Riley Ward of Whitnall Voted Wisconsin High School Girls Basketball's Top Free Throw Shooter of 2025-26

Ward earned 52% of the vote to outdistance Mukwonago sophomore Peyton Cochenet, who finished second with 38%.

Whitnall's Riley Ward (right) drives past Pewaukee's Kendall Pieper (left) during a Woodland Conference game on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. | Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Congratulations to Whitnall senior guard Riley Ward for being voted Wisconsin High School Girls Basketball's Top Free Throw Shooter for the 2025-26 season.

In the enthusiastic fan-voted poll (held Jan. 28-Feb. 4), consisting of 14 talented players from throughout the state, the Whitnall standout came out on top.

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Wisconsin high school girls basketball: Whitnall's Riley Ward is High School on SI Wisconsin's Top Free Throw Shooter. 2026 — Whitnall senior guard Riley Ward (32) has been voted High School on SI Wisconsin Girls Basketball's Top Free Throw Shooter of 2025-26. | Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ward has converted 97 of 134 free throws (72.4%) through 20 games in leading the Falcons (16-4 overall).

Ward received 52% of the vote (10,544) to claim top honors, Mukwonago sophomore Peyton Cochenet finished second (38%), and Prescott senior Violet Otto was third (7%). There were 19,896 votes registered in the week-long poll.

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-- Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com

Published Feb 5, 2026

JEFF HAGENAU

Jeff Hagenau has been a sports writer in southeast Wisconsin for the past 28 years, covering at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He graduated from Carroll University with a degree in journalism and has showcased his versatility by reporting on a wide array of sports over the course of his memorable career.

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