Michigan Teams Shine at Sunshine Classic
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While the Mitten state was under a blanket of snow, Florida heat was taken up a notch with all the heat coming down from the north! The Sunshine Classic marks the beginning of the qualifier season for most of these…
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Continue ReadingWhile the Mitten state was under a blanket of snow, Florida heat was taken up a notch with all the heat coming down from the north!
The Sunshine Classic marks the beginning of the qualifier season for most of these teams. It’s going to be a good one for several Michigan teams. While several Michigan teams just narrowly missed out on a bid, top ten finishes were aplenty down in the panhandle state.
Let’s check out some of the top finishing teams from Michigan at the Sunshine Classic.
17u
Legacy 17-1 Adidas
This team may have been down and out some key players coming into the 2023 season, but what they’re making with their losses is impressive! The Lucy Mott led squad had a superb outing in Orlando. To not be deterred by a lackluster opening day, Audrey Geer Audrey Geer 5'10" | OH Frankenmuth | 2024 State MI and company rallied for a huge Day 2 to earn themselves a gold medal pool play berth, winning a huge come from behind game against OT 17 Omi to advance.
Legacy 17-2 Adidas & Michigan Elite 17 Elite
These two teams are easily on high bid watch this qualifier season in the USA Division. The two eventually met on the final day of the classic and went the distance with Legacy just narrowly edging out Elite. Legacy went on to win the silver bracket, and with how Elite played in their match, it could’ve been either of these squads.
Legacy was led by their firepower in the middle with Rachel Youngblood Rachel Youngblood 6'1" | MB Anchor Bay | 2024 State MI and Lillian Frias. Both players really do a lot of damage at the net with their ability to score at high level with both their attacking and blocking. Emery Kuebler Emery Kuebler 5'7" | S Clarkston | 2024 State MI is also a player coming into her own at the setters position following a really successful fall season with Clarkston.
Michigan Elite has sparked something special with this group with the addition of two fellow state champs. Both OH Dani Mertz and OPP Clara Gyomory Clara Gyomory 5'10" | RS North Branch | 2024 State MI have evolved into top level six rotation pin attackers for this club season and are only getting better. Mertz is coming into her own out on the left pin and passing lights out. Gyomory had a breakout season with North Branch and her stock only continues to rise, this weekend was no different.
16u
Legacy 16-1 Adidas
This squad had a different look this weekend compared to the first quarter of the season. While last season saw MB/OPP Addison Williams Addison Williams 6'2" | MB South Lyon East | 2025 State MI on the right side, but for the beginning of 2023, she’s been spending a bulk of her time in the middle. Not this weekend, and it looked like it was the spark this squad needed. With Williams on the right, it makes Legacy a constant blocking threat for opposing outside hitters with the likes of her and Campbell Flynn Campbell Flynn 6'2" | S Mercy | 2025 State #4 Nation MI .
Legacy rounded out the weekend going 7-1 and just missing out on the bid, placing fifth.
Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno
This team is on the hunt for a bid still and is one of the top contenders going into the Mid-East Qualifiers in a few weeks. While a bid wasn’t achieved this weekend, it was still impressive to see this team fight off adversity. Going 2-1 on Day 1, Day 2 saw 16 Mizuno without star MB Shelby Ignash Shelby Ignash 6'1" | MB Cass City | 2025 State #124 Nation MI , as she had to travel back home and win a district title in basketball before returning on Sunday. This saw the reemergence of former middle, Jess Costlow. A treat that is always so fun to watch.
Nonetheless, this team turned around on Day 3 to win the Silver bracket. Like I said, keep yourself on high alert for this squad at MEQs. They are a heavy favorite for an early bid in the 16 Open.
15u
Legacy 15-1 Adidas
Like 16-1 Adidas, this squad had a great outing at Sunshine and just narrowly missed out on the bid. This Gabby DiVita Gabby DiVita 6'1" | OH Grosse Pt. South | 2026 State MI led squad is one of the best in the entire nation at the 15s age group. Fire power across the net and tough ball control. This is another squad who i predict to be heavy favorites for the bid in a few weeks in Indianapolis. Going back to back weekends against some of the best talent in the country is tough work. But this squad still manages to pull out impressive finish after impressive finish.
11u
Legacy 11-1 Adidas
Now, we typically only cover high school ball on Prep Dig. But here’s some early tea on the upcoming 2030s coming down the pipe in Michigan. It was a first ever for an 11u team from Michigan to not only compete at the Sunshine Classic, but to place in the top 3 at the event. Impressive. This squad includes HC Jen Cottrill‘s daughter, Londyn, who will surely become a powerhouse in her own right down the road. Congratulation’s Legacy 11-1 Adidas!