A preview of Westfall ahead of the girls basketball season

WILLIAMSPORT − Westfall is no stranger to a challenge. Over the past half decade, it has made a gradual decline from a routine competitor in the Scioto Valley Conference to perpetual underdog. There have been a handful of winning seasons in recent history, but they've just as often hovered near the middle of the conference standings or below.

But another set of challenges have presented themselves. The Mustangs now have to push through the growing pains of both a new coach and having one of the youngest rosters in the SVC. Still, there remains a sense of optimism floating among the ranks. Their lineup is small, but the Mustangs are both willing and able to improve from last season.

Here's a look at the Mustangs before the 2022-203 season gets underway:

Inside the Mustangs

Westfall hit a bump in the road last season. Despite ending the 2020-2021 season with a winning record, Westfall closed out last year with a 4-19 record overall and won just two games against conference opponents. It finished just a game ahead of last-place Zane Trace in the conference standings.

But the Mustangs have a fresh face leading the program. Joseph Patete has stepped in to take charge this year following the departure of three-year coach Zane Miller. Revamping a team that finished near the bottom of the SVC is a tall order, but Patete hasn't shied away from the task yet.

Young roster

The Mustangs enter their regular season as one of the youngest teams in the SVC. Five of their eight players are sophomores, and they are the only team in the conference without any seniors on the roster. Plus, the loss of senior Gabby Patete to graduation is bound to leave a void on the floor. Patete averaged 11.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last season and was a Division III All-Southeast District Special Mention last season.

Still, there remains a fair amount of talent that the Mustangs can work with. Alyssa Wyman returns to a starting role this season, while sophomore Paige Weiss has the opportunity to carve her own niche on offense. Weiss averaged 7.1 points per game last season and averaged the most points per game of any player on Westfall's roster.

Patete is also excited to see what his underclassmen are capable of. Although players like Aubrey Clark, Izzy Picklesimer and Isabella Patete saw little to no time on varsity last season, they have garnered enough interest to warrant a spot in the lineup this year.

Shift in culture

Perhaps the biggest change Patete wants to bring to the program is how Westfall perceives itself. Westfall has only had two winning seasons over the past six years, and confidence has fallen over time.

But Patete wants to change that. The Mustangs are young, sure, but they've taken to his coaching method well. Though the roster is small, it grants the Mustangs a degree of freedom to experiment with different approaches in game situations. Patete utilized every player on the roster during a scrimmage against Huntington last week, and it paid off. Westfall upset Huntington 18-17, and six of its players scored.

It's not a win in the regular season, but it is a good sign. Huntington was tied for second place in the SVC last season. If Westfall can build off a small scrimmage victory, Patete's culture shift might come sooner rather than later.

"Coming back, we're a young team," Patete said. "We're young and learning to win. That's the biggest key for this group. Changing the mindset of the players and the program is our biggest goal."

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: A preview of Westfall ahead of the girls basketball season