Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA has helped her team the past few years find great success. Though she maybe committed to Louisville for volleyball, she is someone that knows her role on the basketball court and she has a lot of success in that role. Petersen dominants near the hoop. Her mixture of size, athleticism, and balance help her beat every matchup that she has come across this season. She understands what the best form attack is each contest, depending on who they are playing and she is very good at executing her game plan. Like I said, Petersen will be with the Cardinals for her collegiate career on the volleyball court but she is going to be one of her DNH team’s most important pieces come Playoff time. If she can continue to exploit her matchups and the guards around her step up like they usually do, this group has nothing to worry about moving forward.

Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA was/is the inner presence for the Dike-New Hartford Wolverines this season, leading them to an overall 25-1 record and state championship. Petersen, a University of Louisville volleyball commit, just doesn’t quit on the inside. She rebounds, finishes, and just overpowers most of her opponents in the paint. If she has anyone line up across from her on defense that is her same size/height then its going to be a long game for them as she is a lot stronger and craftier then most think.  Throughout this past week both the Petersen sisters made a lasting impact in each game, leading to several victories and eventual state championship. All season long you hear about these two sisters and this dominate program but until you see it up close and personal, it’s tough to imagine. Their length, speed, and size accompanied be their game strategy gives them just an unfair advantage against most other programs in the state. Something they will hope to repeat again next season as they will attempt to defend their 2A state title in 23-24′.

Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA has returned this season in the same form as last but maybe even better if that’s possible. The athletic forward has been EATING on the glass this season for the Wolverines. In their first 24 games she is averaging 16 PPG on 56% shooting while grabbing 10.1 RPG. It’s important to point out that when it comes to her rebounding numbers she is basically splitting rebounds 50/50 – offensive/defense. This alone shows how many more offensive opportunites her team has because of her hard work on the boards. Just like last year during this time I expect Petersen to work hard and leave it all on the floor for her team. She is a real gamer so I’m not worried one bit about that.

It’s hard to say that this team is just one star but if I absolutely had to break it down and name their most impactful player, it’s Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA . Petersen entered this season as one of the better forwards in the state after putting together an extremely impressive year for her sophomore campaign. Well she came back and did the same things again, leading to her own personal success and her teams overall success. She is their difference maker, plain and simple. She is currently averaging a double/double at 16.1 PPG and 10.5 RPG throughout their 22 games played thus far. I expect her to keep up this same production and consistent play up until the state tournament. I think there, a team will have some players who can matchup with her size and athleticism, but not many. If you look in the only game they lost this season, the opposing teams best player was a post, if that isn’t the case going forward then I really like the Wolverines chance in whatever contest they compete in.

Payton Petersen Payton Petersen 5'10" | C Dike-New Hartford | 2024 State IA has been the life-force of the DNH Wolverines team going into break and showing a lot of promise to start of her junior season. Petersen, a versatile and lengthy forward, has been a big difference maker in the middle thus far this year. She is averaging 17 PPG on 57.9% shooting and 10.8 RPG while being a shot altering presence in the lane on the defensive side of the ball. Over this next season and a half I anticipate for Petersen to receive more and more interest as her size and skill level is very intriguing on the next level. She has a good enough head on her shoulders and possesses the ability to move around and play a guard position on a consistent basis at the next level.