20 In 2020 To Keep An Eye On
Every year of high school has challenges of its own. The Junior year can be a little bit of everything with usually a schedule loaded with AP Classes, getting a solid ACT score, and the reality that a year from…
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Continue ReadingEvery year of high school has challenges of its own. The Junior year can be a little bit of everything with usually a schedule loaded with AP Classes, getting a solid ACT score, and the reality that a year from now a decision will mostly likely be made as to where to go to college. For athletes who are looking to play at the collegiate level there starts to be the questions such as “What level?”, “Will I get an athletic scholarship? Academic Scholarship?”, and “I should probably figure out some type of major” – now to find a school that checks all the boxes. Often times these athletes that are 16 and 17 years old feel they have to have their lives planned out. There’s pressure. Pressure aside, here are twenty athletes from the Class of 2020 would be a really great fit at the next level from how they play on the court, the body language they have with their teammates, and their ability to make positive contributions to a group.
Emma Oelhafen – FC Elite 17 Navy – Xavier – Pin Hitter
Oelhafen has played about every position during her club and high school career. She will be one of the major go to players this fall for Xavier where she will most likely be a big time scorer from either pin, she is solid in six rotations and has great hands as well.
Aubree Bucheger – One Wisconsin 17-1 – Oconto – DS/Libero
Bucheger is flat out sprappy, gritty, and is such a spark. Bucheger can play on the pin, but her future will be as a libero/ds. With a solid platform and all of her time and training now devoted to the backrow, her game will really expand as she’s had a solid club season for 1W 17-1.
Gianna Feld – Milwaukee Sting 17-Black – Kettle Moraine Lutheran – Libero
Major breakout player this year with a coming out party at the state tournament, being the big time defender KML needed in the postseason leading the Chargers to a runner-up finish. She is on the rise, mostly recently when I saw her play libero at MEQ where she was rock solid in serve receive.
Olivia Dir – Wisconsin Juniors 17-1 – Union Grove – Outside Hitter/DS
Dir has such a solid all around game where she can defend and swing with the best of them. Union Grove will definitely be a team to watch this upcoming season with Dir and Wheeling Jesuit commit, Karlee Lois setting.
Jacqueline Smith – Wisconsin Ice 18 National – Northland Pines – Outside Hitter
Smith is developing into a really physical presence at the net with a high contact point and a terminal swing. Seeing her play at The Showcase in the Dells was just one example of how much strength she has developed attacking and in her all around game in the past year.
Sydney Paulson – Milwaukee Sting 17 Black – West Bend West – Right Side
There is just something different about defending a dynamic left handed player. Paulson was definitely a dynamic athlete who can score from the right side with a swift left handed swing, she has been a solid go to for Milwaukee Sting 17 Black.
Brooke Clement – Howard-Suamico Inferno – Bay Port – Outside Hitter
Clement is totally a hidden gem who doesn’t play for a national club, but is one of the best athletes in Northeast Wisconsin. She has been a go to six rotation outside for Bay Port the past two years and will be a major force in the FRCC this upcoming season.
Ashley Sharkus – VC United 171 Elite – Oconomowoc – Libero
Sharkus has been playing her club ball in Rockford, Illinois for VC United with high school teammate Tayler Alden. A solid and consistent player in the backrow, she will be part of a trio of defenders for Ocon with Tahya Pozorski and Caitlyn Crawford who will be the best in the state.
Hope Sholten – One Wisconsin 17 National – Sheboygan North – Libero
Sholten definitely brings a spark to the court and will be relied upon to command the backrow this fall for Sheboygan North with the graduation of Dru Kuck. Sholten is a high intensity, high caliber athlete who is constant communicator.
Josie Salzman – Milwaukee Sting 17 White – Arrowhead – Outside Hitter/DS
Salzman can play on the pin or hold down the backrow. She is extremely athletic and gritty which makes a solid combination. She was an outside for an Arrowhead team who made it to the state tournament last year and will be gearing up for a return trip in 2019.
Maggie Lawrynk – Wisconsin Ice – SPASH – Setter
Lawrynk was one of the setters for SPASH who racked up 30 wins last high school season. She was also one of the setters who stood out at the Prep Dig Top 250 in December. Lawrynk will be looking to lead SPASH back to one of the top teams in their conference in 2019.
Claire Chier – One Wisconsin 17-1 – Lourdes Academy – Right Side
At 6’3 and the ability to set, Chier has a tool box full of ways she can help her team from her strong block, swing, and if needed can set. She will be heading into her Senior year with already having two trips to the state title game her Freshman and Sophomore season.
Katie Pogodzinski – Royal 17-1 – Pius XI – Middle Blocker
Pogodzinski is one of the goto players for Royal 17-1 where she can play in the middle or the right side. She will be heading into her Senior season at Pius looking to continue to build off her career so far with a still high ceiling of ability to keep developing into a strong player.
Gabby Garcia – Revolution 17-1 – Lake Country Lutheran – Middle Blocker
Garcia was a big part of the state championship team from Lake Country Lutheran this past high school season. A strong middle blocker who can get from pin to pin as well as a high IQ finding the open spot on the court.
Lauren Richards – One Wisconsin 17-1 – Appleton West – Middle Blocker
Quick hops, quick snap, Richards is fast twitch all the way. She has been able to play a little bit of everything in the front row, but this past season, the middle has been the spot where can terminate the most. The combination of her and Taylor Birr on 1W 17-1 has been a solid go to connection where Richards can pound it on the ten foot line.
Natalie Dulmes – Milwaukee Sting 17-Silver – Sheboygan North – Libero/DS
Dulmes will be teaming up with Sholten in the backrow for Sheboygan North this fall. With losses of a talented Senior Class, the cupboard is far from bare at North with the return of Dulmes, Sholten, and 2021 pin Lizzie Binder the Golden Raiders might be a FRCC sleeper.
Mckenna Hall – Epic 17 Black – Westosha Central – Outside Hitter/DS
Hall is really athletic and so versatile where she can contribute to her team as a pin hitter or could very easily be a libero for most teams as well. She was most recently named to the Nike Presidents Day All Tournament Team in St. Louis.
Bekah Day – One Wisconsin 17 National – Luxemburg-Casco – Setter
Luxemburg-Casco has solidified itself as a power house program in Northeast Wisconsin with a state runner up finish in 2017 and a sectional runner-up finish behind Little Chute in 2018. Bekah Day is steady and consistent as a setter who can run the show and will continue to build on their tradition at LC.
Nicole Pozorski – MVP 17 Blue – Mukwonago
Pozorski just runs the show and can do so many positive things for her team. MVP 17 Blue has had a really strong season with plenty of finishes in Gold Brackets as well as one of the top teams in the loaded 17s division of Badger Region. Pozorski can run a fast tempo offense and even be offensive on her own.
Courtney Pearson – FC Elite 17 Navy – Kimberly – Outside Hitter
Don’t forget about Courtney Pearson. The 5’11 outside hitter from Kimberly unfortunately suffered a knee injury at the start of the basketball season, but is on track to return for the high school season. Pearson was lights out at state against Burlington with 28 kills and double digit digs as well. Her best volleyball is still ahead of her and will be back on the court with something to prove this fall, with hopes of getting Kimberly back to the state tournament for a third consecutive season.