Secret Weapons No Longer

<p>We didn’t know who they were last year, but now they are ready to take charge on the court.  They lead with confidence shown in their body language and how they brush off an error because experience has taught them that will happen and it’s best to move to the next play.  This new role won’t be additional pressure for these players because they have put in the work, gained the experience and now it’s their time to shine in 2020.  Who are the secret weapons, who may not be so secret anymore?</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="80819" first="Carly" last="Rebman"] – 2021 – 5’9 – Outside Hitter/Defensive Specialist - Edgerton</strong></p> <p>Edgerton is loaded with athletes, and we didn’t even know it!  Rebman is an explosive athlete and has the skill to go along with it.  She has developed an all-around game that will make her one of the top pin hitters in the Rock Valley with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="80711" first="Katie" last="Winkler"] of East Troy and [player_tooltip player_id="33729" first="Emme" last="Bullis"] of Whitewater.  </p> <p><strong>Ella Luoma – 2022 – Libero - Franklin</strong></p> <p>In 2019, Franklin had [player_tooltip player_id="80193" first="Holly" last="Reinke"] and [player_tooltip player_id="80205" first="Kaitlin" last="Gawelski"] on the pins to find a way to score points.  Luoma has been on the floor since her freshman year and will be joined by her younger sister to create a dynamic defensive duo for Franklin in 2020.  While Franklin should have a solid 1^st and 2^nd contacts, they graduated a lot of their firepower, so I am interested to see what they come up with!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91899" first="Gwen" last="Crull"] – 2023 – 6’0 – Middle Blocker - McFarland</strong></p> <p>McFarland was led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="80256" first="Erin" last="Eggers"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="56078" first="Lizzy" last="Fortune"] </strong>to battle in the Division 2 State Championship match in 2019.<strong> </strong>  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="81270" first="Avery" last="Pennekamp"] (2022 – 5’10) </strong>and <strong>Nina Crull (2021 – 5’11) </strong>were the go-to point scorers for the Spartans, but you should see <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91899" first="Gwen" last="Crull"]</strong> really get comfortable and explode in the middle as an offensive threat.  Crull already has a knack for blocking and getting a ton of touches, but her offensive game has been developing a ton over the winter.</p> <p><strong>Isabelle Coon – 2022 – 5’9 – Setter/Right Side Hitter – St. Mary’s Springs Academy</strong></p> <p>I wish we could have witnessed the evolution of Coon because it is clear she has put in the work.  The Ledgers have a really nice balance of returners and will be a team to contend with Laconia for the Flyway Conference and challenge Howards Grove in the postseason for a trip to the Resch. Coon has quick footwork, great hands, and her overall volleyball IQ will be a huge catalyst for the Ledgers in 2020. </p> [caption id="attachment_101194" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-101194" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/DSC03309.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Kate Fox Gunderson[/caption] <p><strong>Kate Fox Gunderson – 2022 – 5’8 – Setter - Edgerton</strong></p> <p>Gunderson has shown that she can play all six rotations and run a 5-1.  She is all about speed.  Gunderson has fast footwork to the ball making it look effortless to jump-set a majority of the time and can cover half the court on defense with her speed. Edgerton may not be a sleeper team for long with more athletes like her.</p> <p><strong>Megan Schultz – 2023 – 6’4 – Middle Blocker - Hamilton</strong></p> <p>Schultz is developing into one of the more dominant middle blockers in the Class of 2023.  Hamilton will be a contender in the Greater Metro Conference and with attackers like Schultz, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33734" first="Lakyn" last="Graves"] (2021 – 6’1 – Middle Blocker), </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="80730" first="Kayla" last="Lewinski"] (2021 – 5’10 – Pin Hitter),</strong> who can score in and out of system, they could make it to the Resch in November.</p> <p><strong>Verona</strong></p> <p>Last year this group was a dark horse that came in and took the Big Eight Conference by surprise. The Wildcats will return <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="81322" first="Claudia" last="Bobb"] (2022 – 5’6) </strong>and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="81305" first="Delaney" last="McIntosh"] (2022)</strong> who can terminate from either pin. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="80795" first="Anna" last="Bohrer"] (2021 – 6’1),</strong> taking over setting, will give Verona multiple options, while <strong>Katie Trias (2021)</strong> will provide a solid first contact. </p>