Badger News

DETAILS ANNOUNCED ABOUT THE BADGER REGION HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL-STAR PROGRAM

The best of the best are coming together in 2026 for the Badger Region High Performance All-Star program.

That means elite athletes from clubs around the state. Top coaches from colleges and clubs from around the Badger Region. And all topped with an international tournament experience not offered at any other level of junior volleyball.

And that starts with our first round of announcements having to do with tryouts, training dates and overnight camps that lead up to the culminating USA All-Star Championships in Columbus, Ohio, where Badger Region All-Star teams will compete against a full slate of other Region All-Star teams and All-Star teams from international delegations.

Tryouts

Athletes in the following age groups are eligible to try out for a spot in the Badger Region HP All-Star program in 2026.

  • U19: Boys & Girls born in 2007, 2008 & 2009
  • U17: Boys & Girls born in 2010 & 2011
  • U15: Boys & Girls born in 2012 & 2013

    Tryouts will take place on the following dates at the Baird Center in Milwaukee from 6 to 8:30 p.m.:
  • Feb. 27: Girls born in 2010-2013
  • March13: Girls born in 2007-2009
  • March 20: All boys born 2007-2013
  • Video submissions for tryouts will be considered on a case-by-case basis

    Cost of tryouts is $40 and includes a tryout t-shirt. The cost goes to pay for the shirt and the coaches who are in attendance. To register for tryouts, click here.
    From the tryouts, roughly 30 athletes in each age group will be brought in for training dates (listed below) with their respective age/gender. An age group consists of athletes born in two or three years. For example, 30 athletes are chosen in the U17 age group who are born in 2010 and 2011. That doesn’t mean 30 kids from 2006 and 2007. That means 30 kids total.

    Who should attend tryouts? The Badger Region HP All-Star program is for elite athletes who want to be considered for a spot on an international volleyball team representing the state of Wisconsin. All participants must be a current Badger Region member.

Why are age divisions set up like this?

The reason is because this is an international tournament and there are different rules for age definitions compared to what the United States uses.

Every two years, the age definitions are updated by the FIVB – the international governing body of volleyball. These age definitions govern High Performance programs across all Regions and USA Volleyball because the culminating event that takes place in late July is an international tournament, so this and therefore makes the age definitions consistent throughout the world. Therefore, the Badger Region must abide by these age definitions, which don’t allow for age waivers. Every athlete in the Badger Region is eligible for our High Performance program for at least four (or five) years – so make sure to take advantage of this time when it’s your turn.

The FIVB sets up the birth-year based age definitions. In the US, age definitions are set up mostly by “grade in school.” However, other countries do not have the same school systems as the US, thus making the birth-year based age definitions a more consistent playing field. In addition, in many international competitions (think Olympics), a team (or athlete) must qualify for an international championship in the first year of the cycle and then compete for the title in the second year of the cycle.

COACHING

Individuals chosen to coach the teams are college coaches or elite club or high school coaches from around the Badger Region and must apply and be vetted by a Badger Region committee. Coaches for 2026 include:

  • Boys born 2007-2009: JW Kieckhefer (Carthage College/MVC), BJ Bryant (St. Norbert College), Brian Rushmer (Lakeland University/Germantown H.S./MVC), Mike Stevens (Benedictine University)
  • Boys born 2010-2011: Shane Reid (MSOE), Mike Endsley (Wisconsin Lutheran College/MVC), Curtis Madson (Concordia University Wisconsin)
  • Boys born 2012-2013: Dylan Griffith (Edgewood College/Middleton H.S./Inferno), Dustin Stueck (Bryant and Stratton College/MKE Sting), Cory Rabe (MKE Sting)
  • Girls born 2007-2009: Abbey Sutherland (UW-Green Bay), Amber Dunn (Former UW-LaCrosse/Holmen VBC), Samie Riley (Wisconsin Lutheran College/VolleyHouse)
  • Girls born 2010-2011: Leigh Barea (UW-Parkside), Lisa Kain (One Wisconsin), Kyle Krivitz (Inferno)
  • Girls born 2012-2013: Emily Riese (FDL Fusion), Maizie Wenger (FDL Fusion), Joe Banske (MVP)

Girls training dates

The 30 athletes chosen from tryouts to be a part of the girls training rosters will come together on two days in early May. Athletes must attend at least one of these two dates to be eligible for the travel teams.
The tentative girls training dates are as follows:

  • Saturday, May 2, in Sussex, Wis.
  • Saturday, May 9, in Sussex, Wis.

    The coaching staff will narrow down their group of 30 to the 12 athletes who will be offered spots on the travel team after the May 11 training date. The 12 athletes chosen for the team, along with selected and a handful of alternates, will come together an overnight camp at Lakeland University in mid- July. More information to come on the dates.

    Costs of the training dates and overnight camp are estimated to be be $125 and $325, respectively.

Boys training dates

The 30 athletes chosen to be a part of the boys training rosters will come together on two days in early May. Athletes must attend at least one of these two dates to be eligible for the travel teams.
The tentative boys training dates are as follows:

  • Sunday, May 3: in Sussex, Wis.
  • Saturday, May 16, in Sussex, Wis.

The coaching staff will narrow down their group of 30 to the 12 athletes who will be offered spots on the travel team after May 11. The 12 athletes chosen for the team, along with selected alternates, will come together an overnight camp at Lakeland University in mid- July. More information to come on the dates.

Costs of the training dates and overnight camp are estimated to be be $125 and $325, respectively.

Coaching

The Badger Region requires potential coaching candidates for its High Performance program to apply through an application process before being selected to the HP staff. Many are collegiate coaches, while others are elite-level club coaches and successful high school coaches. All have successfully passed a USA Volleyball background screen, have a minimum of IMPACT coaching certification and have SafeSport training.

How can other coaches get involved in the Badger Region’s HP program?

Coaches can contact Program Director Brian Sharkey (brian@badgervolleyball.org/414-313-9055). Coaches are needed for all training sessions and camps. Others are also needed for being evaluators and facilitators at High Performance tryouts. All coaches are paid as independent contractors for their time and participation at High Performance events.

All-Star Championships

The USA-All-Star Championships will be held July 23-26 in Columbus, Ohio. The Badger Region delegation will depart the afternoon of July 21, have a practice day on July 22 and return as soon as possible on July 27. Cost of the trip to Ohio is an estimated $650.

The Badger Region staff and its coaches serve as chaperones for the event. If parents/guardians attend the All-Star Championships, they are allowed to take their son or daughter back home (or to another destination) at the conclusion of the tournament, after giving written permission. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend the event, but are asked to understand that the teams will be doing things as a group, so there are minimal, if any, chances to have “family time.”

This experience differs greatly from a traditional club tournament where players go with their family when the team isn’t playing. During the All-Star Championship, it isn’t a vacation. It is expected that the team remains together, much like a college volleyball program, preparing for matches and taking care of themselves with sleep, hydration and food. There may be opportunities for parents to help coordinate team meals or a few events or outings, but that would be for the entire group at a time determined by the coaches.

Different Rule Sets

The USA All-Star Championships serves as an opportunity for athletes to play under international rule sets, and allows referees training to become international officials the opportunity to officiate under such rules.

What are some of the key rule differences?

  1. The libero CANNOT serve. The libero is designated for the match
  2. Substitutions are limited (6 unlimited)
  3. Players not in the match must be in the warm-up box or seated on the bench.
  4. If the ball hits the ceiling it is out.
  5. Only the head coach can stand.
  6. We play best 3 out of 5 sets. Usually, two matches per day are played.
  7. Simultaneous contact by two players counts as two hits.

How does this impact athletes like those in the Badger Region High Performance program?

Because we only travel 12 players, it is vital that some athletes be accomplished utility players. For example, a middle who can hit on the right side, outsides and right sides who can hit on both pins, liberos who can be worked in as a back-up setter if needed. Outside hitters need to play all six rotations due to the lack of substitutions allowed in international events. All of these are considerations our coaches must look at when building their final rosters. Also, because of the program goals and the limited substitutions, there will not be equal playing time. Playing time will be earned by attitude, skill and what the coaches believe is best for the team at that moment.

Badger Region HP All-Star PHILOSOPHIES

Not familiar with High Performance? Here’s just a few of the great perks:

  • Expose athletes to high-level college (NCAA and NAIA) recruiters who attend the international tournament.
  • Offer a college-like sports experience where athletes learn what it is like to be an elite-level athlete.
  • Be a part of independent travel experience led by highly- qualified Badger Region staff and HP Coaches.
  • Gain exposure to elite level coaching provided by the Midwest’s highest level club and college coaches.
  • Compete and train alongside other all-star caliber athletes from around the Badger Region.
  • Play against other all-star teams from around the country and the world.
    Many Badger Region HP All-Star athletes have gone on to have success at the collegiate level, and have credited the Badger Region program with helping to prepare them for the rigors of the next level. We would love to answer any questions that you may have, so please contact Brian Sharkey at brian@badgervolleyball.org.

Have questions? Email brian@badgervolleyball.org or call/text 414-313-9055.