The Greater Metro Conference: Decades of Top Talent
The Greater Metro Conference (GMC) has garnered attention my whole life as my Saugstad bloodlines run deep in West Allis. I actually graduated in 2009 from Nathan Hale. It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since I last…
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Continue ReadingThe Greater Metro Conference (GMC) has garnered attention my whole life as my Saugstad bloodlines run deep in West Allis. I actually graduated in 2009 from Nathan Hale. It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years since I last competed for the Huskies. My time there included a 2007 Conference Championship that I was a big part of…from the bench as a sophomore behind a senior setter. Marquette beat us in the sectional finals every year including a 5 set thriller in 2007 (25-23, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-13). Anyways, my time at Hale and 9 year coaching career opened my eyes to the consistent talented volleyball players that came out of one of the most competitive conferences in the state.
Janelle Gabrielsen Photo Credit: David StlukaBig Name Standouts
Janelle Gabrielsen-Katz, Menomonee Falls, was Wisconsin’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2007. Nellie, as many knew her, went on to play at UW-Madison before becoming the head coach at Concordia University of Wisconsin.
Simone Lee, Menomonee Falls, went on to become a two-time All American and Big Ten player of the year at Penn State. Lee also has worked with the USA program and plays professionally overseas.
Simone LeeMary Blandino is a name almost everyone knows in the volleyball community. She coached my alma mater for 34 years and led the Huskies to 4 State Championships in 11 appearances.
The GMC currently is represented by 14 alumni at the Division 1 level. Even more play at the Division 2, Division 3, and NAIA levels. Kelly Burke (DSHA) and 3 time All-American Brittany Robinson (Menomonee Falls) are two notable Division 3 athletes. They led UW-Whitewater to a 110-31 record in their 4 year careers from 2015 – 2018. GMC athletes have spread across the country playing at every level.
GMC teams have won 14 WIAA State Championships since 1973 and have finished 2nd on 7 occasions.
The list of the former greats is far too long and I will miss too many. Especially those before I started my playing career. This will be the first of a multi-post series. Each team will get a feature covering some of their athletes past, present, and mention potential stars of the future. Excluding Brookfield Central and Wauwatosa West who have been covered already. Check back throughout the next week and enjoy the excitement that is Greater Metro Conference volleyball. The GMC series will wrap up with the final standings from a year ago and a prediction for the 2019 season.