The Arrowhead Girl’s Basketball team made an appearance at the WIAA state tournament last year for the first time in 16 years.

Last year, the team lost just three seniors to graduation and will have eight returning players; five of those are seniors this season.

Kelly Smith, a senior on the girl’s varsity basketball team said, “I feel very optimistic and really excited about the upcoming season with all the new talent and all the work that everyone has put in over the summer.”

Lauren Peterson, who is also a senior on the girl’s varsity basketball team this year said, “I feel confident about this upcoming season because we have a lot of strong returners who are both juniors and seniors and Witte has been pushing us to work hard.”

This is Coach Witte’s second year as head coach for the girl’s varsity basketball team, but he assisted Coach Hamilton prior to becoming head coach.

Smith said all the girls work very hard throughout the summer doing a conditioning program and attending open gyms.  Smith said the summer work will benefit them as a whole team this year.

Smith said the team chemistry will be great this year because everyone is friends and gets along well.  She said this is very important for a team to be successful.

Smith also said the Classic Eight conference lost some big post players to graduation last year, but the Arrowhead team has a lot of returners.

The returning seniors are Smith, Peterson, Abby Zeman, Trish Nigl and Megan Douglas. The returning juniors are Kayla Lorenz, Augy Jepsen and Riley Knapek who got pulled up to varsity halfway through the year.

Some of the team’s goals this year are to win conference and make it to state again, Smith said.

Peterson said, “Our team goals this year is to make it to state and become close, almost like a family.”

Peterson also said the seniors this year will be herself, Smith, Abby Zeman, Trish Nigl and Megan Douglas. She said their roles this year will be being role models, leading the team in the right direction and helping everyone succeed.

Smith and Peterson both said they are very optimistic about the season and are excited for it to start.