schiel (jr, UTIL), Will Jewett (jr, OF), Devin Hirsch (jr, SS/P), Wyatt Rokusek (jr., 2B), Camden Smith (jr., 1B/P), Nolan Deutsch (jr., 2B/P), Charlie Ward (soph., C), Colin Henn (jr., OF/P), Jorden Wolf (jr., UTIL), Colton Rausch (jr., 1B/P), Luke Baker (jr., 1B/P).

Alumni playing in college — Logan Runde (Florida International), Jase Runde (Kirkwood), Zach Sabers (Campbell), Kellen Strohmeyer (Iowa), Solen Munson (Johnson County, Kansas, Community College), George Sherlock (Dubuque), Ozzie Bakken (Dubuque), Cade Reisner (Dubuque), John Cornelius (Loras), Cole Swartz (Clarke), Justin Potts (Dubuque), Gage Bishop (Kaskaskia College), James Wood (Kaskaskia College), Carter Krug (Mount Mercy).

Outlook — The Mustangs were hit hard by graduation last season, but they return University of Nebraska commit and first-team all-state shortstop Reed Strohmeyer, who played all 40 games a year ago. Kayden Hefel had the next-most games played at 33 and Canfield played 24. Hempstead figures to have a solid nucleus on the mound behind returning regulars Will Steffen, Xander Wiskus and Jase Canfield, who all threw at least 36 innings last summer.

DUBUQUE SENIOR

Coach — Tyler Saeugling (3rd season, 30-43 overall)

Last year — 16-21 overall, 7-19 MVC

Returning starters — Easton Felderman (jr., SS/P, .344, 33-for-96, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBIs, 11 stolen bases), Ryley Lawler (jr., P/1B, .265, 18-for-68, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 12 RBIs. 1-1, 4.55 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 20 innings), Noah Lawler (sr., P/C/UTIL, .316, 30-for-95, 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 23 RBIs, 17 runners caught stealing), Ben Potts (sr., P/INF, 2-2, 3.08 ERA, 19 strikeouts, 38 2/3 innings), Drew Sullivan (jr., P/OF, .304, 7-for-23, 4 RBIs. 2-3, 4.91 ERA, 41 strikeouts, 31 1/3 innings), Dawson Oppelt (jr., P/OF, 1-2, 3.32 ERA, 27 strikeouts, 31 2/3 innings), Drew Francois (sr., 1B, .304, 31-for-102, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 33 RBIs).

Other returning letterwinners — Brady Powers (sr., P/OF), Teddy Schlosser (jr., P/C/UTIL).

Promising newcomers — Barrett Reed (jr., INF/P), Henry Arling (jr., C/OF), Alex Gevock (jr., P/OF), Will Miller (jr., P/INF), Michael Puls (jr., P/OF), Tate Schmit (jr., INF), Ryan Uthe (sr., INF).

Alumni playing in college — Cole Smith (Bradley), Ben Hefel (Winona State), Jon Wille (Coe), Max Waller (Clarke), Will Sullivan (University of Dubuque), Kaeden Klein (Clarke).

Outlook — Saeugling is excited about this team and its potential to be dangerous and create a new history for the program behind seven returning starters and two others who saw varsity action last summer. That starts with ownership in attitudes, effort and body language every day the group brings to the field this season. The foundation is strong and Saeugling believes now is the time for players and coaches to show what they’re made of. Noah Lawler returns after earning Class 4A all-district last season, while Francois made first-team all-MVC and Felderman landed second-team all-MVC.