Five players return to the second Midwest tour to Florida. /// Photo: Samira Colbert •
The High School All-Midwest Thunderbirds are returning to Florida for a two-game tour. Eckerd College will host the select side in St. Petersburg from Feb. 9-12. Click here for event information.
Formerly the U19 Midwest Thunderbirds, the program renamed itself to accurately reflect the age grade it represents. The majority of tour-goers were selected from the July tryout camp, which saw 45 players attend.
[Read more about the Thunderbirds’ boost in popularity.]
Of the 22 players named to the touring squad, two are now unable to travel due to injury and the Girls High School All-American West camp occurring in Casa Grande, Ariz. Returning to the squad are five players who helped the Thunderbirds to victories against Eckerd College and the Florida U24 All-Stars in 2016. One such returner, Emma Conrad of Fond du Lac, Wisc., has been named captain.
[Read more about last year’s squad and tour victories.]
High School All-Midwest Thunderbirds
Regina Baldado – St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Maria Bashmakov – Carmel, Ind.
Emily Becker – Kettle Morraine, Wisc.
* Megan Bird – Oak Creek, Wisc.
Sarah Clarke – DSHA, Wisc.
* Emma Conrad – Fond du Lac, Wisc. (c)
* Samira Colbert – Shaker Heights, Ohio
Grace Estes – Iowa Hawkettes
Erin Fitzpatrick – Grandville, Mich.
Hannah Fultz – Iowa Hawkettes
Bethany Gable – Grandville, Mich.
Saher Hamden – Lakewood, Ohio
Tatum Johnson – North Suburban, Minn.
Racheal Kean – St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
Clara Lemel-Brown – Wooster, Ohio
Nicki Lew – Parma, Ohio
Lindey Pingel – Iowa Hawkettes
* Annie Rolf – St. Joseph Academy, Ohio
^ Matja Sarrenheimo-Vanderhorst – Grandville, Mich.
+ Rachel Slater – Hudson, Ohio
Hannah Struzyk – Armstrong, Minn.
Anna Watry – Brookfield, Wisc.
Garrett Fisher – Head Coach (Denison University)
Kinsey Bryant- Lees – Assistant Coach, (Cincinnati Kelts)
Jeff Noe – Assistant Coach (U24 Midwest Thunderbirds)
Chris Hopps – Assistant Coach (University of Texas)
Hannah Roodhouse – Team Manager (Sciota Valley)
* Attended 2016 tour to Florida
+ Unavailable, injury
^ Unavailable, GHSAA camp