Of the 2025 class at Laconia, Engel may be the one I enjoy watching the most. The two-time state champion has stepped up when her team has needed her most, namely against Cuba City in the 2024 state title game, but even in more minimal roles, Engel has starred in her role. She’s always been willing to do some dirty work to help her team win, and she has to now as the defacto post on the floor. Engel is an inside-out threat who knows how to play off her teammates. It also helps that she’s a capable shooter who can space the floor with enough power to finish in traffic.

Engel has been a key player on a 2x state-winning team at Laconia, performing exceptionally well in her role, averaging 8.1 points per game last season. With a beautiful shooting stroke, she shot 36% from three-point range last season. Engel shows great patience, waiting for the right shot opportunity to open up, and consistently delivers in clutch moments. She has impressive range and is a dynamic presence on the court. When she starts heating up, you can count on her making shots all game long. Engel hustles and takes excellent care of the basketball which explains her significant contributions to the state-winning team. I’m looking forward to seeing how her game has developed in her senior year.

Engel isn’t the most heralded member of Laconia’s back-to-back state championship teams, but her role in those games is more crucial than you’d probably think. Engel has played prominent roles in each of Laconia’s previous three trips to the title game, but none more than last season. She shot three for eight from the floor, by far the best when their offense struggled, and hit two massive three-pointers. Engel was the second-leading scorer for a team in a state title win, which not many kids can say. However, her ability to rebound, run in transition, defend multiple positions, and compete with some of the top players in the state make her an intriguing kid in 2025.