Wisconsin’s “Up North” Noteworthy Players You Need To Know

This might be Prep Dig Wisconsin’s most controversial article to date.  What is “Up North”?  The debate among most people in Wisconsin.  What highway is the dividing line between “Up North” and the rest of Wisconsin.  Some will say HWY 8.  I’ve even heard some say anything North of Green Bay, which I tend to disagree.  So what is the dividing line of Prep Dig’s “Up North” team?  I choose to draw a straight line across the state at Wausau (which I included DC Everest in with Wausau).  My apologies go out to anyone near Eau Claire,  you just missed the cut.  Apologies to Cora Behnke of Oconto, you are just South, although its very gorgeous along the Oconto River.  To the players of River Falls, again, lots of talented athletes that just didn’t quite make the cut being South of HWY 29.  So without further explanation of my justification of “Up North”, lets take a look at the top volleyball players from this area you didn’t know about.  

Natalie Mohring - DC Everest - 2018

Mohring is from the Class of 2018 and is a solid all around athlete from DC Everest which has a very strong athletic program just outside of Wausau.  This plast high school season, Mohring was Honorable Mention All State with 840 assists and 154 kills earning Honorable Mention All State Honors.  Mohring is also a standout track start finishing 2nd in the state in the discus.  

Jenna Rombalski - DC Everest - 2018

Rombalski joined with Mohring on the Honorable Mention All State team this past season for the Evergreens with 571 kills and 445 digs.  A solid all around player and one of the best volleyball players to come out of DC Everest High School.  With over 1,000 career kills, Rombalski was able to play on the DC Everest team in 2015 when they qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.  

Jacqueline Smith - Northland Pines - 2020

Smith will be one of the top prospects out of the Class of 2020 as an outside hitter, but is incredibly dynamic to play multiple positions.  In her Sophomore year at Northland Pines high School she tallied 496 kills, 353 digs, 123 Assists earning Honorable Mention All State honors.  Smith is also a key part of Wisconsin Ice 16 Purprle along with with Maddy Dokken (Stevens Point….not quite “Up North”).  Look for Smith to continue to make an impact on the prep and club volleyball scene over the next couple years.

Grace Post - Bloomer - Class of 2019

Bloomer is about 25 miles North of Eau Claire which is definitely approaching into the Northwoods on the way to Superior.  Post was an Honorable All State Selection and All Conference Selection as well 294 kills for the Heart O’North Conference Champions.  

Morgan Wardall - Merrill - Class of 2018

The UW-Whitewater commit has been a solid force for Merrill and Wisconsin Ice throughout her volleyball career.  Wardall led Merrill to multiple state tournament appearance and recently finished her high school career at the Resch with her team having an overall record of 423 kills and 110 blocks.  Wardall was All Conference and Honorable Mention All-State.  The Warhawks of UW-Whitewater are always a strong Division 3 team and Wardall will fill right in to make an impact for them.  

Paige Brandenburg - Wausau West - Class of 2019

Brandenburg teams up with Wardall on Wisconsin Ice and have found themselves having a solid year and a consistent spot in the A Bracket of the GLPL PM Shift working their way up from Bracket C and most recently defeating SWVBC.  This past high school season, Brandenburg had 377 kills 481 digs.  As of now, I don’t have her listed as committed anywhere, but would be a solid late pick up from the Class of 2018.

Jenna McNally - Grantsburg

McNally is from Grantsburg which is between Minneapolis and Duluth.  Grantsburg is a small school powerhouse in many sports, but McNally is the catalyst as libero who had 439 digs this past high school season.  McNally plays her club volleyball for Kokoro out of the Twin Cities area who also have quite a few players from River Falls (who was just a little too South to be considered “Up North”).

Aubrey Shoeneman OH, Ella Torkelson, Setter - Class of 2020.

Ava Barton DS/L, - Class of 2021

Mercer High School

Mercer was just outside the Division 5 rankings this past fall, but they have a young core of players who will be looking to make an impact on the state level.  Shoeneman and Torkelson are from the Class of 2020 with all conference honors along with Ava Barton who is a 2021 prospect at libero who was all conference as well.  With a 2017 record of 31-3 record this team will only improve with a little more experience and athletes who are involved in multiple sports developing that strong team chemistry.  

Mercer is 30 miles from the Upper Michigan border and 4 hours and 30 minutes from Milwaukee.  Yes, they are “Up North” and the country around there is absolutely gorgeous.  They will also be known for strong athletics and volleyball.  I will be excited to check out this team when they come down to Green Bay for a tournament with the club Northwoods Extreme.