GJNC 18 USA Preview: Missouri and KC Metro
In this article:
We are days away from the Girls Junior National Championships starting in Baltimore, Maryland. Today we look at the teams from Missouri or KC teams with Missouri players taking part in the USA Division. Club North 18 Ang The Kansas…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe are days away from the Girls Junior National Championships starting in Baltimore, Maryland. Today we look at the teams from Missouri or KC teams with Missouri players taking part in the USA Division.
Club North 18 Ang
The Kansas City, Missouri-based team qualified for the big dance by winning a bid match at MEQ in March. That weekend, they were in a groove, winning their first seven contest before falling short in a gold bracket match. However, they rebounded and beat TVC 18 Black in a dominant performance. The roster is deep with talent and we’ll start on the pins with Kendall Johnson Kendall Johnson 5'10" | MB Platte County | 2024 State MO , Ryanne Wattree Ryanne Wattree 5'10" | RS Lees Summit West | 2024 State MO , and Grace Schmedding. Lauren Wright Lauren Wright 5'8" | S Liberty North | 2024 State MO has flourished in the setter position and has found a good connection on slides with Brooklyn Gormley. And of course, we can’t leave out Claire Mosh Claire Mosh 5'6" | DS/L St. Pius X | 2024 State MO , as dependable as they get on the back row. Pool 7 is where action will begin for this team.
Mavs KC 18-2
Mavs KC benefited from other teams earning higher bids and receiving an in-region trickle-down. They were just on the brink of a bid in January at MLK. They are a gritty team that competed well in the region’s power league competition. They have a posted record of 29-9 in the AES ranking system. They have a trio of players on the Missouri side of the state line with Reese Massey Reese Massey 5'8" | DS/L Staley | 2024 State MO , Nicolette Snider, and defender Emily Mathis Emily Mathis 5'6" | DS/L Lee's Summit West | 2024 State MO of Lee’s Summit West. They will start action in Pool 4.
PVA 18 Elite
PVA earned an at-large bid from Northern Lights and will start play in Pool 6. The Kansas team had good finishes in the USA division during qualifier season, ending with a 6th and 9th place finish in a couple of them. They have a host of players who will compete at the next level and are a team capable of pulling off a string of victories in Baltimore. Missouri players featured on their roster include middle Hannah Woolley Hannah Woolley 6'1" | MB Pembroke Hill | 2024 State MO who will play at Bowdoin College and Sophia Saxton Sophia Saxton 5'8" | S Notre Dame De Sion | 2024 State MO , heading to St. Olaf.
Rockwood Thunder 18 Navy
18 Navy picked up their bid early in the qualifying season by taking care of business at Florida Fest. They have been consistent in qualifier play during other qualifiers finishing right in the middle of the pack. They also played in the Under Armour 18U championships a couple of weeks back in Kentucky to gear up for nationals. In the premier division, they went 8-1. Play will start for them in Maryland at 9:00 in Pool 5. Setter Sophia Gagnepain Sophia Gagnepain 5'8" | S Eureka | 2024 State MO , who will head to Dartmouth College has been dependable in her decision-making. Jayden Wiese Jayden Wiese 5'11" | RS Lafayette | 2024 State MO can score all over the court. and Addison Normille is a defender we’ve discussed countless times over the last few years.
Team Momentum 18 Navy
Team Momentum earned the in-region trickle-down won at MLK from HPSTL 18 Royal, who would upgrade their bid. They played most of their qualifier season in the Open division, which means they are battle-tested and could make noise in this division. They are in Pool 6 with PVA 18 Elite. They are not short on players who can make noise. Kylie Surratt Kylie Surratt 6'0" | RS Pattonville | 2024 State MO , a University of Tennessee-Martin pledge is a dynamic pin. Alexis Frazier and Taylor Reynolds Taylor Reynolds 5'6" | S Nerinx Hall | 2024 State MO are two veteran setters. Abby Freuend is as strong a defender as they come in the back row. Catherine Woolf Catherine Woolf 6'0" | OH North Point | 2024 State MO , Abby Harder Abby Harder 6'1" | MB Liberty | 2024 State MO , and Avery Guisinger Avery Guisinger 6'1" | MB Francis Howell | 2024 State MO bring good size to the front line.