Recruiting Round Up: What To Watch With FC Elite 16 Navy
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FC Elite 16 Navy is off to a hot start this year where they have claimed the Badger Region 16s title, punching their ticket to the National Division at USAV come late June in Indianapolis. They will have two big…
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Continue ReadingFC Elite 16 Navy is off to a hot start this year where they have claimed the Badger Region 16s title, punching their ticket to the National Division at USAV come late June in Indianapolis. They will have two big weekends ahead of them where they will be competing in the Open Division at the Northern Lights Qualifier in Minneapolis and the Mideast Qualifier in Indy to close out a busy month. Many of these athletes have established themselves as next level players. Here is a quick guide to recruiting the FC Elite 16 Navy squad out of Appleton, WI.
Kamryn Kaminski Kamryn Kaminski 5'7" | S Howards Grove | 2024 State WI
Setter – Class of 2024
Howards Grove High School
With the 6-2 system that FC Elite runs, Kaminski is the setter who can really get those rolling from the service line with a hard flat serve. She sets the tone (pun intended). She is trained at a high level and also brings a high IQ to the game. Watching Kaminski play, she is one of the better defensive setters in the 16s game in Wisconsin. She is solid, she reads well, and knows how to use her hands to keep the ball alive. She’s already been apart of state championship teams with Howards Grove and knows how to win.
Big block by 2024 right side Madison York Madison York 6'1" | RS Manitowoc Lincoln | 2024 State WI of @FCEliteVB 16 Navy to five FC the 25-23 set win #PDResolution pic.twitter.com/mc4hpBZeIV
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 23, 2022
Madison York Madison York 6'1" | RS Manitowoc Lincoln | 2024 State WI
Right Side – Class of 2024
Manitowoc Lincoln High School
York has a real scary upside to her game. Long and athletic, York is 6’2 with a high touch. She’s a left handed force on the right side. She’s a tough matchup for the opposing attacker with how her block has a major presence. Teams also have to respect her as an offensive threat where having a ball with heavy pace coming from a lefty can be different to receive. She is one who can be an x-factor.
Big swing and kill by 2026 (yes, she’s an 8th grader) Peyton Carlson to send @FCEliteVB 16 Navy to the championship over Capital 18 Adidas #PDResolution pic.twitter.com/5tHypDy5TN
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 23, 2022
Peyton Carlson
Outside Hitter – Class of 2026
Waupaca Middle School
As one social media comment said, “Peyton Carlson still has recess”. Maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but Carlson is still an 8th grader with a whole lot of game. She teamed up with some of these athletes on 16 Navy for the Badger Region High Performance team last summer and knows how to play at a high level. Carlson played with maturity beyond her years, she takes a violent swing on the outside and can do the same out of the backrow. She’s intense, she’s performed well in big moments, and she is going to be a special one to watch throughout her prep career (which hasn’t even started yet).
@HowardsGroveSD Mallory Gozdziewski Mallory Gozdziewski 5'9" | OH Howards Grove | 2024 State WI with a big kill.
⚡23
🐅24 pic.twitter.com/cLe0Q3JwQQ— Breit Nelson (@BreitNelson) November 6, 2021
Mallory Gozdziewski Mallory Gozdziewski 5'9" | OH Howards Grove | 2024 State WI
OPP/OH/DS – Class of 2024
Howards Grove High School
Gozdziewski is the ultimate utility player for this squad. She can do a little bit of everything really well. I’ve seen her step in and play multiple positions where she finds a way to contribute and can change the momentum of the game. What this team has is a ton of depth and with an athlete like Gozdziewski, she provides depth at many of those positions. She is a major point scorer on the pin, but can also drop back in pass. All strong teams need an athlete like Gozdziewski.
Elle Kennedy Elle Kennedy 5'5" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2024 State WI
Libero/DS – Class of 2024
Howards Grove High School
Kennedy has risen to being among some of the top defenders in the Wisconsin Class of 2024. She has a very controlled platform and is extremely scrappy, she brings some grittiness to this team. Every team needs a DS who is going to pick up the garbage off a block or out of the sidelines. Kennedy was the starting libero for Howards Grove who won a D3 state title this past season and is one who can play in big moments. She momentum she is building this club season puts her as one to watch over the next two weekends.
Mattea Kiepert Mattea Kiepert 5'10" | OH Xavier | 2024 State WI
Middle Blocker – Class of 2024
Appleton Xavier High School
So smooth. Kiepert is extremely athletic, a fast twitch middle who can run quick tempos and find a variety of ways to score. She also has great court vision where she knows when to swing, tip, and what corners and angles are open. Kiepert is also a basketball player for Xavier where they won their conference. Kiepert is going to be one of those sneaky prospects where she doesn’t do anything too flashy, but she definitely knows how to be highly efficient.
Emma Nilson Emma Nilson 6'1" | MB Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024 State WI
Middle Blocker – Class of 2024
Fox Valley Lutheran High School
Nilson is a major presence out of the middle. She’s touching ten feet and is extremely active, working hard in transition to be available to attack. Her game has really evolved over the past year where she is so active. There are times where I see middles who are a defensive presence or an offensive presence, but Nilson does it all. She has great intangibles with how she connects with her teammates and is always there to make the big momentum changing play.
Annalise Patchett Annalise Patchett 6'0" | OH Fox Valley Lutheran | 2024 State WI
Outside Hitter – Class of 2024
Fox Valley Lutheran
Patchett and Nilson are high school teammates and have done quite the job teaming up for FC Elite this club season. Patchett is a high flyer on the pin and her ceiling is incredibly high. She plays fast and contacts high. Her approach touch is 10’1 and her all around game is still developing where her potential is very scary with what she is going to be able to do by the time she reaches the college ranks. Patchett is consistent with how she can score and plays with great composure and maturity. She works well with her teammates and isn’t afraid to make the big play in a key moment.
Emerson Van Lannen Emerson Van Lannen 5'10" | S Appleton North | 2024 State #144 Nation WI
Setter/Right Side – Class of 2024
Appleton North High School
Cold blooded. Van Lannen knows how to compete against top competition and knows how to tackle a challenge. She emerged as the 5-1 setter for Appleton North enroute to their D1 state runner up finish, has played setter/right side for the Badger Region HP team, and is getting better each time she touches the court. As a setter, she keeps it cool, making the different tempos look easy, and allows the game to come to her. When she heads to the front row she is a crafty attacker on the right side. She swings hard and swings smart while also being a physical blocker. She is the floor captain in every facet of the game and gets the best out of her teammates. Combine her physical attributes and intangibles and she is one to have on an early call list on June 15.
Olivia Baierl Olivia Baierl 5'8" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2024 State WI
Libero/DS – Class of 2024
Howards Grove
Versatility is the name of the game for Baierl where she is one of the top liberos of 2024 in Wisconsin, but can also head to the outside and score a lot of points as well. For 16 Navy, she’s been wearing the libero jersey along with Elle Kennedy Elle Kennedy 5'5" | DS/L Howards Grove | 2024 State WI , but with Howards Grove she is an outside hitter/defensive specialist. She’s done it all and knows how to win at a high level. This will be a huge weekend for Baierl heading to Minneapolis where she will receive plenty of tough serves, but she has succeeded in big moments before like many of these athletes for FC Elite 16 Navy.