Thankful and Grateful- Top 250 Athletes Find Comfort On Court
“We can’t practice.”
“There’s nowhere for us to go.”
Things we say now. For some of these athletes who got a chance to play at the Wisconsin Top 250 at Milwaukee Sting, it was an outlet, a relief, a chance for them to get to do what they love. They are more than happy to wake up at odd hours or drive long distances to have a chance to do what they love when they might not be able to in their backyard. For some, they haven’t been back to their high school since the beginning of March, others just had their gyms shutdown by the state, and some don’t even know the next time they will get to train let alone compete.
A few highlights of a successful day at the @PrepDigWI Top 250 at @stingvb1988 pic.twitter.com/O5MgYK3cY7
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 23, 2020
We had athletes from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin in the gym and the energy came right long with it. Not even a mask could hide the excitement and enthusiasm these athletes were showing.
Aside from the excitement, was just an overall huge pool of talent. I knew a lot of the names coming into this event, I knew what they were bringing. Once you have athletes in the same shirts, a mask on, I’ll be honest it’s hard to see who they are so their actual play really stands out. So many new names I was able to write down. We’re all hoping for a chance to have a club season. I told the athletes that if they were playing Saturday, that meant they were safe and healthy. Sometimes that’s all we have at the moment. Take advantage of the opportunity in front of you and they sure did. Here are a few take aways from a day that provided all the feels for teenage athletes just doing what they love to do.
Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI to Bella Van Lannen Bella Van Lannen 6'0" | RS Appleton North | 2022 State WI – both 2022’s will be a deadly combo for @FCEliteVB 17 Navy this winter pic.twitter.com/LddjFO39wb
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
Out of State Athletes Make Major Statement
Right away even watching them warm up by played “Queens” Rachel Rossman stood out. Great feet, quick to the ball, solid release and was instantly connecting with players around her. Rossman is a 2022 setter, playing for Epic in the Chicagoland area, but is from Crown Point, Indiana.
Lot of defense going on in “Dog House Queens” Kaitlin Jordan Kaitlin Jordan MB Waunakee | 2022 State WI of @WaunakeeVball @CapitalVbAll with the big swing to end it pic.twitter.com/mEHYEueXQL
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
Chicago Elite brought up athletes from their area where Illinois is currently shutdown when it comes to gyms. They competed. Every position. Kiya Levy Kiya Levy 6'0" | MB St. Ignatius College Prep | 2022 State IL out of the middle was really making solid contact where it just sounded different when she would strike the ball. Saniya Spalding was the same with how she could run any tempo and was deadly with her ability to adjust to whatever came her way. Lily Bechina Lily Bechina 5'11" | S Jones College Prep | 2022 State IL , a 5’11 setter for Chicago Elite showed that she can dish and even be a presence at the net. One of my favorite moments was seeing Lily Boland of Loyola Academy pop a hard swing up with her hands out of middle back in hand to hand combat (a game between two sides where if you use your hands on the first contact you get three contacts, but if you use your platform you only get two). This was one of my highlights seeing her steal the show and being a prime example of how to keep the ball alive with your hands whenever possible.
Talking to these athletes after the showcase, they were so grateful to play. They are hungry, they just want to play, and they have what it takes to go to the next level.
Ava Schabes was one of the best setters in the gym from the Class of 2023. Great release, soft hands, and moves so well around the court. She will play for 1st Alliance. Another powerhouse player out of the middle came from Sky High in Tricia Kennedy who also preps at Cary-Grove, a strong high school program in the North Metro area.
There was also a strong crew from the Quad Cities in Iowa. Olivia Cotton, who will play for Iowa Select and amd Pleasant Valley High School can flat out jump out of the gym and will be a fun Class of 2024 athlete to keep tabs on.
These two setters are some of the best in 2023 with Zoe Behrendt Zoe Behrendt 5'11" | S Whitefish Bay | 2023 State #113 Nation WI and Sophia Schneider Sophia Schneider 5'10" | S Waterloo | 2023 State WI pic.twitter.com/ozXEK1mvv6
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
Elite Setters
A showcase for volleyball can be a little tricky. The success of the attackers ultimately depends on the first two contacts and we definitely had that in both sessions on Saturday. In Session 1 you have the likes of Claire Ammeraal Claire Ammeraal 6'0" | S Madison LaFollette | 2022 State #179 Nation WI of Madison LaFollette/Capital where she is 5’11 left handed, super athletic, and always plays with a smile and positive intangibles. She can put a set on the money then go into the hitting line and hammer away. Emma Johnson Emma Johnson 5'10" | S Luxemburg-Casco | 2022 State WI of Luxemburg-Casco and FC Elite is rising extremely fast on the Class of 2022 radar. She is a prime example of what happens when you dedicate yourself to the craft. I didn’t know who she was a Freshman and now she’s going to be a top 20 prospect out of the Class of 2022. Sydney Lewellin Sydney Lewellin S Lake Mills | 2022 State WI was doing what she always does and just being super gritty whether it was “Queens”, a drill, or a 6 v 6 game like situation. She’s the type of athlete you need on the court. Katie Gund Katie Gund 5'11" | S Pewaukee | 2022 State WI is another 2022 setter to keep on the radar as she continues to improve and always put her attackers in the right position. Another 2022 setter thats a name to mark is Elise Gillen Elise Gillen 5'9" | S Slinger | 2022 State WI of Slinger/Wisconsin Premier. She makes it look easy. Setting a slide was on the money every time. As far as the up and comers from the Sophomore and Freshman class you have to put Zoe Behrendt Zoe Behrendt 5'11" | S Whitefish Bay | 2023 State #113 Nation WI , Sophia Schneider Sophia Schneider 5'10" | S Waterloo | 2023 State WI , and Lilly Wagner at the top. They move so well, all around athletes, and for setters you have to be able to command the court and for these athletes it comes to natural for them.
Ava Schabes out of @1stAllianceVBC is one of the best setters in the gym today! So impressed pic.twitter.com/Jmf0TegnGt
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
Communication
Playing with new players can be tough. There is different terminology for how everyone calls their sets, who covers what zone, and what kind of defense to rotate with. But these athletes were constantly talking, pointing, and doing what they could to work together. To me that shows the exceptional coaching they’ve had throughout their high school and club training. Alia Schlimgen is a 2022 libero who really stood out with how she could establish a solid platform and put a pass on the money. Other 2022’s such as Taylor Larson Taylor Larson 5'6" | OH Menomonee Falls | 2022 State WI and Ellie Kline were working extremely well in serve receive. In session two, you had the likes of Elayna Christensen Elayna Christensen 5'10" | DS/L Freedom | 2023 State WI , Myakel Kapalko Myakel Kapalko 6'0" | OH Notre Dame | 2023 State WI , Paige Miller Paige Miller 5'10" | DS/L Kaukauna | 2023 State WI , and Kyleigh Coghlan Kyleigh Coghlan 5'6" | DS/L Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI not only showing what they can do with their passing ability, but just working with their teammates.
Great pass, great swing in split court Kyleigh Coghlan Kyleigh Coghlan 5'6" | DS/L Kettle Moraine | 2023 State WI and Jorey Buwalda pic.twitter.com/CqlCWH3Jbr
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
Momentum Heading Into The Club Season
An event like this always provides momentum heading into the club season. There is a sense of caution heading into the season, especially an eerie deja vu where for some of these athletes the last time they were all together as a club was when the pandemic started everything shutdown. What this Saturday showed and what the past 6-8 months is the resilience of these athletes. They have found ways to improve through all the curveballs thrown their way. As always, we’re rooting for you and can’t wait to get back in the gym again getting to tell the story of athletes getting to do what they love.
More names to know early in session two. These are all 2023 athletes.
158 – Kya Gahiji Kya Gahiji 5'8" | OH Sheboygan North | 2023 State WI
205 – Molly Rohde Molly Rohde 5'11" | MB Hortonville | 2023 State WI
119 – Madelyn Agen Madelyn Agen 5'9" | S Kaukauna | 2023 WI
150 – Rylee Duessler Rylee Duessler 5'9" | OH Waterloo | 2023 State WI
164 – Kylie Hanson Kylie Hanson 5'8" | OH Luxemburg-Casco | 2023 State WI
159 – Elena Dragani Elena Dragani S Catholic Memorial | 2023 State WI pic.twitter.com/cQzv90P2MZ— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) November 21, 2020
What’s Next?
Prep Dig will be having their next expo at The Volleyball Academy, a beautiful eight court facility in La Vista (Omaha suburb). We have a strong lineup of top athletes in Nebraska and with Iowa limiting youth spots, we have gotten some top Iowa athletes as well. This morning we had our first registrations from Minnesota and Illinois to come play in Omaha. The Prep Dig Top 250 is open to all athletes from any state looking to play at the next level!