2008-09 Season Outlook by Coach Welch

"Six players return from last season's 18-12 team.  With short numbers last year, all of them logged significant playing time and provide a really solid core to build the 2008-09 squad around.  That said, gone is All Conference performer Shannon Dumond and her almost 15 points a game. Dumond, who turned down several offers from D-I to NAIA D-II, stayed true to her original intentions and will enter the clinical portion of the KVCC dental hygiene program next Fall.  Also gone is the only other sophomore starter on that team - Jessica Sanders.

Leading this special group of sophomores are the three players that have been named captains for this season.  Returning captain and part time starter Nicole Compher heads the list and  is joined by returning starting two guard Ericka King, who took on the role of perimeter 'stopper' last year, and second team All Conference player, 6'2" Jeannie Closson.  Closson averaged a double double in points (13.5) and rebounds (10.9) in the league last year in addition to 99 blocks on the season for a 3.4 average and will look to improve on those totals.  Also returning  are 6'0" Conference Honorable Mention swing player Caitlin Krull who barely missed her own double double, averaging 10.6 ppg and 8.2 rebounds; the state's leading percentage three point shooter, Alicia Jesnek, who just might be the most improved player returning for the Cougars based on early workouts. Also returning is the very talented Ja'nee Morton who ran into academic difficulties last year but is practicing with us and will join us in January. Morton was averaging 11.6 points and 7.1 rebounds when declared ineligible.  I have been impressed with this group's leadership and work ethic in our first three weeks of work.

The addition of  another talented sophomore who has been attending school at Valley adds significantly to the depth chart. Parchment's Kaitlyn Betley Oleksyn, who was going to be with us last year until 'life' stepped in and altered those plans, has joined us after spending the year last year as our computerized stats whiz  She will supply depth at the crucial point guard position.

Several outstanding freshman newcomers and another player that graduated in 2004 but has not played in college yet will provide tremendous depth this season and a couple of them will challenge for starting spots.  Heading the list is 6'2" Alexis Szekely from Kalamazoo Christian.  'Szeke' follows her sister to Valley after averaging 16 ppg and 8 rebounds for the Comets as a senior.  She was an All Conference player in two sports in the KVA.  Mariah Hilliard of  South Haven High School is probably the most 'under-the-radar' player in this freshman class.   She was a four year starter for the Rams and All State, playing almost every position for at team that struggled to get to double digit wins.  She's a versatile 'player' and will compete for starter minutes - probably at the point.  Joining Mariah as a real good player on a team that struggled is Anna Clark from Vicksburg.  We've watched Anna since she was about eight when she first got our attention as an over achiever at our camps.  An All Conference player in the Wolverine and Honorable Mention BCAM All State, she is bidding for minutes at point guard.  Another prize recruit is 6'1" Dee Dee Closson.  Jeannie's younger sister is a spectacular athlete who was All State in three sports at Parchment High school (basketball, volleyball & track) and competed on the Cougar volleyball team this Fall.  With quick feet, quick hands and an aggressive attitude, Dee Dee will make her presence felt as a freshman for the Cougars. Emily Komins, the do-everything 5'4" dynamo guard from Constantine has been a pleasant surprise with her energy and hustle.  Also making a bid for minutes is Latoya Crockett, a player that we recruited four years ago out of Bangor High School who may be the 'sleeper' of this class.  She's had to knock some of the 'rust' off, but you can see her coming back to form every day.  She's a really good player that could make an impact this year.

As a general rule walk-on's seldom make an impact on the Lady Cougar roster but I think this year may be an exception. Both Danielle Bachleda (5'10") of Bridgman High School and Kristina Crane (5'8") of Portage Northern High School have shown well in early drill work .  Dani has tremendous strength in the post and has become much more 'fluid' in the few short weeks and 'KC' has the quickness and speed that are difficult to teach.  Both have very big 'up-sides'.  Both have great attitudes and have improved their games in a short period of time with hard work and I'm sure that will contribute no matter how many minutes of action they actually see.  Tamira Cook, combo guard from Muskegon Heights, will practice with us and red-shirt this season as she get acclimated to college life and adjusts to the speed of the college game.

This new group has already made its presence felt in the Kalamazoo community by participating in the 'Strides Walk' for breast Cancer research on October 11th and raising almost $1000.  We are very proud of the effort put forth by them in this very worthy cause. 

I really like what I see with this squad.  The effort in the classroom has been solid, and the desire to make their mark in the Lady Cougar tradition as a group has impressed me.  We have yet to play anyone, but obviously someone thinks we have a chance to be pretty good and they have us ranked #2 in the country to begin the season.  I'm not sure we're THERE yet, but the potential for special things certainly is.  We have exceptional depth at every position, size, quickness and speed, and a lot of kids that are what I would call 'play-makers'.  All this being said, it will ultimately come down to two things - how we come together as a team and how willing we are to rebound and play the type of defense that has provided success for the program in the past.

As I said in the beginning - I like what I see so far! This could be a special group and make their mark in a tradition marked with excellence." 

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