A Veterans’ Affair

WAITSBURG - With nine returning varsity on WP's girls basketball team, head coach Jerry Baker knows he won't have too much to worry about. Baker has worked with most of the girls on the team before. "It's nice not having a new learning curve," Baker said. "I have already had most of the girls before, and the one I haven't already knows how I work." Baker doesn't let the girls slack a bit. He gets out on the court and shows them how it's done. During break, it's a quick drink, and then he has them back out on the court running drills and working on ball handling. The team is reaching for the sky again this year, and they know it's possible when they remember their 14-6 season last year. They know it's going to be harder with changes in the regional for­mat, about half the usual number of teams will go to state this year, but it's not far out of reach. "Of course it will be a challenge," said senior varsi­ty player Alyssa Hafen. "But we have a lot of potential and the smarts to use it to our advantage."

Hafen has been with the squad all of her high school career and is confident the team can come together. Past experience has shown they are head strong and ready to tackle any problems, on and off the court.

Eight of the 10 varsity players just finished up a dis­appointing volleyball season and went through a shake-up right at the end with coaches being suspended and girls quitting the team.

But the girls don't seem shaken by the incident. Baker called it a "nonissue," though he's working with new assis­tant coaches this year: Angie Potts and Brittany Zuger. "The kids were over it in a day," he said. "It hasn't been a problem at all." Both seniors Megan Withers and Genesis Pear­son, who quit the volley­ball team before the end of the season, are among Baker's varsity squad.

The 26 JV and varsity lady Cardinals exhibit a wide range of skills. "We have good size, great team speed, nice ball handling and quickness." Baker said. "We are just as good as anyone else in the league, if not better." The team has had more than enough time to dust off their sneakers and be ready for their first game on Dec. 14. They've been practicing since mid-November. Previously scheduled games were pushed back to accommo­date the boys squad, many of whom just finished up post-season football last week. WP's goals are pretty simple: be competitive and get right back on top, where they left off last sea­son. With all the returning experience, Baker knows this is possible with a little hard work on everyone's part.

Five out of nine return­ing varsity players are seniors. Returning lettermen of the season are: Hafen (5'8") starting wing; Genesis Pearson (5'11") starting post; Megan Withers (5'8") starting post; And Iris Batalla (5'4") starting wing.

Pearson is looking for­ward to going out with a fun season to remember. She is confident that her team is willing to work where work is needed to be done to help reach every­one's

shared goal-state. Pearson was a first-team, all-conference selection last season, and WP's larg­est threat in scores and rebounds. Withers is back on the court for her third varsity season in a row. She was a full starter last year and is back and ready to play hard. Juniors Ronnie Hulce (5'9") post, Krystal Harris (5'7") Kristen Potter and Kayla Huxoll (5'6") and Hailey Gonen (5'2") wing, completing the varsity team. The WP girls will play an inner-squad scrimmage, varsity against JV, on Fri­day at 6 p.m. in the high school gym. That event is open to the public. The team will play their first game of the season at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec.14,

WP Cardinals

Girls Varsity

Taylor Doepker

Megan Withers

Genesis Pearson

Alyssa Hafen

Dionna Baker

Krystal Harris

Kayla Huxoll

Hailey Goenen

Kristin Potter

Iris Batalla

Ronnie Hulce

Head Coach: Jerry Baker

Assistant Coaches:

Angie Potts, Brit­tany

Zuger