Waterford Lady Wildcats Set Their Sights on Dayton and Redemption
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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Coming off a state runner-up, the Waterford Wildcats girls have one goal in mind this year: a state title. With four of five starters returning for Waterford, the Wildcats are in prime position to make a return to Dayton. They will have to navigate the year without starting point guard Laykyn Jones as she graduated last season. Freshman Brynnlee Pottmeyer will take over duties with the ball for Waterford. The Wildcats have a veteran rotation outside Pottmeyer with junior Elsie Malec and seniors Avery Wagner, Avery Smithberger and Kendall Sury rounding out the starting lineup. The seniors on this team are well-acquainted with the highest level of basketball in Ohio, claiming a title their freshman year over New Knoxville 35-26.
After falling to Ft. Loramie last year in the final game, Wagner promised the squad would return to the state title game again this year. She reaffirmed that commitment and said Waterford’s expectation remains the same every year. Wagner said, “I feel like every year our goal is to make it back there. I feel like this year we have a great group of girls obviously. We have four girls coming back. We lost Laykyn Jones. She was a valuable piece of the team. I think there’s a lot of good girls. They’re young, they might have some inexperience, but I think we’ll end up making a run and making it back.”
The Wildcats will be relying on more young faces outside of Pottmeyer off the bench. While Jones highlighted the departures for Waterford, they lost key bench pieces behind her such as Sydnee Cline, Sophie Huffman, Leah Ryan and Ali Franchino. Players like Ava Hurley, Cira Ponchak, Gracie Hartline and others will have to step into those key minutes. While the departures hurt the team, players recall the run to the championship game fondly. Smithberger said, “Berlin Hiland was by far the greatest feeling ever. Winning that game in overtime because we were not supposed to win that game at all. We came from being down eight and pulled it out in overtime. So that was like the greatest feeling ever.”
The Wildcats know they will not walk right into Dayton. Coaches and players alike acknowledged the challenge ahead of them heading into the season. Having a head coach like Jerry Close keeps the players on track, something Kendall Sury spoke highly of. Sury said, “I really think just working hard in practice and holding each other accountable for everything we do in practice. And, like coach does everyday he’s says, well get on the line, we’re gonna run the eight-minute drill.”
Close is optimistic for the season, but he still knows they have a tough task ahead of them. With teams like Federal Hocking, Athens, Belpre, Sheridan, Newark Catholic, Berlin Hiland and arch-rival Fort Frye, it is not going to be a cakewalk. Whether it is a TVC-Hocking rival or challenging non-conference opponent, coach Close affirmed that Southeast Ohio should be expecting fireworks this year. He said, “Well, I think it’s got to be exciting. We’ve got a lot of good to look forward to, but we’ve got a lot of work to do and a tough schedule to get us ready, so it’s gonna be a very interesting season.”
The Wildcats have started strong claiming their first four games. In their first meeting at Federal Hocking, Waterford earned a hard-won victory 63-55 over Federal Hocking and escaped the talented Unioto Shermans 62-57. The foundation is being laid for the Wildcats, but they have to endure the marathon of a season. Ohio should keep their eyes on Waterford, Ohio. If they look away, they might miss greatness this season.