2018 Club Preview: Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold

Chris Fitzgerald January 1, 2018 @ 07:25 PM

Dru Kuck and Brianna Scuric took home All American honors at AAU Nationals last June.

They may not be taller than the other side, or over power, but they will wear you down, be incredibly efficient, and beat you with intensity, scrappiness, and tenacious defense. Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold is coming off a final four finish at the AAU National Championships and with much of the same roster returning, goals will be incredibly high for this group.

A “Committed” Offseason

Dru Kuck headlines 17 Gold after committing to play for Coach Kelly Sheffield and the Wisconsin Badgers her Freshman year. Kuck is Prep Dig’s top prospect out of the Class of 2019 as a libero and will be one of the top defensive players in the region, possibly the nation this upcoming club season. However, for most of the club season in 2017, she was the only player who was verbally committed anywhere. In the past year, a few players have given their verbal to play at the next level.

*Briana Scuric is a physical outside who was named AAU All American with Kuck last year at nationals has given her verbal to play at Northern Illinois University.

*Ashley Guenveur, a 6’1 outside from Menonomee Falls, has given her verbal commit to Troy University in Troy, Alabama which is part of the Sun Belt Conference

*The most recent commit is setter Kayce Lietzau, an all stater who has led Greendale to three consecutive WIAA state tournaments, has given her verbal commit to Wichita State University which was a top sixteen national seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The Shockers dominated the AAC, which they had previously been part of the Missouri Valley Conference.

A Quad of 6’2’s Available

17 Gold will have some added height and physicality to their roster this season to go along with their gritty defense. Teams will have to work incredibly hard to put a ball down against this team from the play at the net to Kuck, Maddie Berezowitz, and Brianna Merkel holding down the backrow.

Four athletes at 6’2 will be playing middle and right side this season that currently have not given a verbal commitment. Laura Shoopman of Westosha Central can play any position on the front line, Emma Szypszak of Homestead, and Christina Roofe of Kettle Moraine will be holding down the middle and right side.

Maddie Barber, sister to former Sting and current Marquette star Allie Barber, is a 2020 playing on a team with 2019 players. A 6’2 Sophomore with the training at Sting and playing with other elite players will be incredibly valuable for her development to prepare for the next level.

Battle Tested

Having a schedule that will test a team along with give them exposure across the country is important for improvement and also getting their name out there for potential college coaches. To say 17 Gold will be tested along with exposure is an understatement.

The Great Lakes Power League is a battle in itself out of Sports Performance in Aurora, IL competing against the top teams in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Over Presidents Day weekend, they will head out to the Triple Crowne National Invite in Salt Lake City, Utah where they will see some of the top teams out of the West Coast. In March, they will head southeast to Louisville for KIVA Bluegrass and JVA World Challenge. At the end of April they will play at the Showdown in the Smokies just outside Knoxville, Tennessee. Their schedule will finish at the National Junior Classic in Aurora, Illinois and then the AAU National Tournament in Orlando.