Marathon Summer League: Tournament Preview and Matchups
It’s officially August and the questions are all on who will step it up for the 2019 High School season. Every team is bound to have comparable goals, but who will still be playing in November? Two teams from the…
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Continue ReadingIt’s officially August and the questions are all on who will step it up for the 2019 High School season. Every team is bound to have comparable goals, but who will still be playing in November? Two teams from the Marathon summer league played at the Resch in 2018 and they are currently the #3 and #5 seeds for the final single elimination after losing only 3 matches collectively. It’s safe to say this is a very competitive league in central Wisconsin and a great time to preview some of central Wisconsin’s toughest teams.
The best part is getting to see those that were just teammates in club a few months ago now competing across the net from one another. This could also be our first peek at some new players trying to break into the varsity ranks. At Prep Dig, we strive to provide the best local coverage for volleyball no matter the season. The league consists of 21 teams that have completed 7 weeks of pool play getting to play about half of the participating teams at Marathon High School. Here’s a look at some of the top teams in the league.
#10 Kelly Page#1 Merrill – Don’t sleep on Merrill this season. They may have graduated a handful of all-conference players and a couple headed to play for UW-Stevens Point this fall, but they still have a lot of gritty competitive players left. The Blue Jays will be led by Reese Mrachek (2020 – 5’9 – Middle Blocker) and Kelly Page (2021 – 5’5 – Setter). Page played her club season with Wisconsin Ice which helped develop each player on the 2018 Wisconsin Valley Conference 1st Team. Her Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple teammate Rachel Travis (2021 – 5’5 – Defensive Specialist) will look to take on the prestigious Libero position while fellow Ice player Ellie Hartson (2020 – 5’9 – Setter – Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple) may get her shot to show off her front row skills. Keep an eye out for Merrill to make a push in the Wisconsin Valley Conference and now in Division 1 since they’ve officially made the move.
#2 Abbotsford – Jayda Friedenfels (2020 – Outside Hitter – Central Wisconsin 18 Black) will lead this team as a Senior year. The Falcons will also have Alyssa Beran (2020 – 5’10 – Pin Hitter), Courtney Bittner (2021 – 5’2 – Libero), Ava Decker (2021), and Jayden Faltiesek (2020 – Setter). They lost a trio of highly productive 2019’s but they have quite a solid group of returners to make a run for the Marawood North title.
Brooklyn Montgomery#3 Mosinee Purple – Mosinee had a roster loaded with senior talent and experience in 2018 that led them to an appearance at the Resch. They will be looking to replace some key positions in 2019 but have a few key returners including Paige Wicklund (2020 – 5’8 – Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter – Wisconsin Ice 17 Purple) along with fellow Senior, Aurora Krause (2020 – 5’10 – Middle Blocker/Right Side Hitter). Brooklyn Montgomery (2021 – 5’6 – Outside Hitter – Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple) will be entering her Junior year and 3rd season on the varsity squad. Fellow junior, Emily Wicklund (2021 – 5’6 – Pin Hitter) brings a fast arm swing and will be looking to fill some of the big shoes of the 2019 class. The pieces will come together as Mosinee always fields a tough squad to face a tough Great Northern Conference that prepares them for tough October playoff matches.
#4 Wausau West – West had an outstanding 2018 season and is looking for another as the entire Wisconsin Valley Conference graduates all but 3 players from their All-Conference teams. West was close to earning a conference championship but was edged out by SPASH, but they will certainly be looking for another chance at the title. Three returners will lead the warriors including Grace Michalske (2021 – 5’7 – Setter), Robyn Kirsch (2021 – 5’7 – Outside Hitter – Wisconsin Ice 16 Purple), and Jenna Rusch (2020 – Defensive Specialist – MVP). The Warriors also have Senior Anna Cunningham (2020 – Middle Blocker), who saw significant playing time in 2018 along with Madelyn Hauer (2021 – Middle Blocker). Their first match of the league tournament will be against Stratford Orange and could possibly meet up with Stratford Black who will be looking to replace Marawood South Player of the year, Mazie Nagel.
McKenna Krall#5 Stratford Black – Stratford went into the 2018 State Championship match undefeated before falling in 5 sets to a tough Lake Country Lutheran squad. Stratford graduated a solid Senior crew and will have just a couple heavily contributing players returning including McKenna Krall (2020 – 5’4 – Libero – Central Wisconsin 18 Black) and Lauryn Nagel (2021- 5’10 – Middle Blocker) to lead the Tigers.
Jacqueline Smith
#9 Northland Pines – Pines is entering its final season with the Great Northern Conference’s Player of the Year, Jacqueline Smith (2020 –5’11 – Outside Hitter – Wisconsin Ice 18 National – Committed To Northern Michigan). Samantha Huelskamp (2022 – 5’3 – Outside Hitter/Setter), and Lily Bontrager (2021 – Defensive Specialist) are all returning to make a push for conference title. Smith has already made her verbal commitment to play at Northern Michigan following high school. Pines will also have some gaps to fill after graduating 4 key pieces but will still be returning athletic middle Mckenzie Parnewicz (2021 – Middle Blocker) who will be entering her Junior year.
First Round Matches To Watch
#16 Edgar vs. #17 Northland Lutheran Blue
This is a preview to their match on September 3rd. Mikayla Obsuszt (2020) of Northland Lutheran is looking to have a breakout senior season and Bailey Imhoff (2020 – 5’9 – Setter/Outside Hitter – MVP 18s) of Edgar will be a key playmaker.
Taylor Pagel#8 Wausau East vs #9 Northland Pines
Two teams from two different conferences. This will be a fun match-up between two future NCAA Division 2 players. There will be a fun exchange of firepower between Northland Pine’s Jacqueline Smith (2020 – Committed To Northern Michigan) and Wausau East’s Taylor Pagel (2020 – Committed To Winona State).