Warsaw’s four seniors: Brooke Winchester, Abbey Peterson, Braylie Chastain and Leila Knepp have a luxury that very few athletes playing in their final season do. They know exactly when their last game is. Whether they win or lose in Saturday’s state championship game, it will be the last time they put on the Lady Tiger uniform.
It doesn’t make it any less sad, but it allows the team to prepare for the inevitable.
“There’s definitely a mix of emotions,” Peterson said. “But at the end of the day I think we’re all happy because we’re all together and we knew we were going to make it this far. I wouldn’t want to be here with anybody else.”
“This has been the best season of my life, not just because of how far we’ve come, but because of these girls and getting to spend time with them,” Chastain added. “I’m obviously sad that this is going to be my final game but I’m so happy that we were able to extend the season so long. I’m so excited to go out there one last time and give it my all.”
What a final game it’s going to be, as Warsaw will have a chance at immortality. The Lady Tigers are back in the state finals for the first time since 2004 and are trying to bring the first title back to Lake City since 1978. It’s been a dream of these girls to be in this position since they were in elementary school, and now that those dreams have become reality, they’re intent on making the most of the opportunity in front of them.
“We put in so many hours to get to this point, so it’s rewarding to see this in front of us,” Winchester said. “I feel like there’s nobody else here that has worked as hard as us.”
The journey to get to this point has been a long one, full of ups and downs. When it comes down to it though, they’ve gone through the highs and lows together, and that’s what they’ll remember most.
“The bus rides, screaming our hearts out to some music. The hotel rooms, the slumber parties. It’s the little things that I’ll never forget,” Chastain said when asked what her favorite memory of the last four years was.
Knepp’s favorite memory came all the way back from her freshman year, her very first game as a matter of fact.
“We’re all lined up and ready to take the court, and I’m breaking out in a nervous sweat. It’s my very first game,” she said. “I run out and I trip over a cheerleader’s foot and faceplant in front of the entire cheer block. I got up and just kept running. Every single time I run out to the court I think of that.”
Listening to the group laugh when Knepp tells the story, one thing is apparent: this group really is as close as they seem to be on the court. The Lady Tigers are extremely talented, there’s no doubt about that. But beyond the talent, it’s the group’s connectedness to each other that has gotten them this far. While that extends to the entire team, the younger players credit the seniors for instilling that culture into the program.
“The past three years I don’t think I’ve had a senior group step up, and this year’s class has been absolutely amazing,” junior Brooke Zartman said. “They’re such good people and leaders. They’ve brought us up with them and are going to leave some big shoes for us to fill next year.”
“I look up to them. Any second I can be, I want to be around them,” fellow junior Alexis Neely said. “They make me feel loved and valued. I’m going to miss them so much next year. I’m so thankful for their leadership.”
Head Coach Lenny Krebs is thrilled that this group gets to end their high school careers on the biggest stage possible. He says that while they may no longer be teammates after this season, their lifelong friendship is just beginning.
“I don’t think they realize what this is going to mean 20 years down the road. I was in the gym when we honored the 2004 state runner up team, and to see them come back, and interact, tell stories about the journey, in the moment, you can’t really see how big it is,” he said. “They’re excited about the game, I’m sure. But I know they’re most excited about having six more days together.”
While it’s true that these will be the last six days that this group will lead the Warsaw girls basketball team, the program will continue on next season and beyond. If one thing is certain about the future of Lady Tiger hoops, it’s that these four young women will leave it in a better place than they found it.
“I’d tell the next generation of players to ignore the statistics and the numbers on the court. Get to know each other and love each other,” Winchester said “If you’re playing for yourself, it’s not going to be close to the experience of playing with girls you have that bond with.”
Peterson agreed.
“When you’re connected, that’s when you can find that next level,” she added.
“I don’t remember the bad practices or the tough days. I remember spending time with my friends and all of the good memories we made together,” Knepp said.
Winchester will continue her basketball career at Ball State next year. Peterson, who has competed in the state finals in each of the last two years, is planning on going to play golf collegiately. Chastain and Knepp are both applying to colleges, wanting to study special education and pre-veterinary animal science. Their top choices for schools are Cincinnati and Florida, respectively.
The Times-Union would like to congratulate all four athletes on incredible careers and wish them the best of luck both this weekend and beyond.