Union Grove’s Wilks honored to be named conference player of the year

By Tim Wester

Sports Correspondent

The list of accomplishments keeps growing for Union Grove girls volleyball player Kylie Wilks.

The junior standout was named Southern Lakes Conference player of the year for her outstanding season with the Broncos.

Wilks, who was first team all-conference last season, helped the Broncos reach their second consecutive WIAA Sectional appearance this season.

“I definitely was very excited when I heard the news,” Wilks said. It was a pleasant surprise and I’m just really honored.”

Wilks beat out a host of talented players in the Lakes to win the award, including many from state tournament-bound Burlington.

“It’s such a competitive conference, and volleyball in Southeastern Wisconsin in general is tough,” Wilks said. “So at the end of the day, this is such a big honor.”

Player of the year is just one of many honors that Wilks has earned in her young career.

Wilks has helped lead the Broncos to three straight WIAA Division 1 Regional Championships, and a second consecutive trip to the sectional playoffs.

Her successes have helped her earn a scholarship to play volleyball at UW-Milwaukee.

This fall, she also earned third team all-state honors from the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association.

“I’ve been playing volleyball a long time and have had a lot of good memories,” Wilks said. “I’m just trying to live in the moment.”

Despite all the achievements, Wilks and the Broncos are still chasing a WIAA state tournament berth.

This season, the Broncos fell just short once again after dropping a heart-breaking five-set loss to Muskego in the sectional semifinals. Muskego has now defeated Union Grove from the playoffs four straight seasons.

“It was a tough match, but we fell just a little bit short,” Wilks said. “We started off slowly and came back in the third and fourth games, but couldn’t pull it out in the fifth game.”

Wilks added: “I was thinking many times in the huddle, don’t let them (Muskego) do it again to us. We were prepared and ready for them having played them last year, but it hurt a little more that it was Muskego that beat us, especially since they made it to the state finals.”

While the tough loss was certainly disheartening, Wilks is ready to get back in the gym and work on her game. The volleyball standout is gearing up for a seventh consecutive season playing for the Wisconsin Juniors club volleyball team.

Wilks has already earned a national championship playing for the Wisconsin Juniors 14 team just two years ago.

I’m excited to play for the Juniors again,” Wilks said. “Club season is a longer season than the high school season, so I get more time with the girls and more time to develop.”

Wilks will once again take her experiences from Juniors into next season when she has one more shot at leading the Broncos to state as a senior.

“I went back to my middle school to see my cousin play basketball and it seemed like I just left,” Wilks said. “Then I realized that it won’t be long that I have that same feeling when I go back to Union Grove High School. High school just goes so fast, so I just have to enjoy the moments as they come.”

Hopefully Wilks and the Broncos can finally enjoy the moment next year at the state tournament.