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The girl’s basketball team here has struggled these past few years, winning only a handful of games each season. With the help of new coaches, will they be able to achieve great things this year?
“I just think we’re gonna do well this year,” said freshman Ava Gardiner.
The girls are excited about the season and think they will do great this year. Currently, the team is ranked 8th in the region. They are currently 5-5.
“I definitely think the coaches have helped me to improve my skills this season,” said senior Jessica Applegarth.
This year the girls have new and returning coaches. While last year’s head coach Taylor Christensen tends to her new- born, Tyler Schlappi has stepped up to be the head coach. His fellow coaches include the JV coach Alan Kendall, Tyler’s own brother and gold medalist at the Paralympics Mike Schlappi as the head freshman-sophomore coach, and Natalie Madsen as the freshman-sophmore assistant coach.
“One thing I like about the coaches is that they’re personable,” said junior Shea Rawlinson.
Both the coaches and the players for the girl’s basketball team shared that they feel a personal bond with each other. New coach Mike Schlappi is also excited because he just loves the sport.
“I have a real appreciation for the game, so I really want the kids to know what a privilege it is to win,” said Schlappi.
The team not only feels like a little family but has a lot of family on it. Coach Tyler Schlappi has his older brother Mike Schlappi helping him with coaching and has his daughter Malia Schalppi on the varsity team as well. Tyler isn’t the only coach with kids playing for NS, with Natalie Madsen and her two daughters Alivia Madsen and McKenzie Madsen and coach Alan Kendall has his daughter Evey Kendall playing. The team has another pair of sisters, Payton Johnson and Marley Johnson.
“I think my role is just to make good suggestions to my younger brother Tyler,” said Schlappi.
Gardiner shared that her favorite game to watch and play was their game against North Sevier on Dec. 9, 2023, where they won in overtime 51-47. Three words Gardiner would use to describe the game are intense, exciting, and scary. Her favorite moment was when Payton Johnson made her first three-pointer of the game during overtime, securing the win.
“The more we work, the better we get,” said Gardiner.
In previous years, the girls team would only win a maxi- mum of 6 games. This year, they are at 5 wins, with many games left to play. It is likely that this year will be their best year since the 2014-2015 season.
