6 All Around Athletes that Impressed at the Winter Classic

Rachel Kass January 17, 2019 @ 03:49 PM

While it is always fun to break down athletes by class or position, what about looking at the bigger picture? One of the best assets a coach can have is an amazing all-around athlete. These athletes tend to be gritty, work hard, know every position, and be great leaders. Here are some of the top all-around athletes I saw at the Winter Classic last weekend. Abby Fregien (Midwest Penguins 16 Black, Prep Dig Rank #44): Abby knows how to work hard and have fun at the same time. She excels in nearly every position on the court. She is a six-rotation outside hitter for the Penguins. In the front row, she has both power and control. In the back row, her serve receive and ability to read the opponent is nearly unparalleled. Cora Behnke (FC Elite 16 Navy, Prep Dig Rank #5): Another six-rotation outside to add to the list. Cora is fast, smart, and powerful. She is a threat to every team they play and is truly an impressive athlete. Her serve receive is precise, blocking strong, and offense powerful. Keri Walker (Premier 18 Teal, Committed to Northern State, Prep Dig Rank #21): This 6’0” setter commands the court extremely well. Her talent coupled with fierce competitiveness makes her an amazing athlete in every sense of the term. She moves the ball around extremely well and can set pin to pin from nearly anywhere on the court. Kiersten Kraus (FC Elite 16 Navy, Prep Dig Rank #19): Easily one of the best setters and athletes in the class of 2021. Her speed and sheer athleticism coupled with clean crisp hands and an ability to set from pin to pin from anywhere on the court make her a nearly unstoppable setter. Tori Schuler (Wisconsin Juniors 16-1) This six-rotation outside hitter knows how to bring the heat on offense and stay cool and collected on defense. No worries, though, her back row attacks are powerful and well placed. She is a clear leader and go-to player for this Wisconsin Juniors team. Katharine Walch (FC Elite 17 Navy, Prep Dig Rank #24) If you have ever seen Katharine Walch play, you know what an amazing player and athlete she is. She is fast, reads the ball well, and seems to know exactly where her opponent is going to put it. A great all around, dynamic athlete is a great asset to have on any team and these players definitely make the cut. They are all fun to watch, give it their all every moment of every game, and have a grittiness that definitely sets them apart from the pack.