Get to Know the Thunderbolts

The Thunderbolts club team is composed of a bunch of Salina area players, including a couple I had some familiarity with. At the April I & 2 MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure tournament, where I saw the team for the first time ever, I learned the program has been around for a few years. At the event this short-handed team (see featured image) arguably played harder and more together, game-in and game-out, than nearly every team I saw. Most of the girls have played together in summer for a few years and it showed. Enjoy this look at the team members.   [player_tooltip player_id='649338' first='Avery' last='Eshleman'], 6'1", C, Sacred Heart, 2024 - I anticipate, if it has not happened already, Eschelman will be drawing substantial attention. One thing you cannot teach is size and Eshleman not only is a mobile, legitimate big but she has terrific length. Eshleman also has a solid motor, playing hard on both ends. What I really like about her is she catches well in traffic. Good hands. One of a few "I cannot believe I did not know about her" who will be joining the next rankings refresh. Eshleman earned first team North Central Activities Association honors.   [player_tooltip player_id='265125' first='Madelyn' last='Harris'], 5'5", PG, Southeast of Saline, 2024 - Harris was not at the event but she is a player I have been keen on for three years now. A three-time North Central Activities Association first team selection, she is tough on both ends of the floor. I last saw her in December on the live feed of the Trojans win over Hillsboro. A single play typified the nature of her game, scoring on Hillsboro's [player_tooltip player_id='231274' first='Zaylee' last='Werth'] with a turnaround jumper. Harris can bury the three ball quickly off the catch and play the scorer working around the hoop. She is also a terrific passer. Barring injury, Harris is a lock to repeat as first team.   [player_tooltip player_id='649341' first='Dakota' last='Kattenberg'], 5'7", CG, Smith Center, 2024 - Second leading scorer for the Redmen this past season. Knocking down 50% of her field goal attempts and 65% of her 97 free throw attempts, she averaged 13.2 points per game. She also pulled down 8.8 rebounds, gathered 2.2 steals, and dished out 4.5 assists. Kattenberg also finished with a 1.34 assists-to-turnovers ratio. She was selected to the Mid-Continent League second team.   [player_tooltip player_id='649342' first='Gracie' last='Kirchhoff'], 5'5", PG, Smith Center, 2024 - I really like what Kirchhoff brings to the table. She transitions both ways with speed and pushes tempo well off the outlet. Kirchhoff creates well in the half court and boxes very well on the perimeter. The Redmen's third leading scorer, she averaged 10.5 points per game shooting with a field goal percentage of 50% and free throw percentage of 61%. Kirchhoff also tallied 4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. She was selected Mid-Continent League honorable mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='649344' first='Maci' last='McClure'], 5'7", CG, Minneapolis, 2024 - McClure transitions both ways well and with speed. She plays hard and defends with physicality. It is very uncommon to see a player who works her wing area well away from the ball. McClure smartly looks for opportunities that drop when her defender pays turns their head and body just enough to lose track of her. She was the only sophomore select to the North Central Activities Association first team.   [player_tooltip player_id='649346' first='Azbey' last='Peckham'], 5'6", CG, Salina Central, 2024 - Peckham finally got to step into the spotlight this past season due to the graduation of a strong senior class, that sent two players to NCAA D I programs, and the other starter to a out of state move. I saw her in the Mustangs' opening night road loss when the team showed talent but had not found an identity yet. Peckham's strong suit is her effectiveness as a defender. She slides into interior passing lanes well and is a consistent, physical perimeter defender. Her game is still maturing. Some great things I have seen her do is use a really good step-through move to create scoring chances and, especially at the tournament, show leadership by directing traffic on offense at times. Peckham earned Arkansas Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II honorable mention, averaging 8 points, including 71% from the line, and 4.2 rebounds per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='649348' first='Peyton' last='Remus'], 5'5", SG/PG, Beloit, 2024 - Remus has been a player I have seen very intermittently over the last three years. A key player for the team over the years, she will finally join the ranks come the end of the summer. Remus was selected to the North Central Activities Association first team. Remus is not a player who typically gets sped up handling the ball. She is a quality perimeter threat and uses her quickness to create shots for her teammates. She has solid lateral quickness as well to defend on the perimeter and work on the weak side when ball reversals come and dropping to help inside.   [player_tooltip player_id='649349' first='Katherine' last='Weiss'], 5'7", CG, Sacred Heart, 2024 - A North Central Activities Association first team selection Weiss is a walking three point play. She has quickness working inside out of the half court offense and takes the ball strongly to the hole. Terrific free throw shooter. Play to stop the drive, Weiss shoots the three ball with range. Like the rest of her teammates Weiss defended well, played fast, and unselfishly. Unranked, expect to see her debut at the end of the summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='649177' first='Grace' last='William'], 5'11", PF, Osborne, 2025 - She earned Northern Plains League honorable mention honors following an impactful sophomore season where she helped lead her team to the 1A Division II state championship game. Averaging a double-double, she put up 10.1 points and pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game. William brings solid physical size, solid transition speed, and activeness in the paint on both ends of the floor. She put up strong 83 free throw attempts, making 58% of them.

The Thunderbolts club team is composed of a bunch of Salina area players, including a couple I had some familiarity with. At the April I & 2 MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure tournament, where I saw the team for the first time ever, I learned the program has been around for a few years. At the event this short-handed team (see featured image) arguably played harder and more together, game-in and game-out, than nearly every team I saw. Most of the girls have played together in summer for a few years and it showed. Enjoy this look at the team members.