These are the Under-the-radar players that were instrumental to their team’s season as identified by their coaches. These are the individuals that we describe as great teammates. Players who fall under the radar appear in many different ways for their team.  They almost always put the team first and are players who willingly accept their role no matter what it may be. They are players who are coachable, who can accept criticism and are trusted and respected by their teammates. They can show up on any line or maybe not even be a varsity level player. I gave the coaches no set definition or criteria.

I asked the girls coaches from across the state to nominate their team’s under-the radar player. Some chose not to, but most were quick to identify someone on their team. I asked them to do this with the best of intentions, which was simply to gain some recognition for those special players. Please do just that and don’t turn this into anything else. Practice mudita—the happiness and delight derived from witnessing the success and well-being of others, without envy or jealousy

Thanks to all the coaches who participated and thanks to all the players for being a positive contributor to your team—out of the spotlight.

Badger Lightning: Elizabeth Haag. “Elizabeth is a player that has probably improved the most this past season from ability, leads by her actions rather than words, and has also adapted to the new culture our team is building.  We have done a lot more with off-ice training this past season for the first time in team history and Elizabeth has been one that has taken the most serious out of any of our players.  I also expect Elizabeth to be a key leader for the Badger Lightning in 2025-26.” 

Bay Area: Hannah VonHaden: “She gets overshadowed by our top line.  She has scored some big goals for us and supplied secondary offense all season.”  Tiana Stindt. “We know her capabilities and her execution has been every bit as good or better than her peers. We are lucky to have her in our group and her unselfishness does not go unnoticed. She deserves more recognition for what she has accomplished this year.”

Beaver Dam: Audrey Lont: “As a junior captain she carries out our team values each and every day.  She is committed to the program and teammates as she never misses a practice, workout, or team meeting. She puts in maximum effort with everything she does on and off the ice.  Most importantly she is a great teammate and respected by everyone in the room.  She doesn't put up a ton of points, but she is a proven leader and a key part of our success.”

Black River Falls: Ally Ritter. “Great pace, fantastic hockey posture, nonstop motor.  Knows when to lock in and when to keep it light.”

Brookfield: Ella Vranak: “She comes to compete every day, every time she is on the ice.   She is involved in all our special teams and relied on in every major situation.  She is great at faceoffs and one of the best "finishers" I have seen.  She does not get a lot of shots but a majority of them go in.  She was injured during the Christmas Tournament and missed four games, all which we lost. She was a huge void to fill.

Cap City: Leah Greiber. ”She shows up early to every practice and game with a smile on her face, ready to work hard, with a positive attitude. She pushes herself and skates as hard as she can every shift of every game. She is truly a kind soul and is very coachable. She made a huge, positive impact on the Cougars all four years she has been with us.”

Chippewa Falls/Menomonie: Elle Ash. “She isn't going to show up on score sheets but plays a nice, instinctual game. has really improved her passing throughout this year, especially in the neutral zone. Elle's on ice and off ice work ethic are second to none and she is the model of coachability.”

Hudson: Lauren Kowalsky. “Lauren always gives max effort and has the best attitude. She is a great leader and does all of the little things on and off the ice. She plays physical, blocks shots, cheers her teammates on, always looking to improve her game and is a great student.”

Coulee Region : MaKenna Olson. “Senior Captain she has been the glue to keep this team together not only with her play but also how she has brought the younger players into the locker room and made them a part of the team.  With two tough years in a row and what looked like a very promising 4 years for this senior class, MaKenna has been able to keep these players playing hard and striving to become better.”

Eau Claire Area: Evelyn Kolar. “Has the pulse of the team and is able to engage and pull all team members together and not neglecting the freshman. On the ice she is always giving her full effort and reaching out everyone on the bench to pick them up and be the "spark" we need during games.”

Fox Cities: Talia Bellotti: “Truly embodies everything we admire in a Star. She’s an incredible role model for the younger players, always encouraging them to push their limits. Her humility, kindness, and politeness shine through in every interaction, whether with teammates, volunteers, or anyone around her. On the ice, she’s a defensive powerhouse, a true menace to the opposition. But beyond her talent, her passion for the game is unmatched. Coaching her has been an absolute privilege, and I’m so proud to see the person and player she’s become.”

Hayward: Mikayla Bigo: “She’s a very defensive defenseman doing whatever it takes. Blocking shots, winning battles, supporting teammates. She’s a senior that doesn’t show up on the score sheet often but is always willing to do whatever it takes for the betterment of the team.”

Lakeshore: Aaliyah Lathrop. “On the ice she is a selfless player doing the hard work in the corners, forechecking, backchecking, and setting up her teammates, never seeking the limelight or scoring lead. She helped to manage the locker room and mentor our younger players, she continues to willingly accept the un-glamorous tasks that are essential to a team but are not visible to most people.  She is always the first to arrive at practice, coordinated our Christmas Gift exchange, and helps with game day activities.”

Medford: Carly Koski: “Carly is a workhorse at every practice and every game. She shows up to every game, practice, yoga, team bonding activity, with a positive attitude. She brings up team morale and is dedicated to the sport and her team. Carly has played defense her entire hockey career, she works hard at digging pucks out of our D zone and helps develop plays up ice. Carly teammates have full confidence in her ability to hold the blue line. If Carly does get beat, she backchecks like no ones business. Carly doesn’t get many goals, or credit for all the assists, but she has been a huge asset to have on the team and will be so missed next season.”

Metro Lynx: Caroline Held: “Caroline is a freshman forward who has played wing and center and even a few shifts at defense. Caroline always works hard in practice and games and brings a positive attitude to the rink!  She really progressed throughout the season and was always wanting to learn about how to improve as a player.”

Northland Pines: Lucy Nowak. “Our under the radar player this season on our team is Lucy Nowak.  She is our starting goalie and does a great job every time she steps onto the ice.  She is a consistent player every game between the pipes for us.”

Rock County: Maizy Fonseca. “She is a Senior and 2 year captain who has always played defense for us. She is a great leader and a good player. She is one of those players that doesn't always show up on the score sheet but plays her hardest every shift, is coachable and always comes with a great attitude every practice and game. She is under the radar for us as she always played defense but this year I moved a forward to defense so we had an extra one. While that player got used to defense Maizy stayed back there. A couple weeks ago I moved Maizy to forward knowing she could also play that position but we always needed her at defense the most. Maizy has 7 points in her last 5 games which is the most on our team just from moving to forward for those games and she will continue as a forward during playoffs. She has provide a great spark in offense for us.”

St. Croix Valley: Lauren Lindus. “She’s a senior and has really stepped up. She is one of three that have been my only defense ever since Sophia Monson broke her collarbone and she probably flies under the radar more than anyone! We put her on defense halfway through the season and she had not played defense really in the past.”

Stoughton: Ashlyn Bartels. “She is a work horse kid. She is always looking for ways to understand the game better, get a stronger shot, better puck control...you name it. She also plays great two-way hockey. You can almost always count on her to be the first forward back to help. Great attitude. Can't wait to see what she does the next two years.”

Superior: Kenlyn Thimm.  “She goes above and beyond what's asked of her!  Three-year assistant captain, who has played mainly third line.  She never complains and ALWAYS encourages her teammates.  Kenlyn is uplifting, supportive, and communicates positivity through actions. In addition, she is wicked smart carrying a 4.0 cumulative GPA!”

USM: Lucy Duback. “Lucy is one of the hardest working players we have and is always looking to improve. She is also one of the smartest hockey players on the team. We can put her in any situation and she would know what to do or where to go. She’s an awesome teammate to all and should be recognized for everything she does for the team.”

Viroqua: Adey Oliver. “Adey backstopped us at goalie this year when Senior Sami Bramstedt was on the bench from an injury. At the time Sami came back, Adey was leading the state with shots faced. She always has a great attitude and we would have been in real trouble without her this season.”

Western Wisconsin: “I am not sure that recognizing one individual as under the radar for the Stars would do justice to the team. Our scoring was fairly spread out and we had so many players step up and play key roles this season.  Players like Taylor Larson, Chloe Julson,Lily Alberts, Taryn O'Hara, Madison Kamish, Annika Olinski, and Maggie Alberts all played huge roles for our team but maybe did not show up in the scoresheet as much as others.”

Wisconsin Valley Union: Lily Cichy. “Lily is underrated. I think her ability to play with and without the puck both offensively and defensively goes unnoticed. She blocks shots, creates turnovers, battles in corners. Lily has been called upon to bounce back on D and I have no doubt she can stop and make the play against top opponents.  She plays in all three zones, contributes on PP and PK, and isn't someone I'd want to play against. Her versatility is a major asset to our team. She also got votes for captain this year which has added a new dynamic to her strong play.”

CONGRATS to all the “under-the” RADAR Players—thanks for being great teammates.