Players to Watch: Classic 8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll look at southeast Wisconsin and the Classic 8 Conference. Last season, three teams made it to sectionals, and Kettle Moraine won the conference outright and the Division 1 State Championship at the Resch Center. This season, loads of seniors are gone from last year, and new talents will show what they can do, let's highlight a few key figures this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156050' first='Grace' last='Grocholski']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future West Virginia Mountaineer was the most dominant player at last season's state tournament. I'll never forget her 34-point and nine rebound performance to lead the Lasers to the state title. What the rising senior can do inside and out is remarkable, and even though she's 5-foot-10, she can dominate in the paint. This season, the Lasers have all the tools to get to the Resch Center again. If the Lasers make it back to the state title game, watch how Grocholski affects the game when she's on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='206579' first='Bella' last='Samz']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Samz and the Arrowhead Warhawks were one game away from playing in the Resch Center last season. This season, the Warhawks will look much different, new coach, new rotational player, and new starters. Everything seems new, but Samz will be the barometer of this season. The rising senior can shoot, defend, create, and set the tempo. Her senior leadership will be indispensable for this young Warhawks team this season. Since they lost talented seniors, some may count them out, but I wouldn't be so sure with Samz still around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='374232' first='Jenna' last='Welsch']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Catholic Memorial forward lost the last chunk of her season due to multiple injuries, but Welch is a talented 2025 who'll be entrusted with more responsibility this season. Welch is a wing that makes hay around the basket. She attacks the basket with a purpose and isn't afraid to initiate contact and get to the free-throw line. Her aggressiveness will be a weapon for the Crusaders' season, and if they continue to compete in the conference, Welch will be the reason why they stay in the top half of the Classic 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209907' first='Nevaeh' last='Thompson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waukesha West went on an eight-game winning streak after beating Kettle Moraine on the road, and that was down to what Thompson did on the interior. The Wolverines seemed to figure out how to maximize their offense through her and went on a tear. Thompson is a unique wing/forward who scores in the post but usually gets the ball on the perimeter. Her strength and balance help her get the basket in different ways and finish in traffic. If the Wolverines stay in the top tier of teams in Division 2, Thompson will have to continue her play from the second half of last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->