Registration Opens For Prep Dig Sizzle March 1
The Prep Dig Sizzle is just a little different - in the best way possible. The Prep Dig Sizzle is a high school summer tournament where teams can start building some momentum for the high school season, this also gives our Prep Dig scouts a chance to build momentum as well! The Sizzle started coming out of the covid era in Wisconsin when having a high school season was a big question mark. This year we will run our sixth Sizzle in Wisconsin and second one in Iowa.
Excited to run these back again in 2025!
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 21, 2025
High School Summer Tournaments
đź“ŤAppleton - July 14 (JV), 15-16
đź“ŤCoralville - Aug 5-6
Could go for sizzlin temps right about now!
Registration opens March 1 pic.twitter.com/OlQnYRMmT5
The Format
Teams will play in various summer leagues throughout the summer that are relatively local. Many of those teams have athletes that play club with, and against each other, they will probably see each other in conference play and even regional play. Between summer and fall competition, there might be teams who could see each other up to six times. At the Prep Dig Sizzle, we do our best to avoid those matchups. We want teams to see opponents that they typically wouldn't play in a summer league or a conference matchup. We have been able to match up teams from different parts of the state as well as combining teams from other states to make some great matchups.
Teams will play three matches per day in a wave format. Each varsity match up will have a varsity level R1 calling the game. We ask a parent volunteer to run the scoreboard. Teams can help out with line judges (call it fair).
When making the Iowa schedule last year, I gave each conference a color on the spreadsheet making sure the MVC schools and MAC schools stayed away from each other. I also don't want schools that are twenty minutes from each other to drive a few hours just to play each other again.
Iowa Format
For our Iowa Prep Dig Sizzle, we will run this as two, one day events. With preseason camps going on we know that teams will have different commitments during the first week of August. Teams can register for August 5, August 6, or both. Each day is guaranteed three matches for $150.
The Competition Level
When making the schedule, we do our research on what would be appropriate matchups. We know that teams are coming into this event with various levels of experience. Is the team rebuilding, with some youth? We can find other teams for them that would be appropriate levels of competition. Is the team looking to win a state title? We will have other teams who are looking to do the same and pair them up. Our goal is to provide the best level of competition, and we understand that looks different for everyone.
Wave Request
Prep Network will be sending out a form closer to the event gathering information from teams and will take a “Wave Request”. We will do our best to accommodate teams in what they need.
We will prioritize teams in regards to wave with the following critters:
- Distance the team is from the event
- Will the team be staying overnight at the event
- Appropriate level of competition
If a team is spending the night, we are not going to make them wait until 2 PM to play their day two matches. Some teams will play anyone, anytime, we love that. However, we will do our best to make this process smooth for teams.
How Has It Gone In The Past?
Our Prep Dig Wisconsin Sizzle has typically sold out where we have had 48 teams in the past for varsity and 32 teams for JV. We have had teams from Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois come to the Sizzle that is held at the Community First Champion Center which holds 12 courts (All Air Conditioned).
The Iowa Sizzle is held at Green State Fieldhouse connected to Xtream Arena in Coralville which is the home of the University of Iowa Volleyball program and the Iowa Girls State Volleyball tournament. We had over 20 teams total from the two days with seven of those teams advancing to the state tournament in Iowa and Wisconsin.
The Scouts
The Prep Dig Sizzle will have all the things that our Prep Dig Events feature with our scouts in attendance. That brings video, photos, and plenty of social media over the course of the event as well as content before, during, and after as well. This is not only a season preview for the teams competing, but also for our scouts ready to tackle the high school season.
