COACH
Brad Atchison, 13th year (31st overall)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jenyne Beehler, sophomores; Jared Eilers, junior varsity; Sally Wilson, freshmen
LAST SEASON
ADVERTISEMENT
Willmar was 11-7 in Central Lakes Conference (4th place), 15-11 overall. Lost in section semifinals to Perham 63-53.
KEY DATES
Season/home: Today, Bemidji, varsity 5 p.m. (3:30 p.m. B Squad)
Conference opener: Tuesday at Sauk Rapids
Wild-Card Invitational: Dec. 28-29 at Willmar (New London-Spicer, Watertown-Mayer, KMS).
Section 2AAA: Feb. 26, first-round (high seed)
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
(Returning letterwinners in bold)
ADVERTISEMENT
SENIORS
Megan Brown, 5-2 guard
Briana Goldschmidt, 5-7 guard
Greta King, 5-10 forward
JUNIORS
Lesley Christianson, 5-8 forward
Kelsey Evans, 5-8 forward
Brianna Johnson, 5-8 forward
ADVERTISEMENT
Katie Kroona, 5-7 forward
Hannah Murphy, 5-5 guard
Emily J. Nelsen, 5-9 forward
Jasper Sweazy, 5-7 forward
SOPHOMORES
Mariel Aamot, 5-3 guard
Alex Lippert, 6-2 post
Jena Thompson, 5-11 center
ADVERTISEMENT
Alissa Tinklenberg, 5-8 forward
Hannah Smith, 5-5 guard
TEAM OUTLOOK
This should be a quicker team that will lack the physical post-personality of recent teams. Senior guard Megan Brown is a returning starter, but she sprained an ankle in open gym and may not be ready until the fourth game. Mariel Aamot, who saw some action last season as a freshman, is quick off the dribble and is a three-point threat. Kelsey Evans, an all-conference forward/guard, will start at shooting guard with Brown injured and Aamot at the point. Hannah Murphy will rotate into the backcourt. Third-year starter Briana Goldschmidt is a three-point threat. Senior Greta King moves into a fulltime role at forward. Jena Thompson, a sophomore, takes over the low-post responsibilities with forward Emily Nelsen a capable backup down low. Sophomore Alex Lippert, a 6-2 sophomore, and junior Lesley Christianson appear ready to contribute off the bench ... To climb up from fourth a year ago, Willmar must surpass one of these: defending champion St. Cloud Tech, runner-up Brainerd and third-place Fergus Falls, again the teams to watch.
FROM THE COACH
Brad Atchison: "Our complexion is a little different this year; less physical, more up and down the court and fast break. This summer we played four tournaments and scored a lot of points. We looked good on offense, more wide open and shooting lots of threes. Defensively, it's going to take some time; I see us perhaps playing more zone this year.
- Rand Middleton
