Badger News

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BADGER REGION HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL-STAR PROGRAM

The best of the best are coming together in 2025 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 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.

Teams being offered this year include Boys U19, U17 and U15. Girls teams being offered this year are U17, U15 and U13. (See birth year age definitions at right.)

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.

This will be the first time the Region is offering a Boys U15 team that will travel the All-Star Championships. Last year, the Badger Region was the only Region to field a U15 boys team and the squad had nobody to compete against at the Des Moines event last summer.

Coaching rosters

  • Boys U19 Head: JW Kieckhefer (Carthage College)
  • Boys U19 Assistant: BJ Bryant (St. Norbert College)
  • Boys U19 Assistant: Mike Stevens (Benedictine University)
  • Boys U17 Head: Mike Endsley (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
  • Boys U17 Assistant: Curtis Madson (Concordia University Wisconsin)
  • Boys U17 Assistant: Shane Reid (Milwaukee School of Engineering)
  • Boys U15: Dylan Griffith (Edgewood College, Inferno, Middleton High School)
  • Boys U15: Cory Rabe (Milwaukee Sting, Men. Falls High School)
  • Boys U15: Dustin Stueck (Bryant & Stratton College, Milwaukee Sting)
  • Boys Team Reps: Rob and Sue Kleinschmidt
  • Girls U17 Head: Abbey Sutherland (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay)
  • Girls U17 Assistant: Amber Needham (Former University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Hometown VBC)
  • Girls U17 Assistant: Samie Riley (Wisconsin Lutheran College)
  • Girls U15 Head: Dan Dresen (UW-Parkside, Wisconsin Juniors)
  • Girls U15 Assistant: Lisa Kain (One Wisconsin)
  • Girls U15 Assistant: Kyle Krivitz (Inferno Volleyball Club)
  • Girls U13 Head: Emily Riese (Fond du Lac Fusion VBC)
  • Girls U13 Head: Maizie Wenger (Fond du Lac Fusion VBC)
  • Girls U13: Coming soon
  • Team Reps: Coming soon

Boys training dates

After tryouts, 24-30 athletes per group will be selected to two one-day training sessions in April/May. At the conclusion of the two sessions, 12 athletes per team will be chosen to attend an overnight camp in July and to represent Wisconsin at the All-Star tournament in Madison July 23-27.
The tentative boys training dates are as follows:

  • April 13 at the New Berlin SportsPlex
  • May 4 or May 17 at the New Berlin SportsPlex
  • June date (if needed)

The athletes chosen for the travel teams will come together July 15-16 at Lakeland University.

Girls training dates

Coaches will pick 24-30 athletes per age group and bring them to one-day training sessions as follows. The tentative girls training dates are as follows:

  • May 4: Training at the New Berlin SportsPlex
  • May 10: Training at the New Berlin SportsPlex
    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 10. The 12 athletes chosen for the team and a handful of alternates will come together July 15-16 for an overnight camp at Lakeland University. Costs of the training dates and overnight camp will be announced soon.

Tryout registration

Registration is now open for the Badger Region High Performance All-Star teams.

To register for tryouts, click here.

All-Star tryouts are the first step for any elite athlete interested in representing the Badger Region at the 2025 All-Star Championships taking place in Madison, Wis., this summer.

Cost of tryouts is $40 and includes an HP All-Star t-shirt. The tentative dates for tryouts are as follows:

  • Feb. 28: Tryouts for Girls U17 and U15 at the Baird Center (day before Badger Region Qualifier)
  • March 14: Tryouts for Girls U13 at the Baird Center (day before the young girls weekend at Badger Region Championships)
  • March 21: Tryouts for all boys at the Baird Center (day before the boys weekend at Badger Region Championships)
    Age definitions are as follows:
    U19: Born in 2006-07 (boys only)
    U17: Born in 2008-09
    U15: Born in 2010-11
    U13: Born in 2012-13 (girls only)
    Can’t make an in person tryout? The Badger Region will allow athletes to send in a highlight video on a case-by-case basis. Registration for tryouts is still required. Email brian@badgervolleyball.org for details on video tryouts.
    No Badger Region HP All-Star events will conflict with summer tryouts in the Badger Region in 2025.

Unique event

Every two years, the age definitions for what athletes are eligible for are updated by the FIVB – the international governing body of the sport of volleyball. These age definitions govern High Performance All Star programs across all Regions and USA Volleyball because the culminating event that takes place in late July is, in fact, an international tournament 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 All Star program for at least four (or five) years – so make sure to take advantage of this time when it’s your turn.

  • U19: Born in 2006-07 (boys only)
  • U17: Born in 2008-09
  • U15: Born in 2010-11
  • U13: Born in 2011-12 (girls only)

*Note, these are not the same age definitions as used by USA Volleyball, as the All-Star program is an international program and must follow FIVB age regulations.

Are there other divisions other than those listed above?
Yes, there are. However, due to numbers, space, costs and previous interest in other age levels, the Region elects to only enter teams in the divisions listed above.

Why are the age divisions set up like this?
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 U.S., thus making the birth-year based age definitions a more level playing field. In addition, (think Olympics) in many international competitions, 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. We do not have to qualify for the USA All-Star Championships, but the model is set up in the two-year cycles just like other international events.

If my son or daughter is no longer eligible for any of the Badger Region age divisions, what other options does he or she have?
Some of the highest-level athletes may receive invitation to the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program and participate in such events as NORCECA Championships, FIVB World Championships and other USAV-based programs. Since those programs are only for the most elite of athletes, we suggest looking into elite-level collegiate camps at schools around the country. Competing in beach and grass events will also make the athlete a much better, well-rounded player.

Madison is the site for the 2025 USA All-Star Championships? What do we know about this event?
The event starts July 23 with team check-in and practices at the Alliant Energy Expo Center and will feature four days of competition from July 24-27. There will be nine divisions of both boys and girls volleyball ages 13-19. More than 100 participating teams will come from the 40 regions of USA Volleyball along with international teams. In the past, teams from Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia and New Zealand have attended the event.
Athletes will find their own transportation to Madison and meet at the Expo Center the morning of July 23. The athletes will stay together in the Clarion Hotel (attached to the convention center) for the duration of the event. Athletes will be released to their parents the evening of July 27 at the conclusion of team competition, meetings and activities.

If an athlete makes the final roster that travels to Madison, what additional costs are there?
Final costs are still being worked on as hotel and tournament arrangements are still pending. Cost will include hotel (three to a room), a warmup shirt (to keep) as well program costs for jerseys, coaches, etc. The only other costs that athletes incur is the cost of food that they purchase at the grocery stores or at restaurants. Only a limited number of team meals are provided by the Badger Region. 

What are some other perks of being part of the Badger Region All-Star team?

  • Athletes learn the rules and procedures of international volleyball competition
  • Film study and opponent scouting using film review
  • Mental health discussions and tools shared with athletes
  • Opportunity to work with elite coaches from around the Badger Region with ties to multiple colleges and universities

Do parents have to come to the tournament?
The Badger Region staff and its coaches serve as chaperones for the event. If the parents 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 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, 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?

  • The libero CANNOT serve. The libero is designated for the match
  • Substitutions are limited (A team only gets six subs per set — except for the Girls U13 division)
  • If the ball hits the ceiling it is out.
  • Only the head coach can stand.
  • We play best 3 out of 5 sets. Usually, two matches per day are played.
  • There is a technical timeout when the first team reaches 13 if a timeout isn’t called prior to that. Teams must wait outside the court until they are brought back into the court by the R2.
  • Simultaneous contact by two players counts as two hits.

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

It is vital that some athletes be accomplished utility players. 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.