By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
For the last four years, Burlington High School’s Ciara Capezio, Morganne Longoria and Kaysie Shebeneck have found a way to drive the Demons.
As freshmen, they were key contributors on the team’s first state trip since 1997. As sophomores, they helped Burlington repeat that trip.
And as juniors and seniors, the three helped BHS reach the pinnacle of Wisconsin High School sports – a WIAA state title.
All three have signed NCAA Division 1 full athletic scholarships, and the three are now the 2012 All-Area Co-Players of the Years.
It’s no surprise that the three helped Burlington to back-to-back state titles – their talent and the talent of the other players on the squad both years earned acclaim throughout the state.
But after winning as juniors, there was just a little bit of pressure, perhaps.
“We had a bunch of pressure,” said Capezio, a Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association first-team All-State outside hitter headed to Iowa State. “Good pressure. We knew we could do it.”
Longoria, a All-State first-team libero who is headed to Valparaiso, added, “It was definitely intense. We had to prove to ourselves that we could.”
Shebeneck, the first-team All-State setter headed to Texas A&M, might have been the only one not feeling pressure – but only because of the talent around her.
“I didn’t feel a lot of pressure because of the talent level that filled the team,” said Shebeneck. “The freshmen, sophomores, and junior stepped up to improve the team’s skills, while the seniors knew what it would take to defend our title.”
The numbers those three put up certainly showed the seniors knew their responsibilities – and how to accomplish them.
Capezio, who had always been a hard hitter but prone to hitting out of bounds, stepped her game up to a new level. She finished the season with 569 kills and hit .324, plus had 227 digs. At state, she tied a Division 1 state record for most kills in a four-set match (37) in the state semifinals.
She also hit .363 at the state tournament with 84 total kills.
“While she always has had the ability to make the big play, she did this with an increased maturity and consistently this season,” said co-head coach Teri Leach.
Longoria, meanwhile, turned into the passer maybe every team in the state wanted. One area coach said, of the three seniors, Longoria was her MVP. The senior finished with 362 digs, but also had 64 aces in spite of missing time with a back issue.
“Morganne was the leader of our back row,” said Leach. “She set the tone for expectations and always plays the game with 100 percent effort.”
It seems fitting that the three seniors each played a roll – the passer, the setter and the hitter. As the setter, Shebeneck finished with 1,080 assists, plus added 207 digs as well. She had 79 solo blocks, and 100 kills – down from last year only because BHS ran primarily a one-setter offense.
“She showed an increased maturity in her decision making and ability to manage the court,” Leach said. “She worked hard to include all members of the team which allowed her teammates to contribute in all situations. Her block was as imposing as ever, consistently helping our defense and slowing down opposing outside hitters.”
The three leave a legacy behind at BHS that will be hard to top. After all, no other BHS class has ever had three D1 signees.
“Being a part of the Burlington High School legacy is incredible,” said Shebeneck. “I have met so many wonderful people, and I like to think that the success of our team is a way to give back to the community for its support to the program.”
Profiles on the rest of the All-Area team:
First team
Maggie Smith, senior, Catholic Central High School: The emotional heart of the CCHS squad, Smith also put together an athletic performance good enough to earn her All-State third-team honors, and All-Tournament honors at state.
Smith had 489 kills, 71 service aces, 41 solo blocks and 55 block assists, but also 407 digs in her first full season in the back row.
“Asking a middle blocker to play all six rotations is a huge challenge but Maggie accepted this challenge and exceeded my expectations,” said CCHS coach Mae-Mae Oberhofer.
Quinn Spieker, freshman, Burlington High School: A member of the Wisconsin Juniors U-14 national championship team, Spieker came in and filled a hole for the Demons, hitting outside with Capezio in the back row.
She finished the season with 301 kills, 164 digs and a .321 hitting percentage. Spieker was named to the All-State third team as well.
“Quinn stepped in her first varsity season with the consistency of an upperclassmen,” Leach said. “Made large contributions both in the front-row offensively and back row with her ball control.”
Megan Wadsworth, junior, Catholic Central High School: Making the switch from outside hitter to middle this season, Wadsworth stepped up to provide the other facet of offense the Lady ‘Toppers needed in addition to Smith.
“I knew this would be a challenge for Megan,” said Oberhofer. “A challenge which she accepted and knocked out of the park.”
Wadsworth finished with 395 kills and 391 digs, 57 solo blocks and 60 block assists. She earned All-Tournament honors at state as well.
Kylie Wilks, freshman, Union Grove Union High School: One of four players from the Wisconsin Juniors U-14 national championship team – all of whom made this team – Wilks made sure that she followed in the footsteps of her older sisters Katie and Jo.
“As a program we are fortunate to not only have talented players, but we are more fortunate to have talented players that are willing to do anything to help make the entire program/team together,” said coach Sara Busalacchi.
Wilks lead the Broncos with 346 kills, and hit .418 for the season. She also had 46 service aces and 169 digs.
Second team
Kelly Gould, senior, Catholic Central High School: Gould’s solidity at the setter position provided to be invaluable to the Lady Toppers.
“Kelly has every quality you want in a setter,” Oberhofer said. “She is unselfish, competitive, athletic, smart, and mentally tough.”
Gould finished the year with 938 assists, 88 aces and 290 digs. She was an All-Tournament selection at state.
Phoebe Hozeska, freshman, Burlington High School: Hozeska and Ali Rueter – another second-team pick – rounded out the players on that Juniors U-14 team.
Hozeska had 173 kills and 63 block kills for BHS.
“Phoebe brought an athletic presence in the middle,” Leach said. “Her speed made it very hard for teams to defend her.”
Savannah Kohlhagen, sophomore, Union Grove Union High School: Kohlhagen was second on the Broncos’ squad with kills at 316m but she also had 206 digs to pace Union Grove.
“I am looking forward to being able to coach Savannah and Kylie for two and three more years,” Busalacchi said.
Ashley Olsen, senior, Union Grove Union High School: An outside hitter for the Broncos, Olsen was a big part of the team’s offense with 214 kills.
“I am really sad to lose Ashley as she was a key player,” said Busalacchi.
Bekah Raebel, junior, Waterford Union High School: Raebel led the Wolverines this season on the court, posting 331 total kills, 262 digs and 96 blocks.
“Bekah was an asset for team and we look forward to her return in the fall season. ,” said Waterford assistant Christina Hoppe. “On and off the court, Bekah is a hard worker and overall a really great kid.”
Ali Rueter, freshman, Burlington High School: Rueter had something of a thankless job for the Demons, playing the No. 2 setter behind Shebeneck and also the right-side hitter.
She finished the season with 82 kills, 35 block kills, 56 digs and 127 assists.
“She delivered strong kills from the right side of the court which gave us some balance between our strong left side attack,” said Leach.
Ali Wiemer, senior, Catholic Central High School: Wiemer stepped into the libero position left open by graduation, and proved to be a solid player for the Lady Toppers.
“Her maturity and leadership in the back row this past season was amazing and kept the team anchored,” Oberhofer said.
Wiemer had 462 digs to pace Catholic Central.
Honorable mention
Talyn Lewis (fr.), Sarra Webb (so.) and Robyn Robers (so.), Burlington High School; Brittany Martin, senior, Catholic Central High School; Elyssa Hochevar, senior, Waterford Union High School; Rachael Peterson, senior, Union Grove Union High School
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