10 Athletes, 10 Club - What 16s To Watch

We're flipping the calendar to 2025.  Let's do it.  With that, I always have to reset to what grad years are with each age group.  Today I'll be taking a look at the 16s, the Class of 2027s.  Who are players we need to know about?  Who switched clubs?  Who is going to be on the radar for college coaches when they can make those calls on June 15, 2025 to these athletes?  Here are ten athletes from ten different clubs in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.     [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] 16 Adidas out of Chicagoland will be a fun team to watch this upcoming season where they have plenty of power at the pins with one of the top outsides in the Midwest in [player_tooltip player_id='479571' first='Maggie' last='Kurpeikis']. That first contact will be so important to stay in system to allow all attackers to swing away. The commander of the backrow is [player_tooltip player_id='490072' first='Freya' last='McBride']. The 2027 libero who preps at Hersey High School is one to watch where she is efficient with her platform, she is well controlled and can make plenty of plays look routine. [program_tooltip program_id='431567' first='Adversity' last=''] has developed some high level liberos which includes Gillian Grimes who recently won a national championship at Penn State.     Note the club change! [player_tooltip player_id='493973' first='Gwen' last='Farley'] had previously played at Six Pack in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area and will now play close to home with Iowa PowerPlex 16 Brogean out of the West Des Moines Metro. Farley has plenty of physicality at the setter position and is an athlete who can get her hands to the ball anywhere on the court. She can also be offensive when the opportunity is there. This team is going to be one who could be doing some damage on open level courts with plenty of size and physicality. One of the top pins in Iowa will be on this squad as well in [player_tooltip player_id='490013' first='Logan' last='Vogt'] who one of the top three athletes in the Class of 2027.      The top setter in the Class of 2027 in Iowa, [player_tooltip player_id='489998' first='Belle' last='Seaman'], is part of a talented group leading Iowa United's first season as a club. This club based out of the Coralville/Iowa City area is putting together quite a roster, especially at the 16s level which will include the number one prospect in Iowa's Class of 2027 in [player_tooltip player_id='360642' first='Sophia' last='Austen']. Seaman is one of the more dynamic athletes you will find at this level with her ability to attack and set, she can do it all. She has positive intangibles from her on court demeanor keeping cool, calm, and collected in tight situations. There is a fun upside to her game where this will be a year for her to breakout on the national level.     We're heading up into the Northwest corner of Iowa to take a look at Elliana Hoefert who preps at Central Lyon High School and will play club for Kairos out of Sioux Falls. Kairos has been able to get some top kids out of Northwest Iowa who have gone on to very successful college careers. Hoefert has a heavy arm swing where she can find most of her kills coming from the pin. There's plenty of pop. As her backcourt game develops, she will be able to score points from everywhere. She is definitely one to keep tabs on through the 2025 club season.      I haven't seen [player_tooltip player_id='529988' first='Logan' last='Georgy'] play live since the Windy City Qualifier last spring where she was so explosive out of the middle. Based on her skill set and athleticism, she is going to have an exciting 16s campaign because she can score from anywhere. She has the potential to play on the pin, she can run all the tempos out of the middle, provides a big block, and is lethal off a one foot attack. This [program_tooltip program_id='432009' first='Sky' last='High'] squad is one to watch where they have plenty of power and scrappy ball control.      There will be plenty of college coaches who will take the baseline to see [player_tooltip player_id='530605' first='Lola' last='Robertson'] play for [program_tooltip program_id='429175' first='VC' last='United'] out of Rockford, Illinois. She is one of the top players in Northern Illinois and one of the top outsides in the Midwest who is so explosive with her ability to score points. She has a high contact point and does a great job of changing up her angles from how she approaches. There is a blend of power and finesse in her game which allows her to be successful when the entire other side of the net is scheming against her.     Kroth had a huge high school season for DePaul College Prep. Her arm swing is just different where she has a heavy swing, causing chaos on the other side of the net. She will back at it for 1st Alliance 16 Gold this upcoming club season where she will be looking to score points for this team who was an open qualifier in 2024. The key for this team as 15s was balance and will once again be the same story in 2025. Kroth will be one the other side needs to be aware of at all times.     Pankonin has always been an explosive athlete for River Falls High School and was one of the best players in the gym at the Wisconsin Top 250. She will be playing for Northern Lights out of the Twin Cities Metro this season where she is one college coaches need to have on their radar. Her ability to take over a match at any time is exciting. She is fast to the ball and is able to change up her speeds, keeping the other side off balance. Her point scoring ability travels with her to the backrow as well where she is always an outlet.     [player_tooltip player_id='485131' first='Lilliani' last='Big Eagle'] had a huge season for Freedom High School in the Appleton area where she earned All State honors as a setter. She is a true floor general who is so aware of what is going on both sides of the court. There is a different kind of savvy about her game. She will be playing for [program_tooltip program_id='428591' first='FC' last='Elite'] 16 Navy this upcoming season who will be one to see on the open courts across the qualifier season. This will be a well balanced squad with plenty of big time point scorers that college coaches will be excited to watch this 2025 season.     2027 libero [player_tooltip player_id='590014' first='Abby' last='Miller'] is coming off a monster high school season where she was the libero for Barron High School who won a D3 state title in Wisconsin. Seeing her play live in the state championship match was exciting where she clearly stood out. She covers plenty of range in serve receive and on defense while still being incredibly controlled. Her footwork is efficient and is able to pick up plenty of chaotic second balls. She is playing for Kokoro out of St. Paul, Minnesota.

We're flipping the calendar to 2025. Let's do it. With that, I always have to reset to what grad years are with each age group. Today I'll be taking a look at the 16s, the Class of 2027s. Who are players we need to know about? Who switched clubs? Who is going to be on the radar for college coaches when they can make those calls on June 15, 2025 to these athletes? Here are ten athletes from ten different clubs in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.