The Value Behind Badger Region High Performance Training

“I have had many HP campers that did not make the team realize through the camp experience that they had the ability to play at a high level and deserved to be able to play big-time volleyball in college. The camp gave them tons of confidence in themselves and their game,”
-Brian Sharkey, Program Director/Coach of Badger Region Volleyball

Should I try out? Is it worth it? Am I even good enough? What is the value of Badger Region High Performance?

Tryouts are March 16 and March 23 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee.

I’ve been approached with this question and having seen the camp that is held at UW-Green Bay, and the improvement gained with players over the course of a summer, the short answer…yes. However, this was a question I thought was worth pursuing a little further as Badger Region High Performance tryouts approach in March.

I understand there are always going to be varying opinions about each camp, team, club, tournament and process, but here is a little bit behind the value of High Performance to consider.

Brian Sharkey, Program Director at Badger Region and High Performance coach as well as Paul Schlomer, Head Coach at Edgewood College and High Performance Coach have had a significant impact on the Badger Region High Performance Program and have seen the benefits of how it will take an athlete’s game to the next level.

The first step in the process is trying out for to make it to the camp, taking place the night before some of the Badger Region Championships. This year the tryout will be Friday, March 16 and March 23 from 6:00-9:00 PM at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee.

Sharkey talked about the value of being able to step outside your comfort zone to play with others across the state.

“As a player, I am always looking to play with other elite athletes, and this is a great opportunity to do so. Playing with athletes other than the nine other athletes on my club team is something we can all learn from. Athletes are able to see what others do to be successful. They learn to step outside their comfort zone,” Sharkey said.

“Athletes get seen by some great coaches who will be on hand. Sometimes we get all caught up in only what is happening in our gyms, and seeing all the other great athletes and coaches from other programs really opens our eyes.”

After the tryouts in Milwaukee, there are invites handed out to the High Performance camp with the top 30 for the Girls International Youth Team (born in 2002 or after), coached by BJ Bryant and Alexa Frank and the top 30 for the Girls National Select (born in 2004 or after), coached by Susan Peterson and Connor Zimmick. This group of athletes will train at the campus of UW-Green Bay from July 5-7. At the end of this camp, ten will be chosen to be part of each team to compete at the USA Volleyball High Performance Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma July 24-28.

Sharkey said, “For the 60 athletes (30 at each age group) who receive the opportunity to train at UW-Green Bay, the experience is something they won’t forget. Not only do they get three full days of training, but they get to work with an elite group of collegiate coaches, high-level club coaches and Badger Region staff that can help them grow as athletes. They will be playing against some elite level athletes at their age level that will force them to step up their game.”

Even if athletes do not make the High Performance team there is still a lot of value of being able to play against the best in the state that will help catapult their volleyball skills and goals to the next level.

After being selected for the High Performance Team, the athletes will have training prior to their national tournament where they will play against the best from other regions and also teams from other countries such as the Dominican Republic, Canada, New Zealand, and Chile to name a few.

Paul Schlomer, who has been on the sidelines against these teams said this is the best volleyball experience you can have during the summer.

“You get to play at an incredibly high level of volleyball against athletes all over the country and world. Tons of college coaches are scouting the courts for recruiting. Everyone on the team is challenged to step up their game and compete in a great tournament with awesome teammates and coaches. I know many of the HP athletes over the years have become best friends and still keep in contact with one another years later. I know that high school athletes have so many demands on their time during the summer, but High Performance is definitely something that should be part of that. It is the best volleyball experience you can have in the summer,” said Schlomer.

Mikaylah Van Lanen, a Dayton recruit and All State player for Appleton North has had two years of High Performance experience which has taken her game to the next level.

Van Lanen’s first year she was a part of the National Select (for the younger players) where she served a minor role, still pretty raw as an outside hitter, but helped lead her to a spot on the Appleton North varsity team as a starter and eventually playing in the State Semifinals as a starter on the outside for the Lightning in the Fall of 2015.

The next summer Van Lanen became a go to player on the Girls International Youth Team (the older of the two teams), receiving plenty of Division 1 interest which resulted inanother state tournament appearance for Appleton North and 1st Team All State Honors in 2016.

Van Lanen said, “A goal of mine has always been to play collegiate volleyball. Playing high performance provided great coaching, a lot of competitive reps , and added exposure to college recruiters which helped me ultimately reach my goal.”

Similar to club, this all starts with a try out, athletes putting their talents to the test. Yes, there will be some cost involved. Yes, it will be a test physically and mentally. However, through this experience, no matter what the result is, there is growth that will be made.