Spring Preview: Wisconsin girls teams, players to watch

Here’s a look at some of the top girls high school programs and players to watch in Wisconsin during the spring season. <strong>Whitefish Bay</strong> The Lady Dukes are coming off their best season in program history. The team went 20-0 and only conceded two goals all season. Lots of key juniors return after making a mark as sophomores. All-state goalkeeper [player_tooltip player_id="28533" first="Riley" last="Franklin"] is one of them. She excels at commanding her area and using her voice. She’s also extremely versatile. [player_tooltip player_id="28472" first="Ella" last="Luna"] committed to Ole Miss last fall and also returns after posting double-digit scoring numbers. Forwards Lucia and Sophia Englund scored several goals last postseason. The twins will play larger roles up top with national player of the year Maggie Starker graduating. <strong>Kettle Moraine</strong> Lots of talented players return after a state semifinal run in 2021. Missouri commit Ella Zuchowski will lead the midfield after scoring 11 goals and dishing 13 assists last season. Junior forward Ava Kacsur was sensational as a sophomore with 22 goals to her name. Expect a handful of sophomores to break out this season. Midfielders Giana Gende and Anna Antczak are coming off season-ending injuries as freshman. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Erika Panella was an all-conference honorable mention in her first season. Expect sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id="28503" first="Eiley" last="Henderson"] to be a big contributor this season. <strong>Muskego</strong> Nowhere better to start than the addition of [player_tooltip player_id="28469" first="Anna" last="Sikorski"]. The sophomore phenom has transferred in from Divine Savior Holy Angels after leading them to a Division 1 state title. Sikorski was one of the state’s most impactful players as a freshman last season and might be the best overall prospect regardless of class in Wisconsin. The Warriors are one of the most improved teams from 2021. Senior Mady Wojcik scored 15 goals last season. Sophia Balisteri (UNI) and Hailey Grohall (UW Eau Claire), [player_tooltip player_id="42819" first="Karlie" last="Greenthal"], [player_tooltip player_id="28474" first="Maggie" last="Mattek"], and GK Ella Kratchovil all made an impact last season. Pacific commit [player_tooltip player_id="28513" first="Haley" last="Johnson"] and her sister, Ashley, have also transferred in. Her experience will be vital to a deep playoff run. Muskego will host Whitefish Bay on April 7. <strong>Divine Savior Holy Angels</strong> Losing their young superstar [player_tooltip player_id="28469" first="Anna" last="Sikorski"] was a gut-punch. But there’s still lots of optimism for the defending state champs this season. GKs [player_tooltip player_id="28521" first="Katherine" last="Nonn"] (Illinois State) and junior [player_tooltip player_id="28500" first="Daisy" last="Johnson"] create a lethal 1-2 punch in net. Two other Division I signees return in [player_tooltip player_id="28479" first="Ahnna" last="Faust"] (Providence) and Sofia Miranda (St. Thomas). Junior Jane Martin is another key returner who loves finding open spaces on the field to make her own plays. Senior Stephanie Arenal-Copto, junior Piper Duples, and sophomore Charlotte Fetherston will create a solid back line. <strong>Waukesha South</strong> A loaded senior class returns. Forward Ashlynn Skinner-Barrett (UW-Milwaukee) made her mark last spring. She’s extremely explosive up top with a high IQ for the game. Winger Kailey Kroenke also returns after an impressive junior season. UIC signee [player_tooltip player_id="30388" first="Carmella" last="Nowak"] will lead the midfield. All-conference defenders Abby Mroz and Riley Meek (junior), along with Nina Bollmus, will make a solid defense. The Blackshirts will compete with a new-look whitefish bay group in Division 2. <b>Verona</b> Only five seniors graduated last season. The program is very high on senior defender Lauren Simonett. She does an excellent job directing the back line and can be an offensive threat from the defense. Elsa Queoff, Elena Risgaard, Regan Sutter, and Jenna Albert were key contributors to last season’s success and all return. Look out for juniors Lindsay Trapino and Lillia Blum. COVID and injuries sidelined the pair during their first two seasons, but are expected to make an impact this season. Sophomores Izzy Plesac and [player_tooltip player_id="28518" first="Jordan" last="Rosenfeld"] have tons of potential.