The Hayward Girls Varsity Basketball team has been conquering wins left and right. The Lady Canes have been beating strong non-conference and conference teams so far this season. The girls have shown to have a promising season, and are hoping to leave a conference title on the wall next to the others. This group is more than just a team though, they’re the “Fun Group.”
Coach Brennan, Coach Schmitt, and Coach Stark have a tight knit group this year. With seven seniors,
Mel Isham, Grace Schmidt, Charley Christian, Holly Froemel, Ryley Quaderer, Kendal DeCora, and Maria Halberg. With an additional two juniors, Abby Laird, and Emma Elkins. Let’s not forget the two sophomores, Kordelia Geissler, and Addi Actor. Each individual has contributed to this team in many ways this season. Either on offense, defense, holding each other accountable, or helping one another up. It’s fun to see this group work as a team and seeing everyone ready to play. Whether you’re on the court or off, everyone is always cheering and celebrating one another. The girls always make it a point to celebrate the highs in games but to also work on the lows. Seeing the smiles on the court makes the game of basketball something more- it makes the overall atmosphere more euphoric.
The varsity girls have two captains on the team, Grace and Mel. They have a lot of combined leadership and experience on the varsity end. Both have been playing varsity since their freshman year. The dedication and time spent in the gym has shown throughout the years and both deserve the captain spot. Some people think being a captain is just a label, but to Mel and Grace, it means something more. Mel said, “…it means that I step into a role model position for my teammates. It means I show dedication for the sport and truly show up in every way, from big to small. It means motivating others to give everything they have everyday. As a captain, I feel responsible to show that you should put in time outside of practice. As a captain I make team decisions during games, at team meals, at team bonding, and during practice. To me, it’s truly about trust and confidence in my basketball team, which I am more than happy to say I have.”
Grace views the team captain from a different perspective. “As a captain, you have to lead the team and be a role model for others to look up to. You also have to effectively communicate with not only your teammates but with the coaches as well. I think it’s a lot of responsibility to be a captain, but it’s also rewarding because you’re able to see the team succeed.” The two girls are true leaders on and off the court.
Overall, the Lady Canes are a fun group to watch this year and it’s exciting to see where this group goes. If you haven’t gotten to see them play, you should make it an effort to catch a game.
