What Class of 2022 Athletes Are On The Rise?
The Class of 2022 was the first class that has come into their high school careers with Prep Dig starting with a “Watch List” and now having multiple rankings. I’ll be completely transparent with rankings. I overanalyze and then overanalyze…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2022 was the first class that has come into their high school careers with Prep Dig starting with a “Watch List” and now having multiple rankings. I’ll be completely transparent with rankings. I overanalyze and then overanalyze some more. A libero vs middle blocker, an outside vs. a setter. This athlete plays for a 2s team vs this athlete who plays for a 1s team, the list of variables moves on. I will say in doing this the past couple of years, the biggest jump we see and changes are between the 15s and 16s year. There are a number of athletes who really start finding their groove which causes a rise in the rankings. Here are some athletes who have made a move in the Class of 2022.
Cantrell
Brianna Cantrell Brianna Cantrell OH Appleton North | 2022 State #104 Nation WI – Appleton North – FC Elite 18 Elite
Cantrell moved to the #2 spot in the rankings as her game continues to rise. A Division 1 First Team All State pick, she was able to ocmpete on the FC Elite 18 Elite against some top competition this club season and has continued to find more ways to score as well as be an outlet out of the backrow. Her physicality is picking up as well.
Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI – Sauk Prairie – Sting Madison United 16 Red
So electric. Shadewald is quick, athletic, and quite a leaper – a pure six rotation outside. She can flat out score points and can do it from all spots on the court. She had over 450 kills last year for Sauk Prairie.
Class of 2022 outside Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI extremely impressive for @stingvb1988 Madison United – six ro, solid in serve receive and a big time shot maker. pic.twitter.com/TwzobWj9dV
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 8, 2020
Lily Lutz Lily Lutz S Catholic Memorial | 2022 State WI – Catholic Memorial – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold
Lutz just moves across the court like a water beetle. She’s quick and gets her hands to the ball where she can get a variety of tempos rolling for her 16 Gold teammates. 16 Gold was picking up a lot of momentum heading into March with winning the Badger Region Qualifier and a competitive weekend at Bluegrass in Louisville.
Mckenzie Gruner Mckenzie Gruner 6'1" | MB Baraboo | 2022 State WI – Baraboo – Sting Madison United 16 Red
Gruner is a major hidden gem that I got a chance to watch at the Badger Region Power League earlier this club season. She’s a middle blocker, but with how high she plays and her athleticism I could see her being a force at any position. Her style is much like a Katilyn Riley (Baylor commit) or Hattie Bray Hattie Bray 6'1" | MB Wautoma | 2021 State WI (Marquette commit). Gruner’s upside is going to be fun to watch the next couple years.
Stella Zarling – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal
Zarling had a big weekend at Badger Region Qualifier and was key in Premier’s road to locking up an American bid. Big arm and a smart shot maker, Zarling is going to be big for KML who is returning a powerhouse roster, loading up for the 2020 season.
Make the middle pause a bit and get a one on one with the outside. @wispremiervball tied at 13 w @FCEliteVB in set two pic.twitter.com/opWUB44Nu6
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 1, 2020
Elise Gillen Elise Gillen 5'9" | S Slinger | 2022 State WI – Slinger – Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal
Gillen is silky smooth with her delivery and movement on the court. She knows the top matchups and can set a variety of tempos. She will most likely be the go to setter for Slinger after the graduation of SIUE commit Alyse Drifka Alyse Drifka 5'8" | S Slinger | 2020 State WI .
Avery Pennekamp Avery Pennekamp 5'11" | OH McFarland | 2022 State WI – McFarland – Balance 16s
Pennekamp was a key piece to the McFarland run to a D2 state runner up appearance. She’s got major hops, an aggressive approach and knows how to score points against high level teams. This Balance 16s group is full of plenty of all around athletes from the Class of 2022 and 2023.
Gianna Trotter Gianna Trotter 5'11" | OH Fond du Lac | 2022 State WI – Fond du Lac – Fond du Lac Fusion 16 Purple
Trotter has an explosive style to her game. She can spring and has a big arm that is extremely powerful. Six rotations and definitely has some athleticism to create something out of nothing.
Gabriella Magee Gabriella Magee MB Homestead | 2022 State WI – Homestead – Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal
Magee was extremely key for Premier 16 Teal and their run to finish second at the Badger Region Qualifier behind Sting 16 Gold. Very athletic and dynamic she can close the block and also transition to make herself available to attack and score points. Really fun athlete to watch.
@wispremiervball 16 Teal advances to the championship and will fave @stingvb1988 16 Gold pic.twitter.com/Wp6GbgAEIK
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) March 1, 2020
Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI – Luxemburg-Casco – FC Elite Flyers 18 White
Johnson’s game has really elevated since the summer of 2019 where she was the next in line to take over for Bekah Day Bekah Day S Luxemburg-Casco | 2020 State WI at Luxemburg-Casco. Coming on strong as a serving specialist for Lux-Casco enroute to a state title, Johnson has really taken off this past winter with how she can get her hands to the ball and run a dynamic offense. She is cool, clam, and collected, but definitely has a fire and quiet intensity to her.