Klumb, Ramberg talk college hoops plans

MARSHFIELD – Two Marshfield High School basketball standouts have announced their intentions to play at the next level.

Tiger forward Hailey Klumb will play women’s college basketball next season at UW-Eau Claire. 

“I chose Eau Claire because I took a tour there and I really liked it a lot. The campus was awesome,” Klumb told Gene Delisio, WDLB/WOSQ, in a recent interview. “The assistant coach I play AAU for, so I already kind of had an insight on what the team is like. I know some players on the team, so it’s just a really good team to be with and super exciting.”

Klumb said she also visited UW-Stout and had some offers to play in Iowa, “but Eau Claire really felt like home, and my mom went there and played college basketball, so it’s kind of cool to be able to follow in her footsteps.

“They do a lot of run and gun and they have a lot of post work, too,” Klumb added. “And I think they have a really good mix of in-and-out play and 5-out, so I think I’ll fit really well there with my style of play and being quick.”

As far as fitting into the Eau Claire program, Hailey told Delisio, “I really think they liked my defensive hustle and my willingness to always be aggressive out on the court. And I’m a very good role player, being able to pass the ball as well, but also looking to score.”

Klumb also said having multiple coaches during high school has made her a more well-rounded player today.

“I think each coach has taught me something different, but I think I’ve only grown in that way and I’ve learned how to be better at scoring and find my opportunities,” she said. “I think each coach has something different to bring to the table and I think that I’ve been able to see that through each coach a little differently. And there’s been some hard things, too, but I think you only learn from adversity.”

Klumb played under Taylor Varsho her freshman and sophomore seasons (2022-24).

For the past two years, she has been coached by Heidi Michaelis.

“I really enjoyed it a lot,” Hailey told Delisio in late February. “This year obviously we haven’t done as well as we wanted. I think we’re finally starting to realize what we have to do to win games, looking for each other, knowing who needs to get the ball at what time and who’s on fire in which games and just getting the ball to the open player.”

As for preparing for the collegiate level, Klumb says she’ll be hitting the weight room hard this offseason, along with participating in summer AAU basketball. 

She says the Blugolds see her fitting into the small forward position, “so kind of being versatile inside and outside, not just being able to shoot, but also drive, play good defense, be that person that they can look to just to play hard all game. I’m so excited. I’m ready to have that extra push and make myself better and I’m ready to put the work in.”

Klumb will study Exercise Science at UW-Eau Claire, “and hopefully going onto the pre-physical therapy route.”

Hailey, a 5'9” senior, averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds per game for the Tigers this season, and she scored more than 700 points in her Marshfield career, placing her among the school’s top 25 all-time leading scorers.

Meanwhile, Valin Ramberg has announced his plans to play men’s college basketball at UW-La Crosse.

“I knew one of the assistants from sophomore year,” Ramberg told Delisio in early February. “I had him in a camp and ever since they’ve been keeping in touch with me, and I feel like they really believe in me. They showed me around campus. They told me exactly what they want from me and that’s ultimately why I decided to go to La Crosse. I like the coaching staff, I know a couple of players, so I like La Crosse a lot.”

Ramberg said attending summer camps and making campus visits were crucial in his college decision process.

“It’s good because it’s not only about basketball. It’s about what I’m going to get there for an education, and that’s something that La Crosse focused on,” he said. “I got to speak with business advisors in the La Crosse area, so that’s always good. And going to the camps you meet many different people. That’s what basketball’s about at the end of the day.”

Ramberg said the La Crosse coaches think he can play right away as a freshman.

“That’s something that they focused on during my visit and it really meant a lot to me,” he added. “I’m hoping to get big minutes as a freshman.”

Ramberg said he has benefitted from playing on a very talented high school team.

“Sophomore year playing with Brooks [Hinson] and Landon [Lee] and then Chris [Pohl] and Vedder [MacTaggart] now, you learn to play with many different people and you’re always playing a certain role that fits your team, something that Coach [Chris] Fischer talks about, just playing your role, and that’s what I’ve been able to do,” said Valin.

“Constant improvement is something that we focus on, never going away from the basics, focusing on that and just playing a role is something that Coach Fischer talks about,” he added. “I believe in Coach Fischer. Our preparation’s always good, especially with the other coaches. I trust the other coaches, so that’s something that I really like about the coaching staff here.”

Ramberg said he is leaning toward pursuing a Business degree at UW-La Crosse.  

Valin, a 6'7” senior, averaged nearly 15 points per game for the Tigers this season.