Germantown's KK Arnold wins third straight AP player of the year; Notre Dame's Sara Rohde wins third coach of the year honor

Michael Whitlow and Scott Venci, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

April 7, 2023 at 10:38 PM·7 min read

Kamorea “KK” Arnold’s enormous awards collection has another addition.

Arnold was unanimously voted as the Associated Press girls basketball player of the year for the third straight season on Wednesday in a vote that included five nominees as The Associated Press formed its teams.

The Germantown High School standout was chosen over Kettle Moraine senior Grace Grocholski, McFarland junior Teagan Mallegni, Aquinas senior Macy Donarski and Neenah junior Allie Ziebell, a future teammate at the University of Connecticut after leading the Warhawks to the WIAA Division 1 state tournament.

Arnold had previously won the 2021 and 2022 awards before completing the unanimous three-peat this season.

The sportswriters who selected Arnold also awarded a repeat victory for Green Bay Notre Dame’s Sara Rohde as its coach of the year after she guided the Tritons to their third Division 2 state championship in a row.

Germantown's Kamorea "KK" Arnold earned the Associated Press girls basketball player of the year award in a unanimous vote for the third straight season. Arnold is a University of Connecticut commit.

Arnold, a 5-foot-9 guard, was outstanding in her final season at Germantown, averaging 23.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 3.3 steals. Arnold had five 30-point games and four triple-doubles as a senior, including a career-high 43 points on Dec. 8 with eight rebounds, six assists and five steals in a 78-66 victory over Menomonee Falls.

The Warhawks went 23-6, winning nine of their final 10 games and advancing to the state tournament for the second time in school history. Both appearances came in Arnold’s four seasons in the program, including a Division 1 state championship in 2021 with Arnold scoring 31 points in the 63-48 championship victory over Hudson.

With another trip to state in sight, Arnold’s back-to-back triple-double performances in sectional victories over Divine Savior Holy Angels and Kimberly led the Warhawks to the final four. She scored 13 points with 12 rebounds and tied her career high of 15 assists in a 73-32 sectional semifinal victory over DSHA. In the final, Arnold dropped 38 points with 12 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and a block in a 94-67 victory over Kimberly.

Arnold completed her career with 2,458 career points, 765 rebounds, 695 assists, 415 steals and eight career triple-doubles for the Warhawks. Her point total puts her sixth on the state’s career scoring list.

Arnold also became a three-time Division 1 all-state first team selection by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and was also named 2023 Ms. Basketball by the association.

A key piece of the future for hall of fame coach Geno Auriemma, Arnold finishes her career as a two-time Gatorade player of the year award winner and was named girls basketball athlete of the year by the Greater Metro Conference for the third straight season this year. She was also a member of the West roster for the McDonald’s All-American Games in Houston on March 28.

Coach Sara Rohde helped led Green Bay Notre Dame to its third straight state basketball title and the fifth of her career.

Notre Dame's Rohde wins third coach of the year award after completing three-peat

It only has taken Rohde 12 seasons to put together a hall of fame resume.

She led the Tritons to another WIAA Division 2 state championship with a 64-49 win over Pewaukee on March 11 at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.

It was the third straight title for the Tritons and the fifth of Rohde’s decorated career. Notre Dame lost a season opener to Pewaukee and never lost again, finishing 29-1 and outscoring opponents by more than 40 points per game.

It again made Rohde the choice for The Associated Press state coach of the year for the second straight year and the third time since 2013.

She was chosen from a nomination list that also included Kettle Moraine’s Todd Hansen, Brookfield East’s Tyler Saxton, Pewaukee’s Jim Reuter, Kewaskum’s Mark Maley, Milwaukee Academy of Science’s Giovanni Riley, Laconia’s Chris Morgan and Chippewa Falls McDonell’s Don Cooper. Rohde always is humbled by the recognition, but she also makes a point each time that it’s not just her award but one for the entire program, a reflection of the way everybody goes about their business.

“It’s obviously a huge credit to my entire coaching staff, all the players,” Rohde said. “It validates everything we are doing as a staff and all the hard work and time that everyone puts into what we are trying to accomplish.

“I’m just really proud. I’m really happy for everyone.”

Notre Dame is the sixth school since the state tournament started in 1976 to pull off a three-peat, joining Milwaukee Washington (1994-96), Cuba City (2005-07), Flambeau (2006-08), Milwaukee Vincent (2007-09) and Beaver Dam (2017-19).

No school has won four consecutive championships.

It’s difficult for Rohde to reflect on her growing list of accomplishments and a sparkling career record of 259-63, including 86-3 the past three seasons.

There still are more games and titles to win.

“I think I hold myself to high expectations as an individual, really in all aspects of life,” Rohde said. “Whether it’s winning a game or going for a run.

“It comes from working hard and wanting to do well and wanting to see what I’m part of be successful as well.”

Kettle Moraine's Grace Grocholski is a unanimous all-state first-team selection. She helped Kettle Moraine win its second consecutive Division 1 state basketball championship. Grocholski is a University of Minnesota commit.

2022-23 AP girls all-state basketball teams

Bold: Area players

Player of the year — Kamorea "KK" Arnold, 5-10, sr., Germantown

Coach of the year — Sara Rohde, Green Bay Notre Dame

First team

*Kamorea “KK” Arnold, 5-10, sr., Germantown

Macy Donarski, 5-8, sr., La Crosse Aquinas

*Grace Grocholski, 5-10, sr., Kettle Moraine

Teagan Mallegni, 6-1, jr., McFarland

*Allie Ziebell, 6-0, jr., Neenah

*Unanimous selection

Bold: Milwaukee-area selection

Second team

Jasonya “J.J.” Barnes, 5-8, so., The Prairie School

Gracie Grzesk, 6-0, jr., Green Bay Notre Dame

Julianna Ouimette, 5-10, sr., Lakeland

Sophia Rampulla, 5-10, sr., Union Grove

Taylor Stremlow, 5-10, jr., Verona

Third team

Sydney Cherney, 5-9, jr., Reedsburg

Trista Fayta, 5-7, jr., Green Bay Notre Dame

Meghan Schultz, 6-3, sr., New Berlin West

Braelyn Torres, 5-8, sr., Kettle Moraine

Rainey Welson, 5-9, so., Hortonville

Fourth team

Jorey Buwalda, 6-0, sr., Randolph

Maggie Hartwig, 6-2, sr., Sauk Prairie

Kayl Petersen, 6-1, jr., Waupun

Amy Terrian, 5-8, so., Pewaukee

Gabby Wilke, 6-2, jr., Beaver Dam

High honorable mention

Lydia Aalsma, 5-10, so., Waupun

Emily Cooper, 5-8, jr., Chippewa Falls McDonell Central

Madi Dogs, 6-0, sr., Kewaskum

Aubrey Dorn, 6-0, jr, Chippewa Falls McDonell Central

Lalani Ellis, 5-9, sr., Milwaukee Academy of Science

Alexa Kinas, 5-8, jr., Kaukauna

Annika Pluemer, 5-9, sr., Brookfield East

Lindsey Schadewalt, 5-10, jr., New Glarus

Alayna West, 5-9, jr., Madison La Follette

Honorable mention

Antionique Auston, sr., Sun Prairie West; Reagan Briggs, jr., Verona; Audrey Deptula, sr., Middleton; Alana Durtschi, jr., Albany; Bella Pitta, sr., Lake Mills; Sylvia Fox, sr., Edgerton; Claire Meudt, jr., Waunakee; Camryn Nies, sr., Platteville; Olivia Olson, so., Cuba City; Sam Schmitt, jr., Oregon; Anna Fogle, sr., Sheboygan North; Ally Kakes, sr., Two Rivers; Ady Ketterhagen, fr., Oostburg; Tierney Madigan, so., Laconia; Megan Schuman, sr., Brillion; Neveah Thomas, sr., Kenosha Bradford; McKenna Johnson, jr., Wilmot; Carly Drew, jr., Westfield; Emma Jossie, sr., Stevens Point; Danielle Minsaas, sr., Marshfield; Samantha Davis, fr., La Crosse Aquinas; Breah Golden, sr., Arcadia; Megan Johnson, so., West Salem; Brittney Mislivecek, sr., La Crosse Central; Lindsay Steien, sr., Blair-Taylor; Reese Rogowski, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Lexie White, sr., Wausau West; Shae Kelley, jr., Brookfield East; Beautiful Waheed, sr., Milwaukee Academy of Science; Giselle Janowski, fr., Pewaukee; Ameerah Grant, so., Brown Deer; Keona McGee, jr., Whitefish Bay Dominican; Allison Hampel, sr., Greenfield; Lily Cayley, sr., Eau Claire Memorial; McKenna Shipman, jr., Colfax; Liza Cummings, sr., Alma Center Lincoln; Abby Thompson, sr., Blair-Taylor; Marley Hughes, sr., Chippewa Falls McDonell Central; MaKenzie Drout, sr., Kimberly; Sadie Jarmolowicz, sr., Freedom; Sammi Beyer, sr., Appleton East; Kailey Tulachka, sr., Mishicot; Chloe Vogel, sr., St. Mary Catholic; Lizzie Steingraber, sr., New London.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: KK Arnold caps prep career with third AP player of the year award

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