Brackets Busted? What The Crystal Ball Says On Badger Region 17s
There are plenty of storylines among the players and clubs. Many of these athletes have played together for the same club for years, some have made club switches, high school teammates are now club opponents, club teammates are high school…
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Continue ReadingThere are plenty of storylines among the players and clubs. Many of these athletes have played together for the same club for years, some have made club switches, high school teammates are now club opponents, club teammates are high school rivals, and for some of these athletes they will play a high school match on Friday night in the Wisconsin Alternate Season to then turn around and play in Milwaukee for the weekend. Who are some dangerous teams and top players in the Badger Region 17 Open Region Championships?
Claire Ammeraal Claire Ammeraal 6'0" | S Madison LaFollette | 2022 State #179 Nation WI – Capital 17 Adidas
Ammeraal is one who falls in a slightly different category than most other players for a variety of reasons. She attends Madison LaFollette, which Madison Public Schools have not been in the clear to play any school-sanctioned sports quite yet. She is one of the top available setters in the Class of 2022 with a high touch, big left handed swing, and plenty of intangibles that will lead her team to some potential big upsets. The more this team plays, the better they become each rep. They will be dangerous come Sunday, but will face another Madison area team in Madison Sting United in pool play and a Sting 17 White team who is coming off a MEQ 17 American Title.
Milwaukee Sting 17 White
This squad is on fire. They are coming off a MidEast Qualifier 17 American Division win which punched their ticket to USAV Nationals in Vegas come late June. This team is well balanced, but has two big time attackers in Lydia Biggin Lydia Biggin 5'10" | RS Burlington | 2022 State WI (Burlington HS) and Kara Schmitt (DSHA). It all starts with the first two contacts where they have Madelyn Weyda (Germantown) as a libero and two solid setters in Katie Gund Katie Gund 5'11" | S Pewaukee | 2022 State WI and Tatum Kebisek Tatum Kebisek 5'9" | S Brookfield Central | 2022 State WI . This is going to be a fun pool with Capital, Madison United, and Impact 17 National with plenty of top athletes from the Green Bay/Fox Valley area.
COLLEGE ANNOUNCEMENT! Congratulations to Katie Heidenrich of Sting Burlington United for her commitment to D1 Virginia Commonwealth University! VCU is in the Atlantic 10 conference and is located in Richmond, VA. Way to go Katie! We’re all so proud of you! @stingvb1988 pic.twitter.com/0TmEWoOwdZ
— Sting Burlington United 17-Orange (@StingBurlington) March 23, 2021
Katie Heidenrich – The Newest Class of 2022 Commit Heading to VCU
Heidenrich was a major miss for Prep Dig on her rise to becoming a top outside in the Class of 2022. I was able to see her play at the Badger Region Qualifier where Burlington United finished in the final four, just outside of earning a bid. This team has collected some big wins throughout the season and Heidenrich is a big part of it. She flys high and has a physicality to her game that is tough to stop.
Don’t Sleep on Fond du Lac Fusion 17 Purple
This team has a lot of top athletes out of Fond du Lac County that are currently playing their high school season with Izzy Coon (St. Marys Springs), Gianna Trotter Gianna Trotter 5'11" | OH Fond du Lac | 2022 State WI , and Calli Haus Calli Haus 5'8" | OH Fond du Lac | 2022 State WI . They beat Sting 17 Black in pool play on Day 1 of Badger Region Qualifier which Sting 17 Black would go on to win the region qualifier and a National bid. FDL Fusion is dangerous in system and has a lot of firepower to score points.
Dangerous Two Seeds
414 Elite, Motion MVP 17 Blue, Capital 17 Adidas, and Wisconsin Premier 17 Teal are in an interesting position. They are capable of knocking off some top teams in their pool, but the three seeds right behind them are going to be hungry to break into Gold Pool play. Julia Wojciak Julia Wojciak 6'1" | MB DSHA | 2022 State WI (DSHA) is definitely a physical presence for 414 out of the middle while Brooke Porter Brooke Porter OH Muskego | 2022 State WI will be looking to lead MVP with being able to score anywhere on the court. Capital 17 Adidas is led by Ammeraal, but has plenty of attackers which leads a well balanced offensive scheme led by Marquette recruit, Natalie. Wisconsin Premier has Elise Gillen Elise Gillen 5'9" | S Slinger | 2022 State WI running the show as a setter with attackers Gabrielle Magee out of the middle and Stella Zarling Stella Zarling 5'9" | OH Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2022 State WI who has an active arm from the pin.
What Does The Crystal Ball Say?
Pool 1 – FC Elite 17 Navy has been within points of having a completely different record on their season. If they can take care of the ball and get in system for Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI (Luxemburg-Casco) and Emma Baierl Emma Baierl 5'8" | S Howards Grove | 2022 State WI (Howards Grove), two state championship setter to run the show they could give a run to the top two seeds in Sting 17 Gold and 414.
Pool 2 – Milwaukee Sting 17 Black has plenty of offensive weapons where they can hurt the other side in so many ways. Motion 17 Blue will need a big performance from Porter and another scorer such as Hannah Fransom to contribute as well. If they can get out of their pool they will be a tough match up come challenge match time.
Pool 3 – This pool might be interesting because I could see a three way tie. Not exactly sure who will be involved, but I really like Capital and a lot of these players are so hungry to compete against high level competition. Madison Sting United 17 Red has Aida Shadewald Aida Shadewald 5'11" | OH Sauk Prairie | 2022 State #184 Nation WI (Title Photo) who can take over a match and even Impact 17 National has the firepower to make an upset along the way.
Pool 4 – I really like this Burlington United squad who has two top pins in Heidenrich and Sophie McCormack Sophie McCormack 6'0" | OH Kettle Moraine | 2022 State WI . McCormack needs to be on the radar of plenty of college coaches. Their defense is solid and will always put themselves in a position to win big matches. The darkhorse, scary team in this pool FDL Fusion. When they are on, watch out. Their firepower from the pin is tough to stop when things are rolling their way. Izzy Coon as their setter is another gem who needs to be on the radar of plenty of schools in state at the next level. Great athlete, high character leader as well.
The Brackets
Gold
P1 – Sting 17 Gold and FC Elite 17 Navy
P2 – Sting 17 Black and MVP 17 Blue
P3 – Capital 17 Adidas and Sting 17 White
P4 – Burlington United and Wisconsin Premier
Gold Challenge Winners
Challenge 1 – Sting 17 Gold over MVP 17 Blue
Challenge 2 – Sting 17 Black over FC Elite 17 Navy
Challenge 3 – Capital 17 Adidas over Wisconsin Premier
Challenge 4 – Burlington United over Sting 17 White
Gold Finals
Semifinal 1 – Sting 17 Gold over Burlington United
Semifinal 2 – Capital 17 Adidas over Sting 17 Black
Final – Sting 17 Gold over Capital 17 Adidas in three