River Ridge players named First Team All State
Skylar White pounds the ball past Iowa Grant at the sectional semifinal. White was named to the WVCA All State First Team in Division 4. She was also named Player of the Week for her play against Iowa Grant and Hillsboro in sectionals. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)
Taylor Langmeier (10) is shown here against Iowa Grant in the sectional semifinal. Langmeier has been named to the First Team All State in Division 4 and also to the All Tournament Team at the state tournament.
By Ted Pennekamp
Not only did the River Ridge volleyball team play in the state tournament for the first time in school history on Friday, Nov. 2, team members have been getting recognition statewide for their outstanding play.
In fact, senior Taylor Langmeier and junior Skylar White have just been selected to a very high honor indeed. The two players and good friends have each been named to the Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association (WVCA) All State First Team in Division 4.
This past weekend, 32 WVCA sectional representatives converged on the WIAA State Tournament in Green Bay to assess and discuss the hundreds of nominees for the 2018 All State teams. These awards are given for outstanding play throughout the entire season.
This year’s All State Awards Banquet will be Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at JustaGame Fieldhouse. All First Team and Second Team nominees, as well as Honorable Mentions from the senior class (Class of 2019) will receive an invitation to the event.
“This is the first year that the WVCA is naming players for each division. It was very hard to get the recognition for our girls when they used to only name 10 for the whole state across all four divisions,” said River Ridge Coach Dianne Langmeier. “Now they are naming 10 for each division. These girls were super leaders on and off the court. They worked very hard in season as well as out of season. They have both played for the Top Tier Volleyball Club based out of Prairie du Chien and Fennimore since they were in fourth grade.” Top Tier is headed up by Ruth Leitzke, Prairie du Chien Head Coach Linda Redman and Jerica Nelson.
In addition to being named to the All State First Team, Taylor was also named to the All Tournament Team following River Ridge’s appearance in the state tournament.
Also, Skylar has been named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week for her play in matches against Iowa Grant and Hillsboro in the playoffs leading up to the state tournament.
Skylar will be returning next season to help lead a Timberwolves’ program that continues to do very well.
Taylor will be attending UW-La Crosse in the fall and is majoring in education. She would like to coach volleyball in the future.
The entire River Ridge team is made up of outstanding players who meshed together very well to get the team to state and also helped Taylor and Skylar earn their recent All State honors and other top awards. Team and All Conference awards are coming up.
“I am so excited about the success this team has had. I really had hoped that the girls could one day make it to state to see the excitement and pride it brings to the community,” said Coach Langmeier. “These girls not only accomplished their dream of getting to state, they sparked new dreams for other students at River Ridge to one day reach their goals, whatever that may be. I am so proud of each and every member of this team. Their hard work and dedication has really paid off. I am very grateful to the seniors for their awesome leadership. They were great role models and I wish them all the best.”
Langmeier said she greatly appreciates the support of the River Ridge fans as well.
“We would like to thank everybody from River Ridge and the surrounding communities for their support,” she said. “We loved all the texts, emails, and signs everybody made to cheer us on from home and afar. It truly was a magical season for us!”
