Team looks to have another strong season
Women honored with 22nd place early ranking, will take one game at a time
Claudia Lozano
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Sports
In March, after the women's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Div. III Championships, losing to Simpson College, the team lost four seniors.
Later on in April, head coach Tonja Englund said she felt the junior class was ready to take over.
And so they have.
Englund said the team has 5 returning seniors, who have come from a successful season and they've learned what it takes to be champions of conference that took them to the NCAA Championships.
"The seniors want to leave a mark on the program," Englund said. "The team has very solid returning seniors that have contributed in the past and the team will be defined by them."
This year the team will be starting its season on Friday as they travel to Ripon for the Ripon College Tip Off Tourney. Englund said the team will be playing two very good teams. On Friday the Blugolds will face Ripon and on Saturday Concordia.
Sophomore Kari Kaeding said both teams will be good competition and will give the team a chance to see where it's are.
As of now the team is ranked 22nd on the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches' poll. Englund said the team is honored by the early recognition, but the team is more concerned about team chemistry.
Senior Pam Kaye said the team hasn't proven anything yet.
"We still want to come out strong," Kaye said. "If we don't do anything with (the ranking) it doesn't mean anything."
Senior Heidi Arciszewski, one of the team's three captains, said she is proud of the ranking, but the team is just going to take one game at a time.
"Right now we are not worried about the ranking," Arciszewski said. "We are more worried about where we are going to be at the end of the season."
Last season the team finished with a 23-7 overall record. This year the team is practicing four hours each day, six days a week, Kaye said. She added the team is not working differently from the past season, but has been working a lot the first month, adding she hopes it pays off this weekend.
Later on in April, head coach Tonja Englund said she felt the junior class was ready to take over.
And so they have.
Englund said the team has 5 returning seniors, who have come from a successful season and they've learned what it takes to be champions of conference that took them to the NCAA Championships.
"The seniors want to leave a mark on the program," Englund said. "The team has very solid returning seniors that have contributed in the past and the team will be defined by them."
This year the team will be starting its season on Friday as they travel to Ripon for the Ripon College Tip Off Tourney. Englund said the team will be playing two very good teams. On Friday the Blugolds will face Ripon and on Saturday Concordia.
Sophomore Kari Kaeding said both teams will be good competition and will give the team a chance to see where it's are.
As of now the team is ranked 22nd on the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches' poll. Englund said the team is honored by the early recognition, but the team is more concerned about team chemistry.
Senior Pam Kaye said the team hasn't proven anything yet.
"We still want to come out strong," Kaye said. "If we don't do anything with (the ranking) it doesn't mean anything."
Senior Heidi Arciszewski, one of the team's three captains, said she is proud of the ranking, but the team is just going to take one game at a time.
"Right now we are not worried about the ranking," Arciszewski said. "We are more worried about where we are going to be at the end of the season."
Last season the team finished with a 23-7 overall record. This year the team is practicing four hours each day, six days a week, Kaye said. She added the team is not working differently from the past season, but has been working a lot the first month, adding she hopes it pays off this weekend.
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