After coaching the Weyauwega-Fremont girls’ freshman basketball team the past couple of seasons, Joel Titus was ready for another challenge.

The opportunity came after varsity coach Tim Cullen stepped down after the 2010-11 season.

“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Titus said. “I’m very fortunate to have been under Tim for a couple years. He showed me what it means to be not only a successful coach, but a good coach. The way he communicated with the kids, I can only hope I can copy that. I’m very lucky to have a group of not just good athletes, but good kids. They’re very coachable, they listed well and they give 110 percent every time.”

The Indians opened their season Tuesday, Nov. 29, at West De Pere and will travel to Columbus Friday, Dec. 9, before the home opener, a Central Wisconsin 8 Conference matchup Tuesday, Dec. 13, with Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

The Indians have three all-conference players back this season in juniors Bailey Kapitzke and Macey Schoenick, who made the second team, and Jenni Hellweg, who received honorable mention.

Also back are senior Ellen Schroeder and juniors Mariah Hulbert and Danielle Austreng.

“We are a junior-rich squad and people are expecting a lot not just from them, but our group as a whole,” Titus said. “It’s going to be their leadership on the floor and more importantly off the court. We could probably start eight kids with the depth that we have. As long as they can trust each other and as long as we care about our teammates more than ourselves, we’re going to be a difficult team to beat.”

Todd Breuer will coach the junior varsity team, while Miranda Bartel is replacing Titus as freshman coach. Keith Hulbert is the varsity assistant coach.

Titus expects Amherst, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Bonduel to compete for a CWC-8 championship.

“We’ll be somewhere in that mix,” he said. “There are no nights off in our conference. Every team is going to be improved. We just have to make sure that we do that every single night.”