Midwest Border Star: Mara Schmidt
(Midwest Border Star series goal is to bring light to an area of talented volleyball that is sometimes overlooked. It’s not in the Milwaukee hub nor close enough to the Metro hot spot, but boast a handful of players that…
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Continue Reading(Midwest Border Star series goal is to bring light to an area of talented volleyball that is sometimes overlooked. It’s not in the Milwaukee hub nor close enough to the Metro hot spot, but boast a handful of players that Wisconsin and Minnesota both need to take note of!)
There have been many varying responses to the pandemic. Some states are set to continue as normal while their neighbors have postponed everything. In fact, the differences even exist within conferences. No matter where or what the circumstances are one thing is certain, Mara Schmidt Mara Schmidt 5'11" | OH Holmen | 2022 State WI is set to emerge as a top recruit on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border this year.
Mara is an exciting player from Holmen, Wisconsin. It’s about as far south-west as you can get in Wisconsin located near the Mississippi and only 30 minutes from Winona, Minnesota. Her location on the border of the two states and her persistent drive to succeed is why she is our first Border Star.
Listed at 5’10’’ Mara is a dynamic player whose talent, and height, have been underestimated; she feels more like a six-footer in the front row. She goes into her junior season having played every front-row position. On the pins she’s lethal and in the middle she’s strategic. The Holmen Vikings finished 17-13 last year in which Mara played in about half of the matches as a sophomore. Despite lack of opportunities and minutes, her hitting efficiency was only .055 percent beyond the team’s top attacker. It was a good opportunity for her to acclimate to the varsity level after a trying ACL injury the year before. Now, having rebuilt her knee strength and dedicated herself to all aspects of her game, Mara is ready to step into a game-changing role.
In the off season, her time spent in V-Hawk Xtreme has shown us she is ready to compete with the top prospects in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Much of her time was spent blocking and hitting on the right-side. She has a great understanding of how to effectively set the block. After she has closed off half of the court with her blocking position, she quickly transitions back for a technically sound attack. Her swing is a mix of strength and speed. Mara is a strong jumper with a fast arm-swing; she has the ability to position her body to always utilize a downward swing.
Her skill doesn’t stop there. Mara has grown into an athletic passer in the back row. Her picturesque platform and her consistent serving have led her to a successful beach career, having qualified for the AVP America Nationals and AVP America East Coast Championships multiple times. It’s her ability to elevate the level of competition, consistency, and her partners Kristen Anderson and Gianna Trotter.
We have seen her at our PrepDig events where she stood out this summer. Mara plays with intensity and passion. It was fun to watch her mix in her sand strategy on the hard court. Her dedication summed up best in her own words:
“My drive to succeed has catapulted me in my personal, academic and athletic life. Obstacles in life have presented me with challenges which I have overcome with a positive attitude, drive to succeed and a passion to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Anyone who meets or watches Mara will learn three things:
- She has a physical presence and unmatched energy. Her size, strength and vibe feel more like a seasoned college athlete than a youthful high school junior. She dominates and demands attention.
- She works harder than those around her. Her ability to overcome a career ending injury early on, prove she has unmatched dedication.
- She has the “it” factor. Whether it’s her contagious energy or her infectious smile, everyone is drawn to her. Her teammates and opponents alike recognize and respect her talent and want to be her friend at the same time.
Set to start her high school season soon, we can’t wait to watch her continue to grow and develop into a top recruit that both Minnesota and Wisconsin can be proud of.