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Jamestown, Carrington to be represented on Optimist volleyball roster

JAMESTOWN — When it comes to volleyball, Edie Hegerle is usually the third member of her family to do anything.

The annual North Dakota High School Coaches Association/Optimists' Volleyball All-Star series is no exception.

"I remember watching (my sisters) play and wanting to play as well," Hegerle, a senior at Jamestown High School said. "Now that I (get to play) I feel super honored and that I deserve this. I have worked so hard and put so much time into volleyball to be on the roster and play with other talented players. I am so thankful for this opportunity and super excited as well."

Hegerle isn't the only roster member who has had family members play in the Optimist series.

"My oldest sister, Madison, got to play in the Optimist tournament her senior year as well," Carrington senior Isabel Wendel said.

Rosters for the annual all-star series were finalized on May 2. This year's matches are set for Monday, June 16, at Fargo South High School and Tuesday, June 17, at Mandan High School. First serve is set for 7 p.m. both nights.

"I was originally an alternate so I did not know right away," Hegerle said. "When I saw the email I was super excited and pumped to be able to be apart of the experience. ... It is supposed to be just for fun but to be able to play and compete with such talented athletes is a blessing. I feel honored for being on the roster and feel like I really earned my spot in the all-star game."

Hegerle, a setter, has been a part of the Blue Jay varsity volleyball roster since the 2021 season. In her four seasons with the Jays, she has amassed 169 kills, 35 blocks, 170 aces, 1,169 digs and 2,595 assists. She was named to the NDHSAA All-State team twice.

For the third consecutive year, the teams will be split into a "red vs. blue." Players, from both Class B and Class A programs, were "drafted" to each side by the coaches. Players are selected to partake in the all-star series by coaches across the state.

"(Having mixed rosters) is better because you get to meet new people and play with different people than you have played with in the past," Hegerle said. "Fixing it up creates new friendships and new experiences. The all-star games are about making new friends and competing with new teammates."

Hegerle is a part of the blue team, set to be coached by Stephanie Oliver of Fargo Davies and South Prairie-Max's Keturah Schwarzrock. Team Red will be coached by Bismarck Century's Jamie Zastoupil and Langdon Area-Munich's Rich Olson.

Hegerle said she is excited to play against Holland Fitter, a defensive specialist, from Bismarck Century and with Azjiah Trader out of South Prairie.

Wendel, a red team member, is listed as a setter and an opposite hitter on the roster. In her four years with Carrington, Wendel accumulated 137 aces, 813 kills, 173 blocks, 1,830 digs and 1,453 assists.

"I’m excited to see a level of volleyball I haven’t experienced yet," Wendel said. "We are all new to playing with each other, and I think that this experience will help me transition into college volleyball in that way."

Wendel, the 2024 Region 3 Volleyball Senior Athlete of the Year, is set to attend and play volleyball at the University of Jamestown next year.

"I’m very grateful to have been asked to play in the first place," Wendel said. "There’s a lot of great volleyball players around the state, so being asked to play with such amazing people is really an honor. ... I was pretty surprised but excited all the same."

Wendel will be playing alongside players like Meredith Romfo of Langdon/Area-Edmore-Munich, Emerson Johnson of Wyndmere/Lidgerwood and Katelyn Ommen and Ella Stimpson of Fargo Shanley. The soon-to-be Carrington grad will also get to play with West Region threats like Fitterer and Century's star middle blocker, Addison Klemin.

"I think it’s a great way to learn from each other," Wendel said of having mixed rosters. "There are different components that make up Class B and Class A teams, so it will be interesting to see each others’ perspectives and hopefully we can all learn something new. I’m sure there were so many great candidates, so to be considered one of them was amazing."

Katie Ringer is a sports reporter for the Jamestown Sun. Katie joined the Sun staff in the summer of 2019 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire with a degree in journalism. She can be reached by email at kringer@jamestownsun.com or by phone at 701-952-8460.

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