Wildcats in rebuilding mode this season

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar second-year head varsity girls basketball coach Nicole Nowak this season is faced with the tough task of replacing her entire starting lineup from last year. Senior starters Makayla Wirkus, Morgan Streveler, Maycie Yonker, Taylor Lemmer and Malana Koehler all graduated last spring.

Nowak describes what she learned last season in her first year as the Wildcats varsity girls basketball head coach.

“Game preparation continues to be a key priority to mitigate as many surprises as possible,” she said.

Her assistant coaches this season are Brandon Kaiser and Devin Cyzan.

Edgar’s top returning varsity girls basketball players this season are senior guard Emery Borchardt, senior forward Chloe Mellenberger, junior guard Brandi Halvorsen and junior forward Savannah Kopek.

There are plenty of top newcomers to the Wildcats varsity squad this season.

“Many of these girls supported our varsity team last year in different capacities but will see incremental court time including senior guard Addisyn Trawicki, senior small forward Emma Hartway, sophomore small forward Natallya Radke and sophomore guards Isabella Kaiser and Jorja Knetter,” Nowak said. “In addition, four competitive freshmen round out our roster and will be influential in how our program performs this season and they are Anabel Blocker, Kendyl Apfelbeck, Shiloh Karen and Tenley Mauer.”

Last season, Nowak guided No. 7 playoff seed Edgar to a 56-49 home win against No. 10 seed Newman Catholic in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal. Edgar then lost its regional semifinal, 6633, at No. 2 seed Pittsville. Edgar will compete in the WIAA Division 4 playoff this season. Nowak explains how this year’s Wildcats squad can compete for the Marawood South Conference championship and make it further in the playoffs.

“The Marawood South will be incredibly tough and competitive this season, as it is every season,” she said. “For our team, success will come with hard work, continual skill improvement and gaining confidence through more experience with each and every game.”

Edgar started the 2024-25 season on Nov. 19 with a 45-38 road loss to Gilman. Nowak explained what her team needed to improve upon after the season-opening defeat.

“There is always a lot of opportunity to come from the opening game of the season but we are in it for the long run,” she said. “More experience will continue to allow the girls to learn how to work together, adjust to the fast pace and physicality of the game and work the ball in sync with one another for good scoring opportunities. All of this will help reduce the miscues and get the team working on the same page.”

Edgar currently has a 1-5 record after Tuesday’s 51-32 home loss to Stratford. Edgar beat Three Lakes/Phelps, 77-64, in one of its only two home games thus far this season. Mellenberger led the Wildcats in scoring with 17 points while Halvorsen added 12 points and Radke had 11. Halvorsen paced Edgar with five assists and four steals. Radke led the Wildcats with eight rebounds and she was second on the team with four assists.

EDGAR VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL - Introducing the 2024-25 Wildcats girls varsity basketball squad. Team members pictured, from left to right, are Manager Claire Deal; players Addisyn Trawicki, Emery Borchardt, Shiloh Karlen, Brandi Halvorsen, Tenley Mauer, Bella Kaiser, Jorja Knetter and manager Rylee Heil; back row: Head coach Nicole Nowak; players Chloe Mellenberger, Savannah Koepke, Anabel Blocker, Natallya Radke, Emma Hartway, Kendyl Apfelbeck, manager Paola Corcobado and assistant coach Brandon Kaiser. Missing is assistant coach Devin Cyzan.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

SENIOR LEADERSHIP - Edgar senior guard Emery Borchardt rips the ball away from Gilman’s Addy Vick during the Wildcats season-opening 45-38 road loss to the Pirates.

SN PHOTO/MATT FREY