Wynford girls hopes to compete for a league title with mix of experience, talented youth
HOLMES TOWNSHIP - Things are a little different at Wynford this season.
Numbers are low with just 10 girls on the roster and no junior varsity team for coach Amy Taylor-Sheldon, the first such instance in her 27-year stint.
But while numbers are lacking, experience and talent certainly isn't. Taylor-Sheldon returns six letter winners and four starters despite losing three to graduation.
"We are guard oriented rather than a two post lineup which is unusual for the program," Taylor-Sheldon said. "All of our depth is on varsity because of lack of JV team schedule. Finding creative ways to compete daily has been a challenge for the whole team."
Senior Grace Stucky returns with the most experience on the team, she was second team All-Northern 10 as a junior and honorable mention District 6 after averaging 6.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks last season. Classmate Alexis Stevely was honorable mention Northern 10 last season and is the team's returning leading scorer with 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds, nailing 59 3-pointers along the way which was the most of anyone in the league. Senior Katie Wagner was honorable mention District 6 after averaging 7.0 points and 9.1 rebounds, and senior Reese McGuire (4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds) make up four of the five starters.
Round out the lineup is a talented freshman in Maradath Engler who will run the point for the Royals. And she has already made her presence felt having knocked down the game-winning bucket in Wynford's opener against River Valley (45-43).
Adding depth will be juniors Zoe Whitmeyer and Kenna Caldwell, along with sophomores Briana Westrick and Heather Wappelhorst.
"We want to compete for a championship," Taylor-Sheldon said. "Increasing offensive consistency, decreasing turnovers, executing the scouting report and game plan, and meshing as a group will be the greatest factors in achieving our goals."
This is the year to compete for a league title, too, with the Northern 10 virtually wide open.
"In my opinion the N10 is the most level it has been in a decade," Taylor-Sheldon said. "Teams who have been in the bottom half are rising and the top two teams in the league lost some key players. The league should be very competitive."
Wynford heads to Riverdale on Saturday for a nonleague clash before N10 play starts on Dec. 2 at home against Upper Sandusky.
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Wynford girls basketball wants to compete for titles
