Preseason Preview: 6A Teams to Watch

The 6A OSAA classification is stacked with tons of talents, with some teams bolstering quite the impressive roster. Five teams poised to do very well are Central Catholic High School, Jesuit High School, Sheldon High School, South Salem High School, and West Linn High School. Jesuit and Central Catholic, who have been powerhouse programs since the 1990s, are sure to dominate yet again. A program that finished at the top of the Three Rivers League last season is West Linn High School and they have become a prominent program the past couple seasons, but have not won a State title since 2007. Two teams oozing with potential are South Salem High School and Sheldon High School which have stacked rosters of upperclassmen. Here is a look at some key players for these high schools, as well as a few top returning athletes to watch. (Teams are listed in alphabetical order, not in order of State finish predictions.) [caption id="attachment_154691" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-154691" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/Central-Catholic-Logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Central Catholic High School With the Central Catholic High School Rams returning a bulk of their starting line-up from the 2020 season they are poised to be a competitive squad this season. The Rams went 11-2 last season, dropping two matches to Jesuit High School and West Linn High School during culmination week. Fearlessly running the offense, like last season, will be 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91309" first="Mia" last="Starr"] (also an insanely talented attacker) and 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91212" first="Lauren" last="Stemple"]. However, they also have 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126026" first="Delainy" last="Williams"], a setter/right side, so she may make her way into the lineup as well. On the outside, they are returning powerhouse 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91219" first="Elliott" last="Bush"], on the roster since her freshman season. They will have options with 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91378" first="Alycia" last="Wilson"], 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91328" first="Sofia" last="Cooper"] and potentially newcomer 2025 Mia Hunt. Hunt has been trained as a setter for the majority of her career but is listed on the roster as an outside attacker. In the middle, the Rams could place 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91328" first="Sofia" last="Cooper"] there again, or 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91295" first="Sydnee" last="Jordan"], or 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91334" first="Emily" last="Hegar"]. They will also have newcomer 2025 Malia Parker, a quick and dynamic middle blocker, who could fill this position. They graduated their libero [player_tooltip player_id="91131" first="Kealani" last="Rosa"] last season, so this position is up for grabs. Will it be 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91256" first="Renee" last="Tassin"]? Or 2022 Reagan Zuckerman? Or somebody else entirely? The options are endless! The season opener for the Rams is next Tuesday (8/31) against Centennial High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/40601">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_100842" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-100842" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/Jesuit-Logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Jesuit High School The Jesuit High School Crusaders, a team that went 12-0 last season, had a huge graduating class last season, so a bulk of their starters will not be returning. However, they had a deep bench last season so these players should be ready to jump into the starting lineup. Some returners that already made a huge impact for the Crusaders were 2022 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="91207" first="Tess" last="Masingale"] (arguably the most dominant middle blocker in the State and a recent Cal Poly commit), 2022 libero [player_tooltip player_id="91211" first="Maisie" last="Alexander"] and 2023 outside attacker [player_tooltip player_id="91316" first="Isabel" last="Patterson"]. They will also be returning defensive specialist 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91214" first="Hannah" last="Nguyen"] (Harvard commit) and 2023 right side [player_tooltip player_id="91348" first="Ceanna" last="O'Loughlin"]. However, I would predict that O'Loughlin will be seen on the outside this season, and we might see Nguyen in the setters position. The Crusaders graduated Alison Buccholz and [player_tooltip player_id="91115" first="Peyton" last="Griffin"] who had been the previous setters since their freshman seasons. They are also rostering two freshman setters Jackie Carle and Hayden McGehee, so these athletes might be seen running the Crusaders offense. 2024 middle blocker [player_tooltip player_id="126070" first="Lilian" last="Lansing"], who had an impressive club season with Athena 15-1, might be the other middle blocker alongside Masingale. The season opener for the Crusaders is Thursday (9/9) against Beaverton High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/40957">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_154695" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-154695" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/sheldon-high-school-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] Sheldon High School The Sheldon High School Irish is stacked with returning talent, with eight returning varsity players. An integral part of this team's success has been 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91310" first="Beaux" last="Bruegman"] who has been running the offense since her freshman year. Another integral part of their success and also a starter since her freshman season is 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91324" first="Kaitlyn" last="Wood"], a bouncy and versatile attacker. Wood could be seen back in the middle or on the outside. On the pins, the Irish will have tons height with Wood, 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91248" first="Olivia" last="Santee"] (also an option in the middle), 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91402" first="Gwen" last="Fife"] (a recent University of Utah Beach commit), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91251" first="Keira" last="Vaughn"], and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91389" first="Gabbie" last="Harms"] (another option in the middle). All of these athletes are over 5'11” and are destined to dominate. The back row will be lead by either 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91213" first="Alayna" last="Hughes"] or 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91384" first="Elle" last="Bruegman"] (yes, the twin sister to Beaux). The Irish went 9-1 last season, and with a majority of their starters returning, they are bound to see success. The season opener for the Crusaders is Thursday (9/16) against North Medford High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41458">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_154696" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-154696" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/08/south-salem-logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] South Salem High School The South Salem High School Saxons are stacked with tons of upperclassmen and varsity returning talent. Last season this team went undefeated, going 14-0. As in the past three seasons, the court will be run by 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91233" first="Laila" last="Leaks"], the former PrepDig Mountain Valley Co-Player of the Year. On the outside, 2023 phenom [player_tooltip player_id="91326" first="Kayleigh" last="Carpenter"] is returning, as well as powerhouse 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91266" first="Araeya" last="Watanabe"]. 2023 Brooksie Isham also saw court time last season on the pins, so she is another option. In the middle, 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91275" first="Brookelyn" last="Worst"], who brings height and power, will be returning. The other rostered middle blocker is 2024 Malena Mathis, who was on the varsity squad last season as well. The former libero for the Saxons, Sarah Kivett, has graduated, so this spot is up for grabs. With three rostered defensive specialists, 2022 Zoe Israel, 2022 Mackenzie Scott, and 2023 Olga Wongkar, the Saxons will have plenty of talent to choose from. The season opener for the Saxons is next Thursday (9/2) against West Salem High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41513">here</a>. [caption id="attachment_100843" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-100843" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/07/West-Linn-Logo-150x150.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: OSAA[/caption] West Linn High School The West Linn High School Lions are poised to do well this 2021 season, having gone 11-1 last season, dropping one match to Jesuit High School during culmination week. But they have a definite hole in their line-up: three-year varsity starter and current University of Washington player [player_tooltip player_id="91107" first="Audra" last="Wilmes"] has graduated. However, with 2022 #1 recruit for PrepDig Rankings, [player_tooltip player_id="91205" first="Emily" last="Warmenhoven"] (Belmont University commit) should fulfill this role as a dominant outside attacker. They will also have options with 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91317" first="Amyah" last="Semau"] and 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91307" first="Addie" last="Hoover"] both very capable of dominating on the outside. In the middle, they will have returners 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91237" first="Rayna" last="Reynolds"] and 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="116493" first="Ella" last="Nordquist"] (Western Oregon University commit), with newcomer to the varsity squad 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91274" first="Kaelin" last="Kehm"]. Running the offense for another season, 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91216" first="Shealyn" last="Cecil"] previously ran a 6-2 with [player_tooltip player_id="91138" first="Kate" last="Griffin"]. So will she run a 5-1, solo? Or will 2024 sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id="126052" first="Olivia" last="Doel"] be running a 6-2 alongside Cecil? They also have 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91269" first="Karly" last="Moos"], a newcomer to the varsity squad, listed as a setter on the roster, so she would be another option for the Lions. Their backrow was previously run by [player_tooltip player_id="91123" first="Lily" last="Snook"] who took the libero spot from sister Ellie Snook once she graduated. This season they have three rostered seniors listed as defensive specialists: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91236" first="Audrey" last="Shih"] (on varsity as a sophomore, did not play her junior season), 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91281" first="Lila" last="Skates"] (a varsity returner and college lacrossa commit), and 2022 Kailey Dougherty (a newcomer from junior varsity). They will also have the option of 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126183" first="Caroline" last="Nielsen"], who was the starting libero for the junior varsity team last season. Lots of very solid options for the Lions! The season opener for the Crusaders is Tuesday (9/7) against Tigard High School. Follow along <a href="https://www.osaa.org/teams/41715">here</a>. Below is a list of some other athletes to keep your eyes out for, that are not a part of the high schools mentioned above, but are sure to dominate for their team: 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91253" first="Leah" last="Agost"], OH, Clackamas High School 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91250" first="Taylor" last="Brickey"], OH, Summit High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="126033" first="Maile" last="Chan"], DS, Mountainside High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91313" first="Madison" last="Corpe"], S, McNary High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91311" first="Kennedy" last="Cheung"], DS, Westview High School 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91208" first="Kate" last="Doorn"], S/RS, Summit High School (Committed: University of Idaho) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91223" first="Celia" last="Espinoza"], DS, Mountainview High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91306" first="Sophie" last="Gregoire-Salagean"], OH, Newbery High School (Committed: University of Oregon) 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="91222" first="Laci" last="Jespersen"], DS, West Salem High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91321" first="Sarah" last="Jones"], DS, Sprague High School 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="391924" first="Elisabeth" last="Levick"], S/OH, Glencoe High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91327" first="Kalista" last="Lukovich"], OH, Nelson High School 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="91323" first="Shannon" last="MacCallum"], OH, Summit High School