Wawasee Girls Ready For Another Run
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Seniors Taylor Goshert, Brennan McAdams, Ashlee Ort and Kylee Ort return as the core of last year's squad, which lost to the Plymouth Pilgrims at semistate a year ago. The year before that, the four girls were integral to the Warriors' state finals run, which ended with a loss to Brebeuf Jesuit.[[In-content Ad]]"It will be interesting to see who emerges as the leader," Wawasee coach Kem Zolman said. "We have five returning seniors, including Bailey Land who missed last season with an ACL (injury). So we have four seniors who have played significant time for the last three years, but they've always had someone else to keep the team glued together. First it was Amy Walker two years ago and then Kalyn Lantz last year."
Lantz takes with her four years of varsity experience, which left her as the big sister on the team. On top of the mentor aspect, she also had a knack for hitting big shots, particularly in last year's postseason run to semistate.
In last year's NorthWood Sectional, Lantz hit three, three-pointers to score 16 points against Lakeland in the semifinals. In the championship against NorthWood, the senior scored 15 points, all coming from behind the three-point arc.
"It's tough when you lose kids that play roles," Zolman said. "For us, players play significant roles. Kalyn and Megan Walker did the same thing - hitting big shots. It's very important for us to have someone to fill that role."
Along with the departure of Lantz, Zolman also lost reserve Erin Wallace to graduation, but may also be without senior Terra Weisser this year.
After having a plate inserted into her hip last year, Weisser saw some time on the court as a junior and also played the majority of the volleyball season in the fall. However, near the end of the volleyball season, the area which had the plate inserted, then taken out in the spring, began to get sore, forcing her out of the lineup.
So with his biggest post player's status up in the air, Zolman says he's not sure who's going to join the big four in the starting lineup.
"I don't know who our fifth, sixth or seventh players are right now," the coach said.
Vying for time on the court will be juniors Lauren Tait, Kaytie Woodard, sophomores Kalyn McDaniel and Amy Walker, as well as freshman newcomer Lakin Bowen.
"At this point, we have a couple we're thinking about, and we also have a bunch in the wings," Zolman said.
While the Wawasee coaching staff is looking for a couple girls to fill roles, it will have the luxury of bringing back four members of last year's Times-Union All-Area team in the Ort twins, McAdams and last year's Times-Union Player of the Year Goshert.
Goshert returns as the team's leading scorer at a 15.2 point average, followed by McAdams' 9.1, Ashlee Ort's 7.5 and Kylee Ort's 7.1. Goshert is also the team's leading rebounder at 6 a game, followed by Kylee Ort's 5.8, McAdams' 4.2 and Ashlee Ort's 3.9. McAdams brings back her 3.6 assist average, while also returning as the team's leader in steals, at 2.9 a contest.
Holding the top ranking in Class 3A for much of last season, the girls will once again be hungry for a state title after their previous two seasons ended in disappointment.
"The only good thing that can come from a loss is learning from it," Zolman said. "We were Plymouth (who won the state title last year after beating Wawasee at home in the semistate) two years ago. We upset the No. 1 team to get to state. The breaks, calls and the places we played all fell in line."
Prior to worrying about his girls winning their final game of the year, Zolman is adamant about getting that win in their first game Friday at Westview beginning at 7:30 p.m..
"We can't wait to play Westview," he said. "All season, we're going to concern ourselves with what we have to do to get better each day. It's a long season."
In fact, Zolman slices the season in three parts.
First he looks at the season up to Christmas Break as a way to determine an identity for his squad. During the vacation, his girls will see the second phase of the year as they take part in the Hall of Fame Classic along with Ben Davis, Oak Hill and Connersville.
"There are four really good teams there," Zolman said of the holiday tournament.
Following the holiday break, Wawasee returns to play the majority of its Northern Lakes Conference schedule, which classifies as Zolman's third part of the regular season.
"I can't think of another conference that prepares you for the postseason better than the NLC," Zolman said.
Once those three areas are completed, Zolman can only hope his girls are prepared for the postseason.
"By the time we finish our NLC schedule, we should know what to do in the postseason," Zolman said.
The Warriors have had the talent to be the top team in the NLC the past two years, but the players have also been adding experience along with their stats.
"They're playing with wisdom now," Zolman said. "They're playing with their heads a little more."
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Seniors Taylor Goshert, Brennan McAdams, Ashlee Ort and Kylee Ort return as the core of last year's squad, which lost to the Plymouth Pilgrims at semistate a year ago. The year before that, the four girls were integral to the Warriors' state finals run, which ended with a loss to Brebeuf Jesuit.[[In-content Ad]]"It will be interesting to see who emerges as the leader," Wawasee coach Kem Zolman said. "We have five returning seniors, including Bailey Land who missed last season with an ACL (injury). So we have four seniors who have played significant time for the last three years, but they've always had someone else to keep the team glued together. First it was Amy Walker two years ago and then Kalyn Lantz last year."
Lantz takes with her four years of varsity experience, which left her as the big sister on the team. On top of the mentor aspect, she also had a knack for hitting big shots, particularly in last year's postseason run to semistate.
In last year's NorthWood Sectional, Lantz hit three, three-pointers to score 16 points against Lakeland in the semifinals. In the championship against NorthWood, the senior scored 15 points, all coming from behind the three-point arc.
"It's tough when you lose kids that play roles," Zolman said. "For us, players play significant roles. Kalyn and Megan Walker did the same thing - hitting big shots. It's very important for us to have someone to fill that role."
Along with the departure of Lantz, Zolman also lost reserve Erin Wallace to graduation, but may also be without senior Terra Weisser this year.
After having a plate inserted into her hip last year, Weisser saw some time on the court as a junior and also played the majority of the volleyball season in the fall. However, near the end of the volleyball season, the area which had the plate inserted, then taken out in the spring, began to get sore, forcing her out of the lineup.
So with his biggest post player's status up in the air, Zolman says he's not sure who's going to join the big four in the starting lineup.
"I don't know who our fifth, sixth or seventh players are right now," the coach said.
Vying for time on the court will be juniors Lauren Tait, Kaytie Woodard, sophomores Kalyn McDaniel and Amy Walker, as well as freshman newcomer Lakin Bowen.
"At this point, we have a couple we're thinking about, and we also have a bunch in the wings," Zolman said.
While the Wawasee coaching staff is looking for a couple girls to fill roles, it will have the luxury of bringing back four members of last year's Times-Union All-Area team in the Ort twins, McAdams and last year's Times-Union Player of the Year Goshert.
Goshert returns as the team's leading scorer at a 15.2 point average, followed by McAdams' 9.1, Ashlee Ort's 7.5 and Kylee Ort's 7.1. Goshert is also the team's leading rebounder at 6 a game, followed by Kylee Ort's 5.8, McAdams' 4.2 and Ashlee Ort's 3.9. McAdams brings back her 3.6 assist average, while also returning as the team's leader in steals, at 2.9 a contest.
Holding the top ranking in Class 3A for much of last season, the girls will once again be hungry for a state title after their previous two seasons ended in disappointment.
"The only good thing that can come from a loss is learning from it," Zolman said. "We were Plymouth (who won the state title last year after beating Wawasee at home in the semistate) two years ago. We upset the No. 1 team to get to state. The breaks, calls and the places we played all fell in line."
Prior to worrying about his girls winning their final game of the year, Zolman is adamant about getting that win in their first game Friday at Westview beginning at 7:30 p.m..
"We can't wait to play Westview," he said. "All season, we're going to concern ourselves with what we have to do to get better each day. It's a long season."
In fact, Zolman slices the season in three parts.
First he looks at the season up to Christmas Break as a way to determine an identity for his squad. During the vacation, his girls will see the second phase of the year as they take part in the Hall of Fame Classic along with Ben Davis, Oak Hill and Connersville.
"There are four really good teams there," Zolman said of the holiday tournament.
Following the holiday break, Wawasee returns to play the majority of its Northern Lakes Conference schedule, which classifies as Zolman's third part of the regular season.
"I can't think of another conference that prepares you for the postseason better than the NLC," Zolman said.
Once those three areas are completed, Zolman can only hope his girls are prepared for the postseason.
"By the time we finish our NLC schedule, we should know what to do in the postseason," Zolman said.
The Warriors have had the talent to be the top team in the NLC the past two years, but the players have also been adding experience along with their stats.
"They're playing with wisdom now," Zolman said. "They're playing with their heads a little more."
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