Written by John Tawa
Thursday, 08 January 2009
Pennsylvania hitter Mackenzie Kleespies is one of 15 vying for national freshman of the year
Here are the 15 finalists for 2008 National HIGH SCHOOL Freshman of the Year.
Before we reveal the finalists, here’s a little bit about the process: Beginning in September and continuing through last month, I asked coaches across the country to nominate worthy candidates and to supply statistics and a narrative in support.
The requirements were steep: to be considered, a top freshman had to make a “massive” impact on her high school team. "Massive" is a subjective term, but at a minimum required that she be a varsity starter and have stats that were among the team's best. Playing on a team that won a state title, advanced far in the state tournament and/or was nationally ranked was also helpful.
I received more than 150 nominations, from which the 15 finalists were selected. THIS WAS ANOTHER TERRIFIC YEAR FOR FRESHMEN. You could add 10 more names to the list below and suffer very little drop off in quality. Look for those names and others when the Frosh 59 is released later this month.
I want to stress that the recognition is based on HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT in 2008, not future collegiate success. Inclusion here makes you one of the top 15 freshmen in the country, in our estimation, for high school impact. No more, no less.
Soon, we will release the finalists for the Andi Collins Award to the nation’s top senior setter and Schelde National Senior, National Junior and National Sophomore of the Year. Once the finalists are out, I will again solicit input from coaches across the country about who the top player in each class should be. Ultimately, however, I will make the call. I take the process of selecting the winner very seriously. Winners will be announced by January 30.
National Freshman of the Year candidates
Morgan Bergren, 5-11 S, Delta (Muncie, Indiana) – A club hitter, Bergren had never set competitively before the fall season yet helped set the Eagles to a state 3A title. Described as a “gamer,” the highly competitive Bergren grew in the position all season long and by the end of the year played with the poise and control of someone much older. An All County and All Conference performer, Bergren led Delta in assists with more than 1,000. She also led in aces and was second to senior superstar Darcy Dorton in digs.
Madison Bugg, 5-11 OH, Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh, North Carolina) – A natural setter, Bugg was needed at outside hitter in 2008 and made the transition expertly, becoming the first freshman in the school’s storied history to amass more than 200 kills and 200 digs in the same season. Her 254 kills led the team while her ace total (9
is the fourth highest single-season mark all time for the Crusaders. An All Conference selection, Bugg and Gibbons were 29-0 before losing to West Henderson in the state 2A final.Jordan Burgess, 6-0 OH, Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Florida) – Described by legendary coach Randy Dagostino as the best natural passer he has ever coached, Burgess was a force offensively and defensively for the state runner-up Bucs, one of the nation’s most talented young teams. The First Team All County selection led Berkeley in kills with 336 (for a 27-3 team) while adding 283 digs and 41 aces.
Megan Courtney, 6-1 S/RS, Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) – Alter has produced great collegiate stars like Carrie DeMange and Ali Hausfeld, who led the Knights to back to back state titles in 2002 and 2003, but Alter coach Tina Jasinowski says unabashedly that Courtney will be the best player in school history before she’s through (“She already is the best athlete we’ve ever had play for us,” Jasinowski added). Courtney hit some in a 6-2, but most of the year she set a 5-1 that sent Alter to the championship match in Division II. First Team All District and First Team All GGCL, Courtney led the 21-8 Knights in assists with 710 and was third on the team in digs (250), blocks (82) and kills (132). Courtney was so good at the state tournament that one college assistant remarked that she was the best player in the Division II field. High praise indeed!
Litsa Darby, 5-8 S, Ashley Hall (Charleston, South Carolina) – The setter on the best team in the state of South Carolina, Darby played every point of every match for Ashley Hall, which culminated in a state SCISA 3A title, and she ran the team with the poise and skill of a veteran. First Team All State, All Low Country and a member of two all tournament teams, Darbby amassed more than 1,000 assists in 47 matches in 2008. “Her intensity on the court, her enthusiasm, the way she kept her cool in tight game situations and her leadership puts her above any other freshman that I have seen in the state,” said a rival coach.
Megan Gilbert, 6-0 MB, Tripoli (Iowa) – A very quick middle blocker with tremendous lateral agility, Gilbert led unranked Tripoli back to the spotlight in 2008 with a surprising state title in Class 1A. A strong blocker and threat from antenna to antenna, Gilbert emerged as Tripoli’s go-to player as the season progressed. A great athlete, Gilbert averaged 3.1 kills, 0.8 blocks and 0.6 digs per game in 2008 and was a First Team All State and all state tournament selection.
McKenzie Hart, 5-8 OH, Langdon (North Dakota) – Hart had 15 kills, 23 digs and four aces as Langdon outlasted Dickinson Trinity to win its third Class B title in six years. The freshman, who was promoted to varsity as an eighth grader and played a supporting role in Langdon’s third place finish in 2007, was a prime time performer this season. The All District and all state tournament team performer finished the year with 381 kills, 486 digs and 95 aces while also serving as a primary passer. Very strong and explosive for her age, Hart is good in all phases. “All season long she proved to be a clutch performer for our team,” said coach Rich Olson. “Her passing and defensive numbers rank number one for her age level in our program’s history.”
Brittany Howard, 6-2 OH, Mountain View (California) – First Team All League, Second Team All Area and named Freshman of the Year by the San Jose Mercury-News, Howard averaged four kills per set for one of NorCal’s top teams. She is a good blocker, passer and defender. Her jump serves and back row attacks helped her score in all six rotations. “In addition to her impact with her passing and hitting, she also made a huge impact on our team chemistry,” said coach Jason Trip. “She is a team player and gets her team excited to compete. She is focused and driven, and she makes her teammates better.”
Mackenzie Kleespies, 5-9 OH, Avon Grove (West Grove, Pennsylvania) – One of only two freshmen named to the Pennsylvania All-State team, Kleespies put up huge numbers for a team that finished tied for third in the state AAA tournament. In 42 matches, Kleespies totaled 441 kills (3.8 per set), 276 digs and a school record 89 aces. Said one rival coach: “She is a lot more than numbers. She is contagious! She elevates those who play on the court with her. She is a non stop energy source that revels in the accomplishments of every teammate and expresses this passion with exuberance that is on display to all sighted people as well as the hearing because she communicates this joy. She just cannot contain her passion for the game, for the competition and you can posit that she hopes that play never ends. And she makes it look easy. She personifies the opinion that ‘Great art conceals art.’”
Haley Lawless, 6-2 OH, Seton Catholic (Scottsdale, Arizona) – Lawless teamed with senior Molly Barlow to form a devastating hitting tandem that took Seton Catholic to the state title in Division 4A-II and a national top 100 ranking. Named First Team All State 4A, Lawless averaged 5.65 kills per set (458 total) while also contributing 203 digs and 132 aces. She passed and played defense out of middle back, was a force at the net blocking when needed and scored points front row and back for the state champs.
Paulina Prieto, 6-2 MB, Palmer Trinity (Miami, Florida) – A varsity performer for three years, Prieto is physically mature for a high school freshman and uses her powerhouse frame to impose her will on opposing defenses. A front row player only at this point, the Puerto Rican native had more than 300 kills and 125 blocks for the Class 2A runners up. Named second team all state a year ago as an eighth grader, this All Dade County performer will undoubtedly be a First Team All State selection when the teams are announced later this month.
Matalee Reed, 6-1 MB, Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas) – Named Texas Newcomer of the Year by LoneStarVolleyball.com as well as All-City and All-Area Newcomer of the Year by the Dallas Morning News, Reed stepped into a starting role for Lake Highlands at the start of the year and was a key cog in the Wildcats’ run to the 5A Final Four. Demonstrating a mature game, Reed totaled 272 kills, 78 blocks, 95 digs and 53 aces in 2008. “She is a hard worker and has a great attitude,” said coach Cory Williams. “I’m looking forward to seeing what she does in the future.”
Lauren Sieckmann, 5-9 S/RS, Marian (Omaha, Nebraska) – Playing on one of the state’s best teams, Sieckmann made an immediate impact as a freshman for the Crusaders. She led the team in assists, was one of three players with more than 200 kills and was second in digs and aces. For her efforts, this do-it-all type of player was named Second Team All Super State and Third Team All Super State by the Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal-Star, respectively.
Rebecca Strehlow, 5-11 S/RS, Wilson (Long Beach, California) - After leading her Long Beach Mizuno team to the Junior Olympic 14 Open title during the summer, Strehlow stepped into the starting lineup for the Bruins in the fall and helped guide Wilson to a perennial spot in the national top 25. A smart player and great athlete, Strehlow amassed 547 assists, 133 kills, 50 aces and 207 digs for a 28-4 team. “The fact is, most freshmen do not stand up to the challenge of suddenly playing with AND against much older, more experienced players,” said Wilson coach Susan Pescar. “They become cautious, fearful and nervous -- and their game simply falls apart. Many freshmen often feel out of place and downright intimidated! Not Rebecca Strehlow! Rebecca thrived and loved every minute of playing with and against some of the most talented players in the country -- almost all much older than she was!! As talented as she is now, can you just imagine what she will be like next year and the years to follow?”
Shelby Workman, 6-0 RS/S, Bishop Miege (Shawnee Mission, Kansas) – Workman took over the right side for graduated Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year Kathleen Ludwig and played like a Ludwig clone, leading the Stags to the 5A title in 2008. She finished the year with 315 kills, 100 more than anyone else on the team, while adding 81 blocks, 156 digs and strong serve-receive passing to the cause. She was First Team All State 5A, the only freshman so recognized, and a member of the all state tournament team.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 January 2009 )
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