Get to know the stars of pool play at HSNI with some comparisons to well-known club stars
June 14, 2025 by Filip Icev and Zach Roberts in Recap
While pool play at the High School National Invite as a whole was fascinating, the most fun part is watching young stars blossom and becoming familiar with new names. With that in mind, here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of some Day 1 standouts and their club player comparisons:
Muhammad Awais (Albany): Kyle Lew
A dynamic, playmaking handler, Awais—another standout Bay Area product—resembled Lew with his field-opening throws and explosive lateral quickness. He made Albany’s offense go.
Ezra Beidler-Shenk (Masterman): Quinn Finer
A do-it-all player, Beilder-Shenk did everything for Masterman, from catching centering passes, to skying defenders, to shutting down the opposing team’s number one option. However, his greatest strength, like Finer, was the steady, unshakable presence he brought to his team, anchoring them with consistency on both sides of the disc.
Harrison Berg (East Chapel Hill): Jimmy Mickle
Like Mickle, Berg uses his size to dominate in the handler space. He commands the East Chapel Hill offense with great poise and has every throw in the book. Berg is going to Colorado for college so…
Aage Bonnell (Garfield): Jack Williams
The Seattle product was a dynamic playmaker whose explosive athleticism and relentless cutting set him apart from the rest of the high school field. He played like someone operating in a different gear.
Malcolm Cooper (Arlington): Marques Brownlee
Cooper, the 6’4” D-line standout and puller for the Pumahs, consistently pinned opponents in their own end zone and took advantage of his length on defense to get big blocks.
Linwood Ding (East Chapel Hill): Rutledge Smith
Steady and reliable, Ding does not blow you away on the field, but he always seems to be open, can break the mark at will, and consistently makes the right play.
Ryan Dowdy (Wissahickon): Trent Dillon
A seasoned senior for Wissahickon, Dowdy—like Dillon—was a high-IQ athlete who always made the right play. His athleticism, leadership, and decision-making were on full display throughout the day.
Owen Erdman (Masterman): Peter Boerth
Tall, athletic, and relentless in the cutting lanes, Erdman—like Boerth—felt like a cheat code. He came down with everything in his area and added value with smart decisions when the disc was in his hands.
Dane Gore (Independence): Thomas Edmonds
Steady and cerebral, Gore—reminiscent of Truck Stop star Thomas Edmonds—was the emotional anchor for Independence. With crafty break throws and veteran-like decision-making, he delivered a mature, composed performance.
Jonah Grossberg (Wissahickon): Sam Grossberg
We heard they were brothers?
Leo Hennigan (Washburn): Ben Jagt
Hailing from Minnesota just like Jagt, Hennigan dominated the air for Washburn on the day. His teammates shouted him out as someone they always rely on to come down with the disc in the deep space.
Walter Hipps (Edina): Brett Hulsmeyer
A true Swiss Army knife, Hipps was everywhere for Edina. Whether initiating the offense, patrolling the deep space, or locking down matchups, the big man played every role at a high level. Like Hulsmeyer, his versatility stood a step above the rest, bringing poise and control to every possession.
Danny Hobday (OWL): Rowan McDonnell
A complete package, Hobday dominated in a breakout performance for OWL. From pinpoint hucks to layout blocks, he left his imprint on every aspect of the game. A true difference-maker.
Blake Holt (Green Canyon): Jonny Malks
A generational throwing talent, Holt—like Malks—made life easy for his receivers with an absurdly deep bag of throws. The sophomore looked like the best pure thrower at the complex and is poised for a massive career.
Dre Jackson (Jackson-Reed): Danny Karlinsky
A squirrely handler who seemed to be able to get open at will, Jackson did not necessarily look to shoot, but would if he needed. He also had the ability to run deep and make a game-changing play when needed.
Joseph Lodahl (OWL): Aaron Bartlett
An elite offensive workhorse, Lodahl mirrored Bartlett in the way he dictated tempo—serving as OWL’s field general, controlling the pace, and making plays both in the backfield and in the end zone.
Alex Manson (Washburn): Cole Jurek
Alex Manson always seemed to be open. He was comfortable going deep or under, but was threatening enough deep that teams often had to cede the unders to him. He made life very difficult for East Chapel Hill in their matchup.
Andrew Mennig (Strath Haven): Right-Handed Alan Kolick
Okay, okay, we know Mennig lacks Kolick’s signature southpaw trait. But if you squint, between the smooth throws, the ability to put the disc wherever he wants on the field and even the visor, Mennig shepherds Strath Haven down the field like Kolick used to do for Truck Stop.
Knox Plewniak (RECA): Jacques Nissen
A powerful and fearless thrower, Plewniak—much like Nissen—completed multiple jaw-dropping throws per game that most players wouldn’t even attempt. His command of the offense is a major reason RECA is a legitimate threat in bracket play.
Nicolas Rusa (Albany): Sam Little
A polished hybrid, Rusa—like Little—was unfazed by whatever matchup came his way. Always open and always ready to move the disc, he was a key driver of Albany’s offensive rhythm.
Sam Shapiro (Lakeside) : Mac Hecht
Shapiro was the tall, poised center handler that every team dreams of. Much like Hecht, he dictated pace, launched massive throws, and had a knack for creating separation in high-stall moments.
Lucas Terzic (Roosevelt): Joe White
Terzic did it all for Roosevelt on the day. Like Joe White, he’s perhaps strongest using his big frame as a cutter downfield, but he frequently found himself in the handler space, or catching a big under and shooting deep to one of his teammates.
