Sectional 3 Division 1: Preview and Prediction
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Last season, Brookfield East won Sectional 3 in Division 1 and made an excellent account of themselves in the Resch Center, but came up just short of beating Appleton East. However, this year the sectional is reloaded and up for…
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Continue ReadingLast season, Brookfield East won Sectional 3 in Division 1 and made an excellent account of themselves in the Resch Center, but came up just short of beating Appleton East. However, this year the sectional is reloaded and up for grabs among four teams. Let’s meet the players in this sectional.
State Contenders
Brookfield East
The Spartans’ lost two starters from last season’s sectional champions. However, this team is talented enough to return to the Resch Center. Future Maryville Saint Annika Pluemer Annika Pluemer 5'9" | CG Brookfield East | 2023 State WI was one of the best two-way players in the greater Milwaukee area last season. Junior Shae Kelley Shae Kelley 5'9" | PG Brookfield East | 2024 State WI was the best defensive guard in Wisconsin last season. Kelley also showed improvement on the offensive end this summer. Future West Virginia volleyball player Maddy McGath is also back. However, filling the voids left by Paige Platz and Dri Alberts will be difficult but not impossible. Ava Burgher Ava Burgher 5'9" | SG Brookfield East | 2024 WI played well off the bench in short stints last season, and incoming freshman Maya Kovacic looks like she could be one of the most impactful guards in a secondary playmaking role this season. With how this previous season ended, this group feels like it has unfinished business.
Verona
With Taylor Stremlow Taylor Stremlow 5'8" | PG Verona | 2024 State WI healthy, this team can win a state title. They’ve been young for the last few seasons. Most of the Wildcats’ role players now are juniors and seniors who’ve been through the battles emotionally and physically, from getting to the state tournament in a shortened season to last season’s struggle to stay healthy. Seniors Paige Lambe Paige Lambe 6'2" | PF Verona | 2023 State WI and Megan Murphy Megan Murphy 5'6" | CG Verona | 2023 State WI are consistent performers and can be relied upon to make good decisions with the ball under pressure. Juniors Taylor Stremlow Taylor Stremlow 5'8" | PG Verona | 2024 State WI , Reagan Briggs Reagan Briggs 5'9" | SG Verona | 2024 State WI , Maia Ellis Maia Ellis 5'10" | SF Verona | 2024 State WI , and Abbi Rupnow can also bring something to the floor. After a season where it felt like they left something on the table when they lost to Waunakee in the regional title game, expect this group to make a run.
Sectional Teams
Arrowhead
The Warhawks could easily be a team that finds themselves at the Resch Center in March. The one hold-up I have is how much turnover there is with this group. They lost Alaina Harper and got a new coach and new system. Senior Bella Samz Bella Samz 5'9" | PG Arrowhead | 2023 State WI is one of the most competitive guards and has been on the cusp of getting to the state tournament on multiple occasions. Junior Taylor Thimmesch thrived in the sectional semifinal last season against Sun Prairie. Their incoming class possesses Natalie Kussow, who’s drawn plaudits from people around the midwest. I expect growing pains with this group, but if things break right for them, they are talented enough to make it to the Resch Center.
Sun Prairie West
Most of the Wolves’ team was with Sun Prairie East last season. Marie Outlay Marie Outlay 5'9" | CG Sun Prairie | 2023 State WI , Antionique Auston Antionique Auston 5'8" | CG Sun Prarie | 2023 State WI , and Avree Antony Avree Antony 5'10" | SG Sun Prarie | 2023 State WI are all with this group. I thought the Cardinals left a lot on the table offensively this previous season and were too slow for the athletes they had on that team. I trust coach McLin to get the most out of this group as she got the most out of last year’s group at Madison East while missing a season due to covid shutdowns in Madison. This team may not be close to 100% until the postseason starts. Avree Antony Avree Antony 5'10" | SG Sun Prarie | 2023 State WI will likely not play until January at the earliest, and even then, I won’t expect her to be anywhere near herself for a while. However, coach McLin with this group will be an intriguing team to watch this season.
Frisky Regional Teams
Madison Memorial
The Spartans have a new roster and young talent galore. I think it’ll be hard for this group to unseat any of the four sectional teams I have, but they are talented, so I won’t completely count them out.
Middleton
Audrey Deptula Audrey Deptula 6'0" | CG Middleton | 2023 State WI is an outstanding shooter when she’s at her best. If there’s a night she gets going, she can give a team some headaches.
Waunakee
Waunakee lost a lot in seniors Lauren Meudt and Ashley Sawicki. The Warriors are young and could improve a ton throughout the year, but like Madison Memorial, it’ll be a big ask for them to unseat the four sectional teams who’ve been through the battles multiple times before.
My Sectional Teams
- Brookfield East
- Verona
- Arrowhead
- Sun Prairie West