Iowa Regionals: Scouting Out The 16s
This is my favorite event of the year to get to see all the Iowa teams in one facility. The energy, the enthusiasm, and having something to play for always brings a different buzz to an event. The 16s is…
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Continue ReadingThis is my favorite event of the year to get to see all the Iowa teams in one facility. The energy, the enthusiasm, and having something to play for always brings a different buzz to an event. The 16s is the first time I usually get a glimpse of all the teams and top athletes in the Class of 2022. Here are some athletes to keep tabs on this weekend in Des Moines who not only will be an impact for their team, but could have a big season next fall for their high school squads.
Ella Ramsay Ella Ramsay 6'1" | MB Moline (IL) | 2022 State IA – Iowa Rockets 16R
Iowa Rockets 16R will be heavy favorites heading into the weekend. A top four team in the National Division last year at USAV, they have an extremely fast tempo offense led by one of the best setters in the state in Kora Ruff Kora Ruff 5'9" | S Pleasant Valley | 2022 State #86 Nation IA . Macy Daufeldt Macy Daufeldt 5'10" | OH West Liberty | 2022 State #74 Nation IA , an outside hitter will be playing in her future home, committing to Drake as a Freshman. Ramsey will be a key athlete out of the middle where she can go from pin to pin blocking, but also knows how to score points in a variety of ways.
Ruff to Ramsey as Rockets keep rolling @IowaRockets #alliteration 🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓 pic.twitter.com/ZyHSpAtqoy
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) February 8, 2020
Autumn Finch – Six Pack 16U
Finch may be new to the club scene, but she has found her spot on Six Pack where she is a 6’1 middle and can be one to watch develop playing with high level competition. She will be hitting off of Morgan Brandt Morgan Brandt 6'0" | S Sumner-Fred | 2022 State IA , a Class of 2022 setter committed to Iowa State. The length and athleticism of Six Pack will be fun to watch over the course of the weekend.
Hannah Copeland – Iowa Select 16 Mizuno
[player_tooltip player_id="79247" first="Ella" last="Caffery"]The middle from Geneseo, IL just across the river is quite a force for this team who will be looking to snag a bid this weekend. Copeland is long, athletic, and moves extremely well our of the middle where she has quite a snap to put the ball down. This team has seen great success early in Tour of Iowa dates and will be looking to make a run come qualifier season as well.
Ella Caffery Ella Caffery 5'9" | S Wilton | 2022 State IA – Iowa Rockets 16R
The Class of 2022 is extremely deep, especially in Eastern Iowa where many of the Iowa Rockets players were on teams who made it to the state tournament staring as Sophomores. Ella Caffery Ella Caffery 5'9" | S Wilton | 2022 State IA was one of them along with her high school teammate Kelsey Drake Kelsey Drake 5'7" | OH Wilton | 2022 State IA who is on Iowa Rockets 16R. Caffery can hit from anywhere in the front row and is also a setter, a solid all around athlete. Another athlete similar to what Caffery can do is her club teammate Elise Mehaffy Elise Mehaffy 5'8" | S Marion | 2022 State IA who was also in the state tournament for Marion as a setter and hitter.
Meredith Bahl Meredith Bahl 5'10" | OH Western Dubuque | 2022 State IA – DBQ Elite 16 National
Kiersten Schmitt Kiersten Schmitt 6'0" | OH Beckman | 2022 State #103 Nation IA – DQ Elite 16 National
Ella Meyer Ella Meyer 5'5" | DS/L Western Dubuque | 2023 State IA – DBQ Elite 16 National (2023)
I am really excited to see these athletes come together. I was able to see Bahl and Meyer take the state tournament by storm for Western Dubuque while Schmitt did the same for Beckman where she is the type of athlete who can do plenty of things on her court to help her team. Meyer is one of the top liberos in Iowa out of the Class of 2023 and will continue to be a solid defender with a dependable first contact. Bahl is electric, she can score points from multiple angles and will be a major scoring factor this weekend.
Rylie Rock – Iowa Select 16 Black
Rock #27Rock popped onto the radar at the Tour of Iowa Showcase back in January. Extremely athletic, big jumper, big arm on the right side, Rock definitely has a physicality to her game. Iowa Select as a club has a really deep roster with strong 2022’s across the whole class. They will be in a really tough pool with top seeded Iowa Rockets 16R, but will look to take over the second seed in the pool which is occupied by CR Surge.
Lydia Imbrogno Lydia Imbrogno 5'9" | OH Wapsie Valley | 2022 State IA – Six Pack 16U
The pins for Six Pack will be key this weekend with Imbrogno and high flying Avery Beckett Avery Beckett 5'10" | OH Waverly Shell Rock | 2022 State IA . Both of these athletes were key in their high school team’s run to the state tournament, Beckett with Waverly-Shell Rock and Imbrogno with Wapsie Valley. Imbrogno is impressive in all six rotations and has a physicality to her game that is impressive. Her versatility stands out with being able to score from either pin as well as the backcourt if needed.
Emma Cross – IPVA 16 Black
I was able to see IPVA 16 Black at the Wisconsin Dells competing in the Showcase with top teams out of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota. IPVA was going toe to toe with some strong teams. Madison Geise Madison Geise 6'0" | S Roland-Story | 2022 State IA is really fun athlete to watch whether she is hitting or setting while Emma Cross is one who is on the rise with a big swing. She will be a key part of the success of IPVA, but also Des Moines Christian next fall.