The first part of the 2024-2025 season has come to an end and it is a great time to reflect and highlight the women of the Central Region and the growth we have seen this year. It is really exciting to see these talented individuals in action and where they might be as players come the end of this season! To see some of their highlights check out the link from the Pioneer Classic (more to come) Below we will take a look at each individual and how they contribute to their teams!
Kaitlynn Moore-University of Wisconsin Eau Claire– While still relatively new to dodgeball, Kaitlynn has found playing in the NCDA to be fun. She’s still finding her specialty on the court, but she is showing signs of being a quality catcher. Her positivity shows on the court, even in less-than-ideal situations.
–Written by Matt Polum (Eau Claire)
Cleo Moen-University of Wisconsin Eau Claire– This is Cleo’s second year as a member of UW-Eau Claire’s dodgeball club. Her ability as a catcher contributed greatly to her nomination as the September Women’s Rookie of the Month. While new to competitive dodgeball, she has settled into the heightened level skill of the NCDA and is making the most of it.
–Written by Matt Polum (Eau Claire)
Rose Laux-University of Wisconsin Stout-Rose is our club president. On the court she is one of our biggest communicators and does a lot of blocking for her teammates. Off the court she communicates with our advisor and makes sure paperwork is submitted on time. She also keeps team morale high which is why she won our team impact award last season. We wish her a good final semester before graduation.
–Written by Jacob Sebranek (Stout)
Zoe Olson-University of Wisconsin Stout-Zoe is our head captain. She is one of our biggest and loudest communicators on the court. She likes to throw and is our most aggressive player. Zoe is only a sophomore and is already a talented player with plenty of room for improvement. Off the court she likes to watch our games and suggest room for improvement in practices and games.
–Written by Jacob Sebranek (Stout)
Nora Danaher- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign-Nora is a senior and our most experienced women’s player. She has always been a crucial part of the team on and off the court with a positive attitude at practice and tournaments alike. Nora has been a great leader for other female members of the team, making sure each girl feels welcome when they show up to practice. This not only helps expand our overall skill set, but also makes for a better environment. It goes without saying that there would be a something missing without Nora playing dodgeball at Illinois.
–Written by Charles Cardenas (Illinois)
Naila Kudla- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign-Although it has only been one semester for this freshman, Naila has really improved her dodgeball game. When she first showed up to practice, she seemed uneasy about the whole sport but was ready to try it out. Now, she’s not afraid to stand up to some of the best players at UIUC. At her first tournament, Naila had incredible highlights and stats in both the pinch and women’s match. It was in the women’s match where she really got to shine. Her developed skills really showed in the women’s match, where her accuracy, catching, and overall play style made her one of the best on the court. Our team is really excited to see what Naila can do in the next few years.
–Written by Charles Cardenas (Illinois)
Kenzie Prauner–University of Nebraska Lincoln– I was impressed with her skill last year as she gave us trouble throughout our games at both the Pioneer Classic and Cornhusker Clash. She is a talented catcher and this year she has effectively figured out her pinch and has now added another element to her game. Kenzie is someone you have to watch out for as she can throw a cross when you least expect it. It will be fun to see how she continues to grow over the season and next few years.
–Written by Erik Zander
Abigail Nelson–University of Nebraska Lincoln– Abigail is a player that is not afraid of anything and loves a challenge. She is a team player and is willing to do anything to help her team out. For example, going for the center balls at the start of points every time knowing she could get out. As a player, she has no problem sacrificing her body to go for the catch and has made some impressive ones. She has a drive to get better and I expect to see her skills and talent grow as she plays and builds her confidence even more.
–Written by Erik Zander
Kate Douglas– University of Wisconsin Platteville-Kate Douglas is a great teammate, both on and off of the court. She is very supportive of her teammates, encouraging their skills and passions and often helps out her fellow teammates to help them improve their own skill sets during practices. She has worked very hard to improve her skills on the court, and excels at being a support player during games with her blocking, ball retrieval, and communication both on the court as well as on the sideline. She also works diligently in her role as content writer for the club, working to write pieces for the club while also attending practice, skill and study sessions, and team events. As a board member, she works to help improve the club in whatever way she is able to.
Hollie Wheeler– University of Wisconsin Platteville– Hollie has put in a lot of effort both on and off the court as a board member and player. She has recruited a lot of new players, which is helping to grow our women’s team. Hollie is a great level headed player and communicates effectively on the court. As a player, she is consistently placing herself in the right spot for a catch and is one of the best catchers on the squad. Overall, Hollie brings a lot of value to the team and is a great player that has her teammates respect and trust on the court.
–Written by Dylan Fabry (Platteville)
Alison Draxler– University of Wisconsin Platteville-At the start of the season, Alison was uncertain and lacked confidence, but as the season progressed, she has steadily built both her self-assurance and skills. Using her skills she instinctively knows where to position herself on the court. No matter the challenge, she faces it with determination and a strong mindset, handling every situation head-on. In No-Sting matches, she continues to position herself for success on court and communicates effectively with her teammates.
–Written by Nicholas Stocks (Platteville)
Reagan Bucholtz– University of Wisconsin Platteville-After recovering from an early-season injury, Reagan has made remarkable progress. While healing, she consistently attended practice, using that time to observe and learn, ensuring that when she returned to the court, her skills remained on par with her teammates. Always eager to contribute, she is constantly in pursuit of a ball and pushing forward with the team. In the women’s league, Reagan has called plays but also helps lead the charge.
–Written by Nicholas Stocks (Platteville)
Victoria Sanborn– University of Wisconsin Platteville– Tori is a standout rookie on the dodgeball team, gaining recognition for her natural leadership and unwavering commitment. Despite being new to the team, she has tons of confidence, even when up against stronger players on the court. Her blocking ability is remarkable, as she frequently blocks throws and sets up her teammates for strong plays. Her ability to read the game and make quick decisions has made her a vital asset in women’s no-sting and pinch games.
Tori’s devotion is unmatched, both offensively and defensively. She approaches each practice with the same attitude as she does during a game. Her concentration and ability to inspire others around her have solidified her status as a vital player and emerging leader. Tori’s presence on the court, whether she’s play calling or going for a block, is seen and respected by her teammates.
–Written by Eric Sullivan (Platteville)
Thoughts-This has been an awesome semester watching all these individuals grow and continue to get better at the game! They know that the season is just getting started and they are only going to get better if they keep putting the hard work in. If you didn’t get to see these talented individuals in action you can watch a few of their no-sting games at the following links below. Make sure you subscribe so you can watch their games live in the future!