SYRACUSE – Fresh off winning the program's 13th sectional championship in February, Wawasee High School girls basketball coach Kem Zolman 2011-2012 team has a lot of new faces. The Lady Warriors finished last season at 15-7, winning Class 3A Sectional 21 at Columbia City High School with a 24-23 victory over NorthWood, but falling 41-27 to Fort Wayne Concordia at the regional. Gone from that sectional-winning squad are graduated starters Kalyn McDaniel, Amy Walker and Jonna Wiggs, as well as reserve Kealah Alexander. "We have no seniors this year, outside of Kelsey Hunter who moved into our district this year (from West Noble)," Zolman said. "(Juniors) KiLee Knafel and Kiley Cooper are the only returnees who have played significant minutes." Coupled with junior Lexy Blunk, Zolman has three returning letterwinners, although Knafel is a good one, being the 2010-11 Times-Union All-Area Player of the Year. "She's just a gym rat, who works on her game everyday" Zolman said about Knafel, who averaged 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal per game as a sophomore. "She was in the gym all the time in the spring, summer and fall. She's really been working on her shot — getting it off quicker. I think, after seeing her so much, the improvement isn't obvious, but it will show once she gets on the floor." While Knafel is patrolling the perimeter, the 6-foot-1 Cooper will be in the post, but according to Zolman, both will need to play well for the Lady Warriors to have success. "They are both still juniors, but with their actual ages, they're more like sophomores," he said. "I do like their heart and attitudes. They are looking to keep learning and get better with each day." Along with the three juniors, and Hunter, the rest of the Zolman's squad is comprised of juniors Cassie Martinez and Alex Fox, sophmores Megan Grindle and Ashlynn Fisher, as well as freshmen Elizabeth Jackson and McKenzie Schmitt. "Cassie and Hunter are both coming off ACL injuries, so that's kept them a little cautious," Zolman said. "They've been able to play, but they're still a little cautious about being knocked down." Zolman is also anticipating Jackson seeing time on the floor, adding to his fleet of guards. "She's probably going to get significant playing time, but she is another small guard," the coach said. Restocking a team following a successful season is nothing new for Zolman, something he had to do after the graduation of Taylor Goshert, Brennan McAdams, Ashlee Ort and Kylee Ort in 2010, which was followed by an 11-10 campaign the following year. Last year's sectional title team brought Wawasee's winning ways back, but once again, the Lady Warriors seem to be staring at square one. "That's just the way it is for a public school coach, unless you're at a really big school," Zolman said about having to routinely replenish teams. "It's difficult to sustain the success year-in and year-out." And with his past experience with young teams, Zolman knows what he needs to have this year. "You have to be patient," Zolman said. That patience also means he isn't looking too far ahead in the schedule, focusing solely on Friday night's home game against Westview. "Friday is what we have circled right now," he said. "It will be a good bench mark game for us, because Westview is always a tough opponent to start the season with."
