Waukesha North Sophomore Skating Her Way to Success

Kelli Sorge was used to playing ice hockey on a boys team. But when she was a high school freshman, she had to make some major changes to her game.

“Switching from boys to girls — that was probably the hardest part,” Kelli said. “I didn’t know very many people and it is a different style of play. We are not allowed to check or anything.”

Kelli, a 16-year-old sophomore at Waukesha North High School, now plays for a co-op ice hockey team through Brookfield East High School. She also tried out for and received a defensive spot on Team Wisconsin U-16 for more competitive play.

“I really like skating,” Kelli said. “It is one of my favorite things. I just go and skate all the time. The game in general — it is a really fun game. My teammates are really fun, it is easy to get along with them. Everything about it is just fun.”

And as one of the top hockey players in the state, she is competing in San Jose, CA, next week in the national championships.  Team Wisconsin is making its first appearance in the USA Hockey National Tier 1 tournament.

Irene Hougard, a Kettle Moraine High School student, will join her at nationals.

Kelli’s also hoping college recruiters will spot her at the tournament as she’d like to play hockey at a Division I school after she graduates high school. She’s also looking forward to more competitive play

“And, of course, the beach and all that,” Kelli said with a laugh.

Kelli, who also plays soccer and tennis at Waukesha North, grew up playing ice hockey with her two brothers and a neighbor.

“My neighbor actually played hockey and got my brother to play,” Kelli said. “Now I play and my little brother plays. My older sister doesn’t play. We started playing out in the driveway, and my neighbor started giving my brother equipment. We got with the local youth hockey program — the Waukesha Warhawks — and that kind of started it.”