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Coach: Brad Sander, second year.
Record: 10-11.
Last year: 10-11 (6-6 SLL).
Key players: Jon Sandwisch, 6-3, Sr., G; Donny Bowen, 6-3, Jr., F/G; Andy Shrewsbury, 5-9, Jr., PG;
Jake Lewandowski, 5-9, Jr., G; Cody Croll, 6-3, Jr., G.
Forecast: As far as Sander is concerned, Woodmore's prospects this season boils down to two things.
“Our expectations for this year’s team are very high,” he said. “We have a good group of
athletes who have worked hard at improving themselves. We’re trying to get them to understand
that there are only two things that they can absolutely control every day, attitude and effort. If
we can approach every day with great attitude and great effort, we’ll have a successful season.”
The Wildcats return three starters and five returning lettermen from last year's squad, including
Bowen, who averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. Bowen, a third-year varsity player,
was a first-team All-Suburban Lakes League and All-District 7 performer last season and garnered
special mention All-Northwest District honors.
“Last year Donny was strictly an inside presence for us,” Sander said. “Over the summer he
really worked on his ball handling and jump shooting and is now a scoring threat from anywhere
on the floor. Donny provides good leadership and sets a good example by the way he plays the
game.”
Sandwisch, who is a fourth-year varsity player, was honorable mention all-league last season
after averaging seven points and five rebounds a game.
“Last year Jon played all five positions on the floor for us and always guarded the other team's
est player,” Sander said. “This year we’re hoping to keep him on the wing and get more points
from him. He has the ability to create his own shot and he can score both inside and outside.
Jon has really matured over the last few years and he provides tremendous leadership on the
floor and in the locker room.”
Shrewsbury is Woodmore's other returning starter and will look to boost his scoring (5 ppg.),
rebounding (2 rpg.) and assist (3.0 apg.) averages in 2011-12.
“This is a big year for Andy,” Sander said. “He went through some growing pains on the floor
as a sophomore point guard last season, but he hung in there and continued to work hard in
the offseason. He had a good track season and a good summer and fall with us, and he clearly
has more confidence entering this season. He is also much more comfortable with our
ctations of him and what we are asking him to do on the floor.”
The Wildcats' other returning lettermen, Croll (6 ppg., 4 rpg.) and Lewandowski, will have to step
up their game if Woodmore hopes to compete for the inaugural Northern Buckeye Conference
championship.
“There will be a lot of tough games played in the NBC this year,” Sander said, “and we need to be
prepared for great competition every time we step on the floor. We fully expect to be in the mix
for a league championship when February rolls around.”
Coach: Kyle Clair, fourth year.
Last year: 13-9 (8-4 SLL).
Key players: Andrea Bouldin, 5-10, Sr., G/W; Kalyn Tate, 5-6 Sr., G/W; Brittney Wolford,
5-6 Sr., PG.
Forecast: If the Wildcats hope to challenge for a title in the newly formed Northern
Buckeye Conference this season, Bouldin, Tate and Wolford will have to lead the way.
“We will definitely lean heavily on our three returning senior lettermen for leadership,
scoring and defensive intensity,” Clair said. “They have great chemistry with one
another and they have a great winning attitude that everyone respects and supports.”
Woodmore graduated four key players from last year's team, which took third place in
the Suburban Lakes League and lost to Margaretta in the sectional finals. Gone from
that squad are Audrey Thorbahn (10.2 ppg., 6.5 rpg), Chelsea Garver (4.8 ppg., 2.8
rpg.), Meghan Haar (12 ppg.) and Bailey Ulinski.
“Bailey's intensity and toughness will be a key loss we will have to replace,” Clair said.
Tate was the team's starting two-guard last season and is the Wildcats' top returning
scorer, at 7.0 points per game.
“Kalyn is our top shooter and we will look for her to extend defenses with her range,”
Clair said. “We've given her some freedom to read defenses to look for openings for
her shot, and she has responded very well. She knows we have all the confidence in
the world in her offensive abilities. She has improved her strength as well, giving us
another strong finisher around the basket.”
Wolford returns at point guard after averaging 5.6 points as a junior. Bouldin was the
Wildcats' sixth man last year and averaged 2.5 points per game.
“Brittney is a great asset for our team just because of her experience at the point,”
Clair said. “She provides a calming, confident ball-handler for us who has improved her
offensive production by developing her perimeter shooting. We will look for Brittney
to be a threat from mid-range to 3-point range.
“Andrea has improved her game tremendously from last year. The confidence she has
in her ability is very obvious and she understands what she needs to do, and can do,
to help this team be successful. She can generate offense from anywhere and she
creates a lot of havoc on the defensive end. I look for her to have a great season.”
Clair added that Woodmore expects to compete for the inaugural NBC championship.
“The seniors are committed to making that happen and the underclassmen have a
strong belief as well,” he said. “We will have to get contributions from freshmen,
sophomores and juniors, who all will be getting their first taste of significant varsity
minutes.”
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