Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader file photo Bonduel’s Kylie Guenther looks to make a pass in a game against Weyauwega-Fremont. Guenther is one of just three seniors on the young Bears team.
It should come as no secret that the Amherst girls basketball team will be the one to beat in the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division again this winter season.
Three local CWC-East teams — Bonduel, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Menominee Indian — that finished near the middle of the conference race last year will need to do their winning with young rosters this year as each team lost its fair share of senior talent from last year and will be turning to some newcomers this winter.
Bonduel finished fourth in the conference with a 5-7 record last year and graduated second team all-conference selection Brynn Reinke.
While the Bears return two starters — seniors Jessie LaBerge and Kylie Guenther — there are no juniors on the roster. Kara Troxel and Mackenzie Moore also return varsity experience at the guard position but coach Jerry Reinke will still have to rely on a handful of sophomores and possibly even some freshmen for big-time minutes.
While that might seem like a daunting task for some teams, it isn’t affecting the confidence of the Bears.
“We have a very young team this season, but I still have high expectations for this year,” said LaBerge, who was an honorable mention selection last year. “One of our goals is to finish in the top three in conference. Although we lack height, I believe that our team is capable of beating a lot of teams with our speed and athleticism. In order for success this season, we need to continue to work hard in practice and play together as a team.”
Guenther hopes to help ease the underclassmen into the flow of varsity basketball.
“As a senior on a super young team I think it is especially important to teach them the right habits to expand their knowledge in basketball,” she said. “Some simple examples are talking on defense, a huge key to successful teams, or even making sure everyone knows the plays so if they do get put in they know what to do.
Reinke loves the competition level the underclassmen bring to the team. The coach hopes the seniors serve as the foundation.
The team that finished ahead of the Bears in the conference standings was Wittenberg-Birnamwood, which earned an 8-4 record.
The Chargers enter the season with a young, yet talented team after the graduation of four key seniors from a year ago.
Sophomores Emma Herb and Abi Fraaza started as freshmen and each made an all-conference team. Fraaza made the first team while Herb was an honorable mention.
Seniors Chloe King and Erica Wendler and juniors Megan Konkol and Olivia Curley also return varsity experience and will try to fill some of the voids left by the departed seniors.
“We lost a lot of our speed from last year but most of our scoring returns,” coach Nick Mechelke said. “We are very young team with little varsity experience. If everything goes right we hope we can compete with everyone and finish in the top half of the conference. I deem our biggest challenge is finding our identity as team.”
Another team that will be looking to find its stride is Menominee Indian, which posted a 4-8 record in conference play.
This year, the Eagles will be under the direction of new coach, Mike Skenadore, who is eager build the program.
“The returning players have shown a great deal of maturity and leadership in our early practices,” Skenadore said. “That has helped my transition into this new position. We have been really working on drills that reinforce the fundamentals that will support our play style and the girls have been very receptive to corrections. Our practices have been competitive and intense at times and that is great to see right now while we figure out what we are going to be this season.”
The Eagles will have to replace Faith Munson, an honorable mention pick from last year but will return junior Senihseah Wayka, an honorable mention pick from last winter.
Alyssa Corn and Channing O’Kimosh also return starting experience to Menominee Indian. Mimi Beaulieu-Morgan is another returning letter-winner for the Eagles.
Girls basketball games can begin as early as Nov. 13, but teams can participate in scrimmages up until that day.