From Gold To Blue Blood; Sting Lands Two At Kentucky

Two different paths, coming together as “Gold”, and going Kentucky Blue.  In a matter of a couple weeks Milwaukee Sting had two athletes in Maddie Berezowitz Maddie Berezowitz 5'7" | DS/L Burlington | 2019 State WI and Elise Goetzinger Elise Goetzinger 6'4" | MB Mount Horeb | 2020 State WI make their verbal commitment to play for Coach Craig Skinner and the defending SEC Champion, Kentucky Wildcats.

Berezowitz, a defensive specialist comes from Burlington and has had blue running through her veins for a while.  With an uncle on the Kentucky football staff and cousins who have played on the football team, the dream of going to Kentucky has been in the works the past five years.  

“I love the campus and have dreamed to play volleyball at Kentucky.  I went to camp at Kentucky last July and fell in love with the staff, the girls, and the University.  Everyone involved in the UK volleyball program are the most genuine and hardworking group of people I have ever encountered and I cannot wait to continue this tradition,” said Berezowitz, who is currently on Sting 17 Gold.

Goetzinger’s path to Lexington and game couldn’t be more different than Berezowitz.  Berezowitz is 5’8, and Goetzinger is a 6’3 middle blocker that is relatively new to the national scene and the recruiting process happened really quickly after recently joining Sting this year playing for 16 Gold.  

“Overall, the recruiting process happened pretty quickly.  This is only my second year playing club volleyball, and the first on a national team with exposure to college coaches.  To be honest, I didn’t expect to get much attention. As the season progressed and I started to go to more big tournaments, the interest started to build, which made it necessary to kick start my college search.” said Goetzinger.

Goetzinger said coach Dave Bayer was very influential and helpful during the whole process.

“My coach at Milwaukee Sting, Dave Bayer, was extremely helpful in guiding me through the process and sorting out many options and considerations.  I don’t know if the process would have been as smooth without his help and guidance. Going to Milwaukee Sting was one of the best things that I have done to advance my volleyball career.”

With Goetzinger being new to Sting, her and Berezowitz really weren’t too familiar with each other before committing to Kentucky.  An outsider would assume two players from the same club might be a package deal, but for these two they weren’t able to get to know each until they had made the verbal to UK.

“Since Elise is new to Sting, I did not know much about her besides she was MUCH taller than me and she was very skilled with a very high ceiling,” Berezowitz said.

Goetzinger said much of the same, “Since this is my first year with Milwaukee Sting, I hadn’t had the chance to meet Maddie before we verbally committed to the University of Kentucky.  In these past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to get to know each other. She is really funny and kind, which is someone I know I will get along with and will be a great teammate.”

Now that the verbal has been made, there is much more for these athletes as they finish their club season and look towards the future.

Berezowitz said, “As Coach Spiess (Scott Spiess, Sting 15 Gold Coach) said to me, “Now the hard work begins”.  With my dad being the head basketball coach in Burlington, he has always been more willing to take my siblings and I up to the gym on very late nights to put in extra work.  Throughout the entirety of my volleyball career, going up to the gym with my family has been a weekly occurrence.”

Both of these athletes are also aiming for playing the best they possibly can come June for the AAU National Championships.

“I LOVE my club team and my coaches.  Our goal is to finish at the highest level we can in June.  I have been so fortunate at Sting to be surrounded by the best teammates, the best coaches, and the best families.  Our “Sting Family” is truly remarkable.”

As for Goetzinger, she still has two years of high school volleyball remaining at Mt Horeb, which is 35 miles West of Madison.  Last year they fell one match short of the state tournament.

“Last year my high school team made it to sectional final for state.  I want my team to make it all the way to the state championships this coming year. I would also like to become a leader on my team and help to mentor the underclassmen,” said Goetzinger.

As for Berezowitz, her team will have a major target on their back with Burlington being the defending Division 1 state champions.

“I am hoping to repeat my previous season.  Last year, we were fortunate to have won the Division 1 state title and I would love to end my career with Coach Leach, Coach Lynch and my teammates with another gold ball!  It was my lifelong dream as a little girl to win a gold ball, but since we have already have that, another one would be even more amazing!”