We celebrate the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season by recognizing and congratulating the individual players who put in the effort to make it to the All Central Region team. The teams that make up the central region are the following: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, University of Iowa, and University of Wisconsin-Stout. The players that make this team are voted in by their peers, and thank you to those who helped make this post possible. Let’s take a look at what they have to say.
Samuel Lavender – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Where do I even start with Sam, or better known to our entire team as Beef. Sam is the last player on our team that was able to play with the 2023 team that shocked the dodgeball world on day 1 of nationals. Watching him grow as a player has been incredibly rewarding, as not only was I able to play with him when he was a freshman, but I have also been able to coach him over the last three years. He is absolutely deserving of the number one spot on this list even though he is not going to get the most amount of kills or catches in a match. He is nothing if not consistent when it comes to his play on the dodgeball court. Sam has been a pillar of our dodgeball team the past few years, and we owe a lot of our recent success to him stepping up and being a leader for our team.
Written by Coach Tre Sumrall (Nebraska)
Malakai Shriner-Horne – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
I have had the pleasure of watching Malaki grow as not only a dodgeball player, but also as a person over the past three years. Malaki started out as a quiet guy from middle of nowhere nebraska that had a cannon of an arm but no real idea of how to play dodgeball. Since then I have watched him mold into a leader of this team that makes the correct choices when under pressure. He is one of the most talented players on the court at any given moment. Going in to next year I would not hesitate to put him as either #1 or #2 on the All Central list, and even maybe on an All American list.
Written by Coach Tre Sumrall (Nebraska)
Alejandro Alanis-Montes – University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne
Alejandro is a force to be reckoned with on the court. Not only does he have an incredible arm, but he is also an amazing catcher. This makes him hard to get out and very efficient in getting kills. Coupled with his extremely high game sense, Alejandro is a player you can’t take for granted, as one mistake will cost you greatly in a game.
Written by Ehis Eromosele (Illinois)
Dylan Fabry – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Dylan has worked incredibly hard this year to not only lead his team through some tragic losses in both player numbers and matches but also in the fight against big name teams at several events. His skill and on-court knowledge makes him a powerhouse for the Pioneers, and he isn’t afraid to charge in head first to support and defend his teammates. He was able to make his last season memorable by beating UIUC in the finals at Nationals this year, winning the consolation bracket for the second year in a row, and he attended women’s Nationals again this year to make sure the women’s team felt supported in their hard work.
Written by Kate Douglas (Platteville)
Art Provost IV – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Art had quite an unfortunate ending to what started as an absolute crazy season this last year. Art started off the year with two straight tournaments having 10+ cross kills alone, and unfortunately got hurt about a month before nationals. He fought through the pain and still had an efficient overall season. While he may not be the flashiest player on our team, he is a consistent pillar of our team, as we can always to help hold down our left side. Going into next year expect to see him repeat as a player on the All Central List.
Written by Coach Tre Sumrall (Nebraska)
Ehis Eromosele – University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne
Ehis is a very dynamic player who analyzes the court with extreme precision! Ehis uses his blocks to take control on the court, being a very defensive but offensive player as well with his hard throws. His leadership and presence on the court is always shown.
Written by Aejandro Alanis-Montes (Illinois)
Jesse Stebbing – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jesse’s second year of dodgeball was somewhat an up and down roller coaster. For a while we were not sure if he would even be able to consistently make events due to his involvement in the Husker Marching Band and Pep Band, but thankfully he was able to make it to every important game that we had this year. He was undoubtedly one of the most talented rookies last year when it came to just pure ability to play dodgeball, so going into this year he really wanted to get better at his game IQ. Jesse started the year off right where he ended last year with one of the most dominant matches at the cornhusker clash. He amassed over 20 kills and 5 catches in the two matches we played against UWP. There is no doubt that next year he will make another appearance on this list, and he may even be at the top of it.
Written by Coach Tre Sumrall (Nebraska)
Brandon Gacek – University of Illinois-Urbana Champagne
Brandon has some of the best court vision in the game! Whether it’s a cross or an insane dodge, Brandon is constantly active during the game. Brandon’s leadership and persistence is something most players can look up to.
Written by Aejandro Alanis-Montes (Illinois)
Benjamin Breidenbach – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Ben is a very good asset to the team in many ways. To start, his ability to run down opponents and pinpoint throws at the feet is exceptional. Additionally, his on court communication is great, allowing for good team throws. Lastly, and most importantly, Ben has emerged as a great leader to be able encourage everyone on the team to play to the best of their ability.
Written by David Laux (Platteville)
Hollie Wheeler – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
The skills Hollie has developed in both Open and Women’s dodgeball is something to admire and be proud of. She’s shown herself to be fearless and daring against any opponent, and her confidence has led her throw and strategy to improve greatly. She hit a few road bumps over the course of the season, but her dedication to the sport has earned her the recognition from several teams and high-caliber players in the league. We hope to see her continue to grow in both the Open and Women’s divisions, and we hope to see her on the first All American team for her last season.
Written by Kate Douglas (Platteville)
David Laux – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Over the last few seasons, I have had the pleasure of seeing David develop both as a player and as a friend. From the beginning, he showed a natural talent for dodgeball, thanks in part to the foundation he built during his time with the NDA before starting his college career. But what has been even more impressive is how he has developed his voice, confidence, and leadership within our team. Over the last couple of seasons, David has stepped into a larger role, becoming someone the team consistently looks to for guidance, motivation, and confidence. His growth as a communicator and his willingness to take responsibility have played a major part in his rise to co-captain. I’m excited to continue working alongside him as captain and co-captain and to see how he pushes himself even further in the upcoming season.
Written by Ben Breidenbach (Platteville)
Eric Sullivan – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Eric has repeatedly been an outstanding role model for both his teammates and the rookies that decide to join the club. His ability to build strong, positive relationships and to break the ice with his unique sense of humor, has created a foundation of trust that is reflective of our on court communication. This allows us to stay coordinated, confident, and competitive during tournaments. As one of our best players, Eric has made a major impact through his accuracy, power, and court IQ. His leadership on the court, as well as his survivability is one of the largest reasons why our team has succeeded in the past. Beyond his athletic ability, Eric brings a level of maturity and leadership that elevates everyone around him. He sets the tone in practice, encourages newer and returning players, and leads by example with his work ethic and attitude. We’re all excited to see how he continues to grow—not just as a player, but as a leader who will shape the future of our team.
Written by Ben Breidenbach (Platteville)
