High School Teams That Will Benefit From This Club Season

Let’s take a look at how some of the work being done this club season may be really benefiting some high school programs. It’s hard not to think about four to five months from now and the 2021 season will be in full swing. I love seeing new names pop up, new teams making their way further into playoffs, and players making huge strides during the club season. All of these variables give us an idea of who might be coming in strong for the 2021 high school season. Here is a brief initial check-in on some teams who are developing in order to make a big run in 2021. [caption id="attachment_129556" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-129556 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/02/DSC01278-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"][/caption] Appleton North The fact that this squad only has 2 seniors is just downright scary for the Division I field in Wisconsin. They have youth, plenty of athleticism, and skill that could take them deep in the postseason for at least a couple of seasons. [player_tooltip player_id="122483" first="Ella" last="Demetrician"] (FC Elite 18 Elite) gets better each time she steps on the court and is not slowing down. Demetrician plays along with [player_tooltip player_id="57241" first="Brianna" last="Cantrell"] (5’11 – FC Elite 18 Elite) over the club season as well. making them a really dangerous duo. Other key pieces like [player_tooltip player_id="81262" first="Berkley" last="Mischler"] (6’1 – Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold) and [player_tooltip player_id="81261" first="Madisen" last="Miller"] (5’8 – Milwaukee Sting 17 Gold) have been developing their skills and getting plenty of experience against great competition with Milwaukee Sting this season. [caption id="attachment_138984" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/DSC00299-crop-4032x2647-1618438994.jpg"><img class="wp-image-138984 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/DSC00299-crop-4032x2647-1618438994-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Ryden Lehrke[/caption] D.C. Everest Everest battled through their fall covid season led by a big group of seniors. But they had a number of players who will return and have been putting the work in during the offseason to help their high school team compete against the top teams in the state. They will have a very experienced 2022 Senior class with the likes of Lexi Crawford (5’8 – Outside Hitter) and Brenna Lehrke (5’5 – Setter/Right Side Hitter) both playing on Wisconsin Ice 18 Purple together. Another couple of players, Kirsten Hall (5’11 – Middle Blocker) and Ryden Lehrke (5’2 – Outside Hitter/Libero), who have stood out this club season will be part of the incoming 2025 class. These two could make an immediate impact at the varsity level and fill in some really key pieces that will be graduating. [caption id="attachment_105145" align="alignright" width="226"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-105145" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/08/SummerShowcase3-e1597683907625-226x300.jpg" alt="" width="226" height="300" /> K. Martin[/caption] De Pere Edgewood has a lot of talent, but this past season was extremely young with plenty of freshmen and sophomores in the lineup. They will return some top athletes, such as [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] (FC Elite 18 Elite), who is in the top 5 in the Class of 2023 rankings with a heavy arm. Then add in the hitting combo of [player_tooltip player_id="119395" first="Olivia" last="Lasee"] (FC Elite 16 Navy) and Chloe Hansel (2022 – 5’11 – Outside Hitter), who are going to be tough to stop. They’ve got a lot of height and options to really open up their offense. [caption id="attachment_117620" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-117620" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/27-Casey-Frankland-2-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="81338" first="Casey" last="Frankland"] Photo Credit: Breit Nelson[/caption] Marshfield Marshfield had a solid season and a great conference run in 2020, but more impressive is the development happening during their offseason. [player_tooltip player_id="81338" first="Casey" last="Frankland"], who earned 2nd Team WVC honors as a junior, is playing up on the Wisconsin Ice 18 National Team. The Tigers also have a number of freshmen and sophomores to build their program. I’ve seen a number of Marshfield athletes taking advantage of multiple extra training opportunities through their clubs. The Tigers might be young, but they are hungry. <img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-112794" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/10/DSC09219.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Randolph Randolph is in the tough sectional with Waterloo, but in 2020 they actually lost to Dodgeland. They’ve got a lot of great returners, including [player_tooltip player_id="81297" first="Cassandra" last="Alsum"] (Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold), who will be a major go-to playmaker for the Rockets. But she won’t have to do it alone as there is a strong supporting class who gained a lot of experience last year and will be coming back strong in 2021. [player_tooltip player_id="119400" first="Carizma" last="Muth"] has been a big-time pin hitter for Madison United 16 Red this club season, [player_tooltip player_id="119407" first="Brandi" last="Fuller"] (River City 16 Blue) running the backcourt, and 2023 setter [player_tooltip player_id="119401" first="Jorey" last="Buwalda"]. <img class="size-medium wp-image-28286 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2018/11/RF-Haley-Graetz-2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> River Falls This was a solid team last year with plenty of athletes returning to compete with some of the best. In 2021 they will be led by [player_tooltip player_id="81259" first="Haley" last="Graetz"] (6’0), who made the move from middle to the outside pin in order to score points with her dynamic hops and ability to find the open spots on the court. River Falls will also return setter [player_tooltip player_id="92019" first="Morgan" last="Kealy"] (5’10) and [player_tooltip player_id="81298" first="Dani" last="Lien"] (5’10).