YOUTHFUL LADY WILDCATS LOOK FOR 23-24 SUCCESS

13 Underclassman Lead Moundridge

By Staff

MOUNDRIDGE – For the upcoming season, the Moundridge girls basketball team will lean on some very talented youth to work toward a league championship and hopefully a trip to the state tournament.

In 2022-23, the Lady Wildcats stumbled out of the gates and went 1-5 before the holiday break only to bounce back, win their midseason tournament and finish the season going 10-6 in the final games before closing the season out by losing to eventual Class 2A state Champion Berean Academy in sub-state.

Last season the team played with five seniors, one junior and three freshmen. Those five seniors - Emily Durst, Kindall Elmore, Reese Schmidt, Aubree Durst, and Hannah Schrag have now graduated. They will be replaced by a core group of highly talented freshman which makes the 2023-24 team a very youthful group as 12 of the 15 Lady Wildcats on the roster will be either sophomore’s or freshmen.

“This will be a very young team,” noted Lady Wildcat head coach Kaleigh Huxman as she enters her third season leading the program. “While young, they are fierce competitors and have spent a lot of time in the gym this off-season.”

The core returning include senior Kaelyn Wedel and sophomore’s Addy Patrick, Macy Kaminkow, and Cammi Unruh played significant minutes and contributed greatly last season. These four combined to average 25.9 points and 14.0 rebounds per game. Combine them with a core group of freshman players who have had much success at the middle school and summer league levels of play, including the Aspyn Stos, Izzy Durst and the Hecox twins – Hattie and Hallie.

Coach Huxman continued her reflections on the upcoming season by adding, “I am looking forward to watching the returnees step into leadership roles this season. We also have a great group of freshmen who are already used to winning.”

The Lady Wildcats open the 2023-24 season on Friday, December 1 hosting Elyria Christian and will face Hillsboro, Inman, Lyons, Little River and Garden Plain all before the Christmas break.

Coach Huxman concluded her pre-season comments saying, “I am excited to get started and look forward to a season of learning and growth.”

MOUNDRIDGE LADY WILDCAT BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

LADY WILDCAT COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Kaleigh Huxman – 3rd Season, 23-20 overall,

Assistant/Junior Varsity Coach > Kimbra Den Hartog

LADY WILDCAT TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 Season > 11-11 overall, lost to state champion Berean Academy in sub-state semifinals.

LADY WILDCAT PLAYER INFORMATION >

Lady Wildcats Gone > Emily Durst, Kindall Elmore, Reese Schmidt, Aubree Durst, Hannah Schrag.

Key Lady Wildcat Returnees >

Addy Patrick – 5’5” soph. SG; 8.8 pts/g, 2.1 rebs/g; 2nd team All-League

Macy Kaminkow – 5’10” soph. F; 4.7 pts/g, 4.6 rebs/g.

Kaelyn Wedel – 5’9” sr. F; 5.5 pts/g, 4.3 rebs/g.

Cammi Unruh – 5’8 soph. PG; 6.9 pts/g, 3.0 rebs/g, 2.2 stls/g; honorable mention All-League.

New Lady Wildcats to Watch >

Macie Woltje – 5’9” sr. C; Haylee Jantz – 5’7” soph. G; Caroline Bisterfeldt – 5’6” jr. SG; Maddie Doherty – 5’5” soph. G; Hattie Hecox – 5’9” fresh. SG; Hallie Hecox- 5’6” fresh. PG; Aspyn Stos – 5’9” fresh. C.

Player Roster >

# 2 > Addy Patrick – 5’5” soph. SG

# 3 > Cammi Unruh – 5’8” soph. PG

# 14 > Kaelyn Wedel – 5’9” sr. F

# 23 > Haylee Jantz – 5’7” soph. G

# 24 > Macy Kaminkow – 5’10” soph. F

# 32 > Macie Woltje – 5’9” sr. C

Other > Caroline Bisterfeldt – 5’6” jr. SG

Other > Maddie Doherty – 5’5” soph. G

Other > Hattie Hecox – 5’9” fresh. SG

Other > Hallie Hecox – 5’6” fresh. PG

Other > Aspyn Stos – 5’9” fresh. C

Other > Izzy Durst – 5’5” fresh. SG

Other > Brie Moddelmog – 5’8” fresh. C

Other > Mackaylie Woltje – 5’8” fresh. F

Other > Kiera Stucky – 5’5” fresh. G

2023-24 LADY WILDCAT SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > hosting Elyria Christian

Saturday, December 2 > at Oxford

Tuesday, December 5 > Lady Wildcat PreSeason Tournament - hosting Hillsboro

Thursday, December 7 > Lady Wildcat PreSeason Tournament - hosting Inman

Friday, December 8 > Lady Wildcat PreSeason Tournament hosting Lyons

Tuesday, December 12 > hosting Little River

Thursday, December 14 > HOA/CPL Challenge - at Garden Plain

Friday, January 5 > at Marion

Tuesday, January 9 > hosting Bennington

Friday, January 12 > hosting Remington

Friday, January 19 > at Goessel

Monday, January 22 > at Sedgwick Tournament TBD

Tuesday, January 23 > at Sedgwick Tournament TBD

Thursday, January 25 > at Sedgwick Tournament TBD

Friday, January 26 > at Sedgwick Tournament TBD

Tuesday, January 30 > at Ell-Saline

Friday, February 2 > at Inman

Friday, February 9 > hosting Hutchinson Trinity

Tuesday, February 13 > at Sedgwick

Friday, February 16 > hosting Berean Academy (Winter Homecoming)

Tuesday, February 20 > hosting Sterling (Parent’s Night)

Monday, February 26 – Friday, March 1 > Class 2A Sub-State

Wednesday, March 6 – Saturday, March 9 > Class 2A State Tournament

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