Team Wisconsin: Olympians (Sort of) for the Class of 2018

Its hard not to feel the Olympic fever, watching the skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, and supporting some local talent in the event of curling.  They are even going to have a demo for snow volleyball, which is beach volleyball, except for on snow.  The Class of 2018 is a group of very dynamic athletes, here is the Class of 2018: Team Wisconsin, our Prep Dig Version of the Olympics and who would be representing our state from the Pairs to the Flag Bearer.

Pairs (Dynamic Duos)

These athletes have played high school and club together in some capacity.  This isn’t necessarily the “Name a more iconic duo” comment from social media, but in some form the players have combined to do some great things for their high school or club.

Megan Cannon and Alexis Dorner - Luxemburg-Casco - Wisconsin Volleyball Academy

Cannon and Dorner led their high school team to a runner-up in Division 2 this past fall which was the best finish in school history.  With Cannon as a setter, and Dorner running the middle they were quite the pair that are also a part of Wisconsin Volleyball Academy 18 Black.  Cannon will continue her volleyball career at Robert Morris, while Dorner will stay close to home and play for Green Bay in the Horizon League.

Izzy Barr and Marissa Stockman - River Falls - Kokoro

Like Cannon and Dorner these two have been a solid setter/middle combination throughout their club careers and most recently for River Falls High School, finishing second in Division 1 this past fall.  Barr is the savy setter, always putting her teammates in the right position and has such a high IQ for the game.  Stockman was a new addition to River Falls this year and was pure power out of the middle.  Barr will play for Augsburg, an NCAA Division 3 school in Minneapolis while Stockman will play at Illinois State which is out of the NCAA Division 1 conference the Missouri Valley.

Paige Jaeger and Amanda Garvens - Oconomowoc - Motion and Milwaukee Sting

When Jaeger and Garvens entered Oconomowoc they had no state tournament appearances and as they leave, they have a state runner up trophy and an additional semifinal appearance.  Jaeger has always been a solid at libero and Garvens was an outside that will soon be a Division 1 libero.  With the consistent ball control of these two, it makes it a little easier to run an offense and always be on the attack.  Both are heading out to the East Coast with Jaeger playing at Stony Brook who recently made the NCAA Tournament and Garvens heading to UNC-Greensboro

Ski Jumping (Minus the Ski Part)

These athletes can flat out fly.  Whether it is from the middle or the outside, their have great jumping ability and hang time where they can virtually sky and pick the spot where they are going to hit at.  They have some pretty bright futures ahead of them with Emily Scott and Claire Chausee being future teammates for the reigning ACC Champions at Louisville.

Emily Scott - Kimberly, Wisconsin Volleyball Academy - Committed To Louisville

Scott has a couple state titles for high jumping under her belt, and very well could have gone Division 1 to high jump, but will instead be playing Division 1 volleyball at Louisville.  At 6’2, Scott is extremely quick and athletic.  There is almost no stopping her on a slide approach and no ball that seems out of reach for her to block.  She helped lead Kimberly to a state tournament appearance this year and still has her last season of track to go for another state championship in the high jump.

Mikaylah Van Lanen - Appleton North, Milwaukee Sting - Committed To Dayton

Van Lanen has played in two state tournaments for Appleton North and has been named 1st Team All State the past two years.  In 2016, Van Lanen unloaded for 30 plus kills in a first round match up at state against eventual champion Neenah.  Van Lanen is tall, long, and extremely athletic playing very high.  Dayton is always an NCAA contender out of the Atlantic 10 and Van Lanen will be looking to make an instant impact.  

Claire Chaussee - Sun Prairie, Capital Volleyball Academy - Committed To Louisville

Chaussee is not the biggest of the outside hitters, but she definitely has the hops to play high with the rest of them.  In Chaussee’s career at Sun Prairie she had over 1000 kills, two time 1st Team All State, and a state semifinal appearance in 2016.  Chaussee committed to Louisville prior to Coach Dani Busboom taking the job, who was previously an assistant at Nebraska.  Louisville is a program on the rise after winning the ACC last season.

Biathlon and Curling (The clutch shot makers)

These athletes are shot makers, much like those athletes who compete in the biathlon that can hit a spot after an extra long rally or much like the curlers who are able to get the rock to spin in the right spot to score.  

Brooke Anderson - Lake Country Lutheran, Milwaukee Sting - Committed to Iowa State

Anderson has been a commit to the Cyclone since her Sophomore year for Coach Christy Johnson who actually has plenty of Sting and Milwaukee ties.  There is no spot or shot that Anderson can’t hit.  She was the 2017 Wisconsin Gatorade State Player of the Year and will be playing for one of the top teams in the Big 12.  Iowa State is known for their athletic style of play and the Wisconsin pipeline.

Greta Paszek - Arrowhead, Motion- Committed to Bemidji State

Paszek had over 300 kills for Division 1 power Arrowhead High School, earning all state honors.  This year, Paszek is playing for Motion and is one of the main point scorers on the pin.  She will be taking her game to Minnesota and playing for Bemidji State in the highly competitive Northern Sun Conference.

Miranda Wucherer - Brookfield Central, Milwaukee Sting - Committed to Northern Kentucky

Wucherer is clutch and is able to score points no matter what position she is playing.  On the right side, Wucher can powerhouse it down the line or roll it over the block.  Once she gets back to the service line she is just as lethal with a topspin jump serve that has some crazy movement and is able to go on a run with ease.  Oh, and she can set too.  Clutch.

Homegrown and Staying Close To Home - Athletes Committed to D3 Wisconsin Schools

These athletes are staying close to home and will be contributing to Wisconsin’s long tradition of strong NCAA D3 Volleyball.  UW-Oshkosh hosted the national championships in 2016, Whitewater has a trophy case of national titles, and Concordia University of Wisconsin was one of the top teams in the region this past year.  Here are three athletes who have made their verbal (there is no technical signing for D3).  

Morgan Wardall - Merrill , Wisconsin Ice - Committed To UW-Whitewater

Wardall has been taken Merrill to multiple state tournaments, reaching a new level for this program.  As an all state player with 423 kills this past season she will be walking into a tradition rich program in UW-Whitewater who will be hungry this upcoming this season after narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament this past season.  Wardall’s physicality will be a force to be reckoned with right away for the Warhawks.

Grace Baumann - West Bend West, Milwaukee Sting - Committed To St. Norbert

Baumann led West Bend West to a Sectional Final Runner Up finish, losing to Oconomowoc in the game to go to state.  She is a six rotation outside that had over 350 kills and digs.  A complete all around player who will be heading to De Pere to play for the Green Knights of St. Norbert.  St. Norbert was a runner-up in the Midwest Conference and played in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Abby Arena - West Allis Hale, Southwest Volleyball Club - Committed To UW-Oshkosh

Arena is another example of being able to take a program to the next level at West Allis Hale.  this past season she had 494 kills and over 300 digs.  A solid all around athlete who also plays basketball, West Allis Hale has been a top ten rated basketball team this season as well.  After she finishes her volleyball career at Southwest Volleyball Club, she will play for the Titans and Coach Jon Ellman.

The Luge of Liberos (low to the ground, on their stomachs, sliding, and fast to watch)

The liberos are the heart of the defense.  They also enjoy the dive and moving across the backcourt and gliding as if it were ice.  There are times where liberos will slide from middle back to end up in right back or out of bounds.  These are just a few liberos from the Class of 2018 that are tops in their class and will take their volleyball careers to the next level.

Kaitlyn Gehler - Lakeside Lutheran, Capital Volleyball Academy - Committed to Green Bay

Jessica Grabowski - Greendale, Milwaukee Sting - Committed to UW-Milwaukee

Katie Schoessow - Mukwonago, Milwaukee Sting - Committed To Marquette

*All of these athletes are like splitting hairs when it comes to picking them apart.  They have all played for state tournament teams, Gehler won a state title for Lakeside Lutheran this past fall.  All three will be playing in state, and all are playing for some of the top club teams in the state as well.  They are quick, commanders of the backrow, and have been able to win with every team they’ve been a part of.

Flag Bearer

The flag bearer for the team is one who always has a story, has usually very decorated in their accolades, a role model for their team and country, and usually a veteran.  Claire Mosher ladies and gentlemen.

Claire Mosher - Waterloo, Milwaukee Sting - Committed To Marquette

Claire Mosher has won two state titles for Waterloo, was able to play with both of her sisters in the Resch Center, and was a setter for Milwaukee Sting’s 18 Gold 2016 team that finished in the top four at USAV Nationals held in Milwaukee.  Next year she will be playing for Marquette with her sister, Madeline.  Claire Mosher has been a stable, consistent force in the volleyball world quietly going about her business of being one of the best - nothing flashy, just getting the job done and winning for her team.