Who will be the Trojan girls' toughest basketball opponent this season?

• Harlan (56%, 24 Votes)
• Kuemper (19%, 8 Votes)
• Glenwood (9%, 4 Votes)
• Creston (5%, 2 Votes)
• Red Oak (5%, 2 Votes)
• St. Albert (2%, 1 Votes)
• Clarinda (2%, 1 Votes)
• Lewis Central (2%, 1 Votes)
• Shenandoah (0%, 0 Votes)
• Denison-Schleswig (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 43

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This has been one full year with new coach Kelly Juhl and he said he expects the girls to be used to him and the system. They should be ready to “compete like crazy.”  

But with no doubt the girls will face some obstacles this year.  The girls this year are lacking height, which could play a big factor on getting rebounds and allowing second chance points with the small lineup.

Another factor is small numbers. Like the football team, the girls are lacking big numbers, which is a disadvantage.  Smaller numbers mean fewer scout teams, fewer players to choose from, and fewer opportunities for the starters to rest. The girls this year will face bigger teams in the conference.  

The girls held an initial team meeting to discuss expectations and introduce the new JV coach Emma Walker.  This also gave the coaches time to see who actually they had out and get an idea of the numbers they’ll have to work with.  Juhl said he’s “ready to roll.”

Juhl said he is preparing for the season also by fixing up the game plan to fit perfectly to the personnel.  Some of the returning starters and key players from last season are Erin Olsen, Tiffany Williams, Catherine Leonard and Skye Thompson.  Juhl expects the three seniors to be leaders this year for the program and also expects Leonard to be the vocal leader, and step up and be a difference-maker.

These four will have big shoes to fill from last year’s four graduating seniors.  One of the biggest seniors was Macey Schmitt who averaged 5.3 points per game last year.  She was considered one of the better shooters and ball handlers in the backcourt.  Some new changes to this year’s team will of be the addition of the new freshmen.  

The team also added a new coach.  Emma Walker was the head volleyball this fall and looks to bring new ideas and techniques from her coaching of AHSTW last year.  This team will be without last year’s JV coach, Terry Hinzmann, who will be coaching at Atlantic Middle School. Walker will be the new JV coach, and Dan Vargason will continue as freshman coach. The girls look forward to this up and coming season. With a new coach and new players, the girls are looking to compete every single night.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Terry Hinzmann as the 2015 freshman coach.