Talented Group Leads Level Up 18U into 2025

West Des Moines Valley’s Drake DeGroote (Photo: Rob Howe/Prep Redzone)

Rob Howe February 19, 2025 @ 06:41 PM

Competition among 18U teams this upcoming 7-on-7 season is shaping up to be fierce. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/iowa-tnt-18u-looks-dynamite-in-2025/">TNT</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/iowa-flex-7-0n-7-18u-bringing-loaded-roster-in-2025/">Flex</a> should match up well with anyone in the state. The same can be said about Level Up.   The latter group features standouts from the central part of the state. Various graduating classes are represented on the squad.   West Des Moines Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'] is at the controls for Level Up. The Tigers are coming off of a run to the Class 5A state championship game with him completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,816 yards and 24 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The junior added 212 yards and four scores on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198816' first='Luke' last='Brewer'] is Prep Redzone Iowa's second-ranked player in the 2027 Class. The Norwalk tight end reports scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami (FL), Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee, Toledo and Wisconsin midway through his high school career.   Fellow Norwalk standout [player_tooltip player_id='283943' first='Eli' last='Robbins'] also runs with this outfit. The state's 20th-ranked player in '26 does it all for the Warriors as evidenced by him scoring touchdowns rushing, receiving and via interception. He also returns kicks and punts.   DeGroote's Valley teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='1361314' first='Owen' last='Woods'], worked into the Tigers' receiver rotation as a sophomore last season. This 7-on-7 season should set him up nicely for a bigger role in '25.   Johnston's Bryce Beachem intercepted six passes as a sophomore last Fall. [player_tooltip player_id='1240476' first='Cohen' last='Shelton'] was Dowling Catholic's second-leading rusher in the Maroons' march to the state semifinals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198820' first='Chase' last='Heitland'] caught 28 passes for 293 yards and a pair of scores as a Dallas Center-Grimes sophomore in '24. Osage's [player_tooltip player_id='1241488' first='Quinn' last='Street'] proved to be a versatile contributor with five touchdowns passing, six scores on the ground, 28 solo tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions.   Like most 7-on-7 squads with multi-sport student-athletes having scheduling conflicts, Level Up will receive contributions from others throughout the campaign.

Competition among 18U teams this upcoming 7-on-7 season is shaping up to be fierce. TNT and Flex should match up well with anyone in the state. The same can be said about Level Up.