There will be some growing pains this season for the Weyauwega-Fremont girls’ basketball team.
Although the Indians have talent – especially at the sophomore level – coach Tim Cullen is also faced with a team with not a lot of varsity experience.
“So far it’s been up and down with the young players, which is what I expected,” he said. “I love our kids. They’re coachable, but we don’t have quite as much game experience as we’ve had in the past. We have a long way to go.”
The Indians have come up short in regional championship games the past two seasons. One goal for this season’s team is to take it a step further.
“We’re hoping to get farther than that, although it gets tougher for us if you look at our tournament road,” Cullen said. “The five divisions didn’t help us necessarily. We’re Division 3 yet, but a bunch of other bigger schools are in there.
“The No. 1 goal in mind is a conference title,” he added. “We’re worried about fundamentals and one play at a time. The big things will happen by themselves.”
Returning players include senior Danielle Johnson and sophomore Mariah Hulbert.
“Our key class is really our sophomores,” Cullen said. “We’re loaded with talent. Mariah Hulbert played and contributed big last year. Bailey Kapitzke contributed quite a bit last year, as well as Dani Austreng. We have young talent and some underclassmen that are good players as well, so we have a nice mix.”
Twenty-three players are divided onto three teams.
“A lot of teams in our conference have trouble filling three squads,” Cullen said. “We have 23 players, which isn’t a huge number, but we have 23 really good players. I’m really happy with the quality at all three levels. Our program is solid and we should be really competitive at all three levels.”
Other players expected to compete for playing time include juniors Ellen Schroeder and Leah Eick and freshman Morgan Wilson.
“They’ll have to take a big step this year as far as really contributing to the A Level team,” Cullen said of his two juniors. “Morgan Wilson has played a lot of basketball. She’s a solid player and fun to watch.”
Defending Central Wisconsin 8 Conference champion Wittenberg-Birnamwood should be one of the league’s top teams, according to Cullen.
“Wittenberg lost an awful lot, but guess what, they have a great program. Right now, they are the conference champions and they will be until somebody beats them.”
He expects Amherst, Bonduel and Manawa to be solid as well.
“It should be a fun conference,” Cullen said. “Once again, we have a lot of good athletes that compete hard.”
Weyauwega-Fremont 2010-11 Girls’ Basketball Schedule Varsity
Tuesday, Nov. 30 – vs. West DePere
Tuesday, Dec. 7 – vs. Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 14 – vs. North Fond du Lac, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 17 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 21 – at Wautoma, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 29 – Holiday Tournament, TBA.
Thursday, Dec. 30 – Holiday Tournament, TBA.
Friday, Jan. 7 – at Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11 – at Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 – vs. Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 20 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 – at Bonduel, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 28 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 – vs. Gillett, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 – vs. Shiocton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 18 – vs. Manawa, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 – at Winnebago Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25 – at Amherst, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 3 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 7:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity, C Team
Tuesday, Nov. 30 – vs. West DePere
Tuesday, Dec. 7 – vs. Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 14 – vs. North Fond du Lac, 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 17 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 21 – at Wautoma, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 29 – Holiday Tournament, TBA.
Thursday, Dec. 30 – Holiday Tournament, TBA.
Friday, Jan. 7 – at Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11 – at Manawa, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 – vs. Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 20 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 – at Bonduel, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 28 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 – vs. Gillett, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 – vs. Shiocton, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 18 – vs. Manawa, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 – at Winnebago Lutheran, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25 – at Amherst, 6 p.m.
Thursday, March 3 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 6 p.m.