Basketball’s starting up, and the girls’ team has a very promising season ahead. The team, coached by Monica Williams, had an impressive season last year, making it to both the WPIAL playoffs and PIAA(state) playoffs. This year, however, they are predicted to win the WPIAL Single A section! After point guard Sophie Burkholder graduated last year, the team acquired junior point guard Gia Thorpe, who transferred from Shaler. Both Gia and forward Ayanna Townshend are listed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Players to Watch” list for the upcoming season. The other starters are junior guard Luka Van de Venne, senior guard-forward Kayla Small, and junior forward Hannah Kwiecinski. Kayla, this year’s captain, comments on this talented group of players: “I am super excited to be playing with the team this year. We have a really bright season ahead, with a strong perimeter and an evenly strong post. We also have a bunch of hard workers which makes the job rewarding and fun! So proud to be with this motivated group of girls.” The girls have already played in a preseason tournament in Hempfield, finishing with two wins and one loss, which is impressive considering they played the last game with no subs.

And, prospects are looking up in the future as well. The team overall is quite young. Kayla is the only senior, and the team has nine freshmen playing. So, look forward to an unprecedented season and years ahead for WT Girls’ Basketball, and come support our team at the first game on December 12 (at WT, against Cornell High School).