What Prep Dig Wisconsin Would Have Looked Like In 2016? And Some Future Forecasts

Prep Dig in Wisconsin started back in the winter of 2018.  From there we've had multiple articles, rankings, our own showcase and tournament, along with coverage of hundreds of players.  There's anticipation for athletes coming up in the Freshman and Sophomore classes as they rise into the rankings and start to make an impact on the club volleyball scene and for their high school.  But what if we were to rewind a bit and think about what Prep Dig Wisconsin would look like back in 2016? My how things can change in a few short years.  

The Power Leagues

The Badger Region has provided a really solid power league, completing its first year in 2019, providing an option for teams that are somewhat local for most.  No more nights playing at the Great Lakes Center where the last match could be on a Sunday night at 8:00. The competition at GLPL was great, some of the best in the country, but there's always the tug and pull of cost/time of travel vs. playing great competition.  The Great Lakes Region also has opened up the Windy City Power League which could offer another option to Wisconsin clubs. 

Recruiting Changes...MAJOR Recruiting Changes

In 2016, there were athletes making their decisions.  Dru Kuck, who would have been a Freshman in 2016 had committed to Wisconsin and now will

Class of 2019 when they were 15s at Sting.

be heading to Kansas State.  For some, the Division 1 offers were all handed out and accepted before the end of their Sophomore year. Athletes who were 14 were offered free college to play volleyball.  How can you pass that up? Lot of pressure for someone who can't even drive yet.  Rule changes starting in 2018 and again this past May now has athletes and college coaches not communicating until June 15 after the athlete's Sophomore year of high school.  The trickle down of this is still yet to be determined, the jury is still out, but what this will do is slow down the process for everyone. 

The Club Changes

Wisconsin Volleyball Academy had just made a big run in 15 Open with the likes of Addison Barnes and Kayla Kraus who would both go on to win a state title with Neenah that fall with Hope Werch, who also played for WVA and is now at Marquette.  Now, there is no Wisconsin Volleyball Academy , Kraus and Barnes went on to play at FC Elite and will both be going to Loyola-Chicago which is now in the Missouri Valley Conference and not in the Horizon League with Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee.  *Title Picture is of WVA 17 Black at AAUs in Orlando June 24, 2016....Thank you Twitter).

The Emergence of Big Time Players

Division 1 college coaches spent time on 14 Open courts and were really on them in 15 Open.  That will still be the case, but it will be a little bit different with the new recruiting rules.  However there are players from the Class of 2019 who may not have even been big on the radar in 2016 when they were Freshmen.  Maddie Koch, who was the Gatorade State Player of the Year and Purdue commit, wasn't even playing on a national club until her Sophomore year when she joined WVA.  Kiana Schmitt of Waunakee High School and Sopheea Mink of DeForest who both play for Capital were tall, had potential, but so do a lot of 15 year old players.  Schmitt and Mink improved and developed their game and will both be heading to Division 1 programs that are NCAA Tournament contenders with Schmitt heading to Creighton and Mink to High Point.  

Seeding, Expansion At The State Tournament

This past fall was the first year there was seeding for the first four teams in Division 1.  In 2019, seeding will expand to all divisions and the state tournament in Green Bay will be welcoming the boys as well.  How many times were the top two teams squaring off in the quarterfinals and semifinals to only have the championship be a three set blowout.  Things are moving in the right direction, the fact that there is change is encouraging. Hopefully in the next three years there will more boys programs competing for a state title, a revamp of the sectionals in the Milwaukee area for Division 1, FREE live streaming at the state tournament (would probably need a major sponsor, but Iowa and Minnesota are doing it), and maybe even an expansion of the state tournament for eight teams in all divisions or moving to five divisions like softball and basketball. 

Mariah Whalen of Wausau Newman Catholic won four state titles in high school.

Major Changes For 18 Nationals

Remember when all the 18s would go play Nationals in the summer?  Now with USAV going to nationals at the end of April and AAU going to an 18s national tournament Memorial Day and two divisions in the summer, this has also changed the 18s schedule leading up to the national tournament.  National Qualifiers being held earlier in January, almost a whole different schedule than any other tournament, some teams dropping power leagues and just playing qualifiers. Even a rise in athletes graduating early playing the spring season with their collegiate team instead of finishing their senior year in the spring.  Will be interesting to where it takes us into the next few years. 

Forecasting The Future With Far Fetched (Maybe Not) Scenarios

-Multiple power leagues?  More teams double dipping by playing in the Badger Region Power League and Windy City Power League?  Or maybe some teams dropping a power league all together? 

-An independent national tournament?  The Triple Crown Invitational in Kansas City brings some of the top talent in the country from coast to coast over Presidents Day Weekend.  What if they went and had a tournament similar in June or July? That would really shake the apple cart having a national invitation only year end tourney. 

-This would be extremely sad, but players sitting out their high school season.  When club tryouts are in November and nationals going until July (not including camps, workouts,etc) volleyball is done year round.  Would more athletes who maybe don't have a particularly strong high school program just not play? For the sake of the game, let's hope not. 

-Pushing back the club season, starting practice the beginning of January.  With the new recruiting rules with Division 1 coaches not being able to get out and evaluate until Presidents Day will that change schedules in regards to when tournaments will be held and when teams will start practice?