6 Small Program Players With Big Time Talent
Small town athletes don’t always have the luxury of specializing in one sport, and they typically won’t get the spotlight that a top athlete at a bigger division school will get. The athletes we highlight here are from small schools…
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Continue ReadingSmall town athletes don’t always have the luxury of specializing in one sport, and they typically won’t get the spotlight that a top athlete at a bigger division school will get. The athletes we highlight here are from small schools where they are typically involved in more activities than most could handle. Here are six players who are drawing attention to the smallest school division in Wisconsin.
*In my search I was looking for small division 4 high school programs. Each player is a diamond in the rough, and I’ve been lucky enough to see them shine in person!
Anika TorgersonAnika Torgerson – 2023 – 6’1 – Setter/Outside Hitter
Turtle Lake – Enrollment: 123
Torgerson takes on the key roles as a setter in the back row and an outside hitter in the front row. She has nice hands, natural athleticism, and a high ceiling. Torgerson currently leads her team with 54 aces and 226 assists, also adding in 210 kills. She will definitely be one to keep an eye on in the future!
Lauren Shields – 2020 – 5’6 – Outside Hitter
Newman – Enrollment: 119
Shields is the epitome of a 6-rotation outside hitter because she could easily be a top libero in a college program right now. She currently has 210 kills and 207 digs, but more importantly, she is a great leader for her team. Shields is a great and positive leader on and off the court. And she can play, too! This kid is relentless, getting a touch on every ball and always ready to take an aggressive swing no matter where she is on the court.
Maggie CrakerMaggie Craker – 2021 – 5’8 – Setter
McDonell Central – Enrollment: 153
Craker is the main distributor for her McDonell team, and she has over 400 assists and over 250 digs in 2019 so far, leading her team to a current 25-5 record. Craker runs a 5-1 for the Macks, and keeps opposing blockers guessing. She has good, quick footwork, nice hands, and puts up a solid block.
Olivia Burcaw – 2021 – Outside Hitter
Prentice – Enrollment: 133
In 2018 Prentice won their first conference title since 1979, but they have been on the verge for a few years. Burcaw had a solid sophomore season as the #2 attacker, but 2019 is a new story and she is breaking out. She currently leads her team with 329 kills, while also recording 174 digs and 41 aces. Burcaw comes up big for her team when they need it, and you can tell they have a certain confidence with her swinging. Prentice has been holding their presence in Prep Dig’s top ten division 4 rankings, and it should be interesting to see what they can do in playoffs.
Reagan BorchardtReagan Borchardt – 2023 – 5’8 – Middle Blocker
Edgar – Enrollment: 189
The village of Edgar is just down the road from Newman, and they will meet up this coming week in conference play. The Marawood North and South Conferences hold some of the toughest division 3 and 4 competition in the state, with Newman and Stratford both making it to the Resch in 2018. Borchardt is a fresh face and newer on our radar as a freshman, but her physical presence at the net speaks for itself. She works the angles and is quick laterally to set up a solid and well-timed block. She currently leads the Wildcats with 55 blocks.
Sammie Seib – 2021 – 5’8 – Outside Hitter
Catholic Central – Enrollment: 127
Catholic Central is a small private school located in Burlington. Catholic Central was the underdog last season going up against defending champs, Clayton, in the D4 State Championship match. Seib still manages to be considered under the radar in comparison to some of her taller counterparts, even after leading her team to a state championship and becoming a player in the Badger Region High Performance Youth National team selection. But if she can lead her team back to the Resch in 2019, she could really make her mark. Seib is leading the Hilltoppers with 256 kills, while adding 210 digs and 39 aces.