Mid-Season Check In: Class of 2021 Stand Out Athletes
One of my favorite age groups to watch is 16’s. It is a year of big growth for players as both athletes and leaders. The game speeds up and by mid-season, some teams have developed so much their team is…
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Continue ReadingOne of my favorite age groups to watch is 16’s. It is a year of big growth for players as both athletes and leaders. The game speeds up and by mid-season, some teams have developed so much their team is hardly recognizable. The class of 2021 is incredibly talented and a wide variety of teams are having a lot of success. From FC Elite 16 Navy winning the JVA Jamboree to Milwaukee Sting 16 White winning the Nike President’s Day tournament (with Sting 16 Black, Motion 16 Blue, and Penguins 16 Black all making it into the gold division) and Sting 16 Gold placing 3rd in the Open Division of the Mideast Qualifier, this age group has been impressive across the board and across the country.
The depth of talent at this age level is truly incredible and now that we have reached mid-season, there has been some consistent stand out players. None of the players listed are committed to playing in college yet, though all of them would be a great addition to any college team.
Katie Winkler – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold – Right Side – Prep Dig Rank #4
I first had the opportunity to see Katie play at the state tournament. I have continued to be impressed with Katie throughout the club season as well. Her ability to impact the game as a right side is amazing. Katie is a smart and powerful lefty who can pound a ball consistently and puts up a massive block.
Brooke Bolwerk – FC Elite 16 Navy – Setter – Prep Dig Rank #15
Brooke can make any set look easy from anywhere on the court. She is a smart setter who sees the court extremely well. Brooke sets a fast pace for the game and is a great leader on this already very talented team. She runs a fast offense, is talented on defense, and has a powerful serve. Brooke is a great all-around player who pays attention to all of the little details.
Abby Gardner – Midwest Penguins 16 Black – Libero – Prep Dig Rank #28
Abby is a scrappy libero who has definitely grown as a leader in the past year. She has always been a talented passer, but her development as a leader on the court has taken her game to the next level. Her speed and strong court awareness make her a dynamic libero.
Payton Addink – Capital 16 Adidas – Outside Hitter – Prep Dig Rank #10
Payton is a highly talented outside hitter who is fast in transition and has a killer line shot. She runs great plays with her team and puts up a massive block. She is also talented on defense and serve receive. Payton’s consistency is amazing and makes her a very impactful player.
Cora Behnke – FC Elite 16 Navy – Outside Hitter – Prep Dig Rank #5
Cora is a 6-rotation outside for FC Elite. She is fast yet controlled, powerful yet smart. She excels on defense and is extremely consistent on serve receive. When she is in the front row she is an effective blocker and powerful hitter. Cora trusts her teammates and looks very fluid on the court.
Tatum Catalano – Milwaukee Sting 16 Black – Pin Hitter – Prep Dig Rank #14
Tatum is talented on both the outside and the right side. Her ability to play both at a high level makes her a valuable asset to any team. She brings a great intensity to the court and always works to improve both herself and her team.
Lindsay Krnarich – Milwaukee Sting 16 White – Middle Hitter – Prep Dig Rank #69
Lindsay has definitely had a break out season this year. She won MVP of the premier division at the Nike President’s Day Classic in Saint Louis and it was very well deserved. She is a dynamic middle with a lot of potential.
Rylie Gregg – Midwest Penguins 16 Black – Right Side – Prep Dig Rank #68
Rylie is a powerful hitter with a fast but controlled arm swing. She knows how to make a play and is smart with the ball. Every time Rylie steps on the court she has a positive impact for her team. Rylie made team camp for Badger Region High Performance.
Morgan Yenter – Milwaukee Sting 16 Gold – Setter – Prep Dig Rank #16
Morgan’s ability to move the ball around is unparalleled. She runs a fast offense even on the toughest plays and knows exactly where her hitter are at all times. She orchestrates plays and keeps the court moving well. Morgan has great ball control and is truly an amazing setter.
Each of these athletes is smart, talented, and has really stood out as making an impact so far this season. As I said above, the talent at this level is incredible, so this list could go on for a while, but these nine athletes really have had great seasons so far. It will be great to see them continue to grow through the remainder of the club season and throughout high school as well.