What Emoji Best Represents These Badger Region Teams?
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I’ll often make some jokes on maybe some creative or possibly outlandish articles I could write. Why not emojis? However, I guess that is the safer article than “What Netflix series best represents your club team?” Lets see, I could…
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Continue ReadingI’ll often make some jokes on maybe some creative or possibly outlandish articles I could write. Why not emojis? However, I guess that is the safer article than “What Netflix series best represents your club team?” Lets see, I could see this team being “Stranger Things”, but this team really represents Ozark (yea, that wouldn’t fly). But throughout this season and even watching these athletes over the past two years they do represent these emoji’s. Maybe not all the time, but for the moment you can’t help but describe them with one icon.
Wisconsin Juniors 18-1
This team always seems a little scary to me, making other teams “Weary” or “Flushed”. They’ve had some bad losses, but they’ve also had some big wins and are always a threat in any match. Katrina Leber is so tough to stop off one foot and Karlee Lois Karlee Lois 5'7" | S Union Grove | 2020 State WI has been the quarterback of this group with her ability to slice, dice, and dish being able to score on the second contact or dish to one of their big time point scorers in Madeline Haines Madeline Haines 6'1" | OH Indian Trail | 2020 State WI , Olivia Dir Olivia Dir 5'9" | OH Union Grove | 2020 State WI , and Emily Alan Emily Alan 6'0" | MB Burlington | 2020 State WI .
Wisconsin Ice 18 National
This team has just quietly put together a really strong season, just playing it “Cool”. They have performed well in all of their tournaments including the Winter Classic where they took home the top hardware as well as a strong performance at the Showcase in the Dells. Jacqueline Smith Jacqueline Smith 5'11" | OH Northland Piines | 2020 State WI is the best small town/small school player in the state from the Eagle River area “Up North” as a standout for Northland Pines High School. She is a major pick up for NCAA D2 Northern Michigan.
Milwaukee Sting 15 Gold
This team has the balance, the offensive weapons, the rock solid defense, and the physicality to compete with some of the best around. They give you the “starry” eyes because there isn’t a glaring weakness, it’s impressive. Again, their balance stands out, but Zoe Behrendt Zoe Behrendt 5'11" | S Whitefish Bay | 2023 State #113 Nation WI really run the show. Grace Grocholski is going to be a major standout from either win and watching Lily Wagner Lily Wagner 5'11" | OH Germantown | 2023 State #118 Nation WI on the pin, she is so smooth yet puts such a hurt on the ball.
FC Elite 18 Elite
They are young, kind of goofy, but incredibly fun combination of athletes, and playing with a lot of confidence which is scary. Heading into the season, there were a lot of question marks and unknowns about this group. 8 of the 10 athletes were all underclassmen. The talent was there, but what would the learning curve be like for these underclassmen against the best of the best. Brooke Mosher Brooke Mosher 5'11" | S Waterloo | 2021 State WI has emerged as one of the top all around players in the region where she can do some special things as a setter, but even as an attacker she is scoring points against everyone. Thie group won the JVA Showcase with big wins against Kokoro 18-1, Fusion 18 Red, and VC United.
Milwaukee Sting 18 Gold
This has been quite the year for this group. They are still one of the best in the country, but have had some tough breaks, but yet some huge wins against top California squads in Coast and Apex while winning the championship for Bluegrass that included defeating KIVA twice. Plenty of athletes going to big time programs, including Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year, Aubrey Hamilton Aubrey Hamilton 6'0" | OH Arrowhead | 2020 State WI , this team has collectively accomplished so much individually and as a group that will translate to their college careers.
Madison United 16 Red
Wow. This team is full of firepower from athletes you probably haven’t heard of yet – key word “YET”. This team has been tearing up the Badger Region Power League as well as other tournaments around the region with a ton of athleticism. Aida Shadewald is soaring on the radar of up and coming Class of 2022 outside hitters with her ability to score points on the pin in multiple ways. Middle Mckenzie Gruner can jump and touch a basketball rim out of the middle and her upside is way up there. These athletes are building a lot of momentum into their high school seasons.
MVP 17 Blue and FC Elite 15 Navy
These teams are still a little bit scary to me. They are looking for the big, signature win, or tournament where they really make a statement (which any tournament at this point would be GREAT). MVP has the makings with Katelyn Lefler Katelyn Lefler 5'11" | S Sussex Hamilton | 2021 State WI , the Illinois State commit that can do it all as well as Kayla Lewinski Kayla Lewinski 5'10" | RS Sussex Hamilton | 2021 State WI who is such a steal from the Class of 2021. FC Elite 15 Navy might be the longest team at their age group with a group of six foot plus athletes and one of the top up and coming liberos in the Class of 2023 in Paige Miller.
Wisconsin Premier 16 Teal
Do not sleep on this team. They snagged a bid to USAV Nationals in Dallas by finishing second at the Badger Region Qualifier which included a big win over FC Elite 16 Navy. Stella Zarling Stella Zarling 5'9" | OH Kettle Moraine Lutheran | 2022 State WI is a big point scorer on the pin while Gabriela Magee holds down the middle as an electric leaper who can score points anywhere on the court. Elise Gillen is just real smooth with how she can distribute to multiple hitters, always keeping it cool.
Capital 18 – Adidas
You can’t help but celebrate with this team. They smile, they have fun, they celebrate, it makes volleyball fun to watch. I’ve seen this team compete since they were 15 and 16 years old and they’ve never lost that spark where they made volleyball look fun (because it is). At Northern Lights Qualifier they won their last match of Friday against Six Pack out of Iowa by sheer enthusiasm (Six Pack is now a USAV 18 Open Team). The pictures just say it all.