Women's basketball welcomes newcomers

Last winter, the Viterbo women's basketball team struggled to put a team together at times, having only eight healthy players for a portion of the season.

     With an exceptionally large and talented recruiting class, that should no longer be a problem for the V-Hawks this season.

     Currently eight freshmen are on the roster, and many of them have already experienced success at a high level in high school.

     For example, Laquita Becker, a point guard, helped direct Caledonia High School to a Minnesota state championship last winter. 

     Emily Larson, a 5'10" forward, was a top contributor on a Middleton team that advanced to the WIAA state semifinals. 

     Many of the girls have received individual honors as well. 

     Dani Templin, who stands 6'0" yet often plays guard, averaged over 16 points per game at Richland Center High School, earning First Team All-State and Southwest Wisconsin Conference Player of the Year honors in the process.

     Kenzie Kolb also earned First Team All-State accolades for a Madison Edgewood squad that won a conference title. Kolb averaged 15 points per game and was named Madison City Co-Player of the Year.

     Guard Jada Straub was named Honorable Mention All-State for a Wisconsin Rapids Assumption team that went 23-1.

     Three more standout recruits round out the class: Sami Weaver, Jocelin Finn, and Jess Pavlinec. Weaver led Kara Brandau's G-E-T High squad in scoring, while Finn captained the Stevens Point team. Pavlinec comes to Viterbo from Benet Academy in Naperville, Ill. 

     All of these new faces will have to mesh with a returning nucleus that includes a trio of high-quality post players in Sally Colby, Joni Stanek, and Katina Mandylaris. Both Colby and Stanek missed the majority of last season with injuries. 

     Coach Bobbi Vandenberg expects "several of the freshmen to contribute quite a bit" and added that they have "gelled very well" with the returning players. 

      "The university made a larger financial commitment to all the athletic programs, so I was able to target some higher level players and to target them earlier than usual, Vandenberg said. ‘We spent more time in the summer recruiting because we knew we had the chance to get some of the kids who play on high level AAU teams. "

     Vandenberg also added that "this recruiting class is not only full of high quality athletes, but good students and high character people."

     The team will open their season on Nov. 5 at Judson College.