Lady Wildcats, new mentor seek turnaround campaign
November 5, 2021 at 6:49 p.m.
Lady Wildcats, new mentor seek turnaround campaign
By Will Fehlinger-
The rallying cry for the 2021-22 Franklin County Lady Wildcats accompanies the team ahead of a new season that started Tuesday evening at North Decatur (result not available at press time).
“We talk all the time about getting back to where we were as a program,” says first-year head coach and FC Class of 2012 graduate Kyle Van Meter, who's taken over after a three-year run by Joe Adams (23-43).
“There was a time when Franklin County owned the (Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference), winning 13 of 14 championships from 1999-2012, and we aim to get back to that point.”
The message is foremost in everyone's minds and t-shirts even bear the slogan.
“It's an everyday thing,” says the coach.
“We started preseason workouts this year at 6 a.m. before school,” he continues. “We have a hands-on approach with our youth and junior high teams; we've taught players how to watch and break down film effectively. It won't be easy but, as a program, we are committed to getting back to that next level.”
It could happen sooner rather than later, considering the Wildcats return over 94% of scoring from last season, including the seven girls who scored in a competitive sectional battle against Greensburg. Also coming back: over 92% of rebounding and 90% of both blocks and steals.
“I am very blessed to inherit a great group of girls,” states Van Meter. “We plan to play hard every possession and do everything in our power to have a great season.”
Junior Josie Rolfes led the team in scoring at a 10.6 clip (45 3-pointers), but a half dozen others can find the net as well – junior Macy Crain (6.7), junior Kiersten Schell (6.2), senior Jenna Bruns (5.4), sophomore Nicole Mears (5.4), senior Alex Gillman (4.4) and junior Kassidy Schell (4).
“We'll have 10 full-time varsity girls with eight getting the most minutes,” adds the Wildcat coach, throwing freshman guard Tiffany Billman into the lead rotation, followed by the senior experience of Saige Mergenthal and Kylie Lea. Junior Lauren Stacy and sophomore Jacy Grimmeissen will split time between varsity and junior varsity.
“The eight girls all can play, and it allows us to have different lineups based on matchups and style of the teams we play,” Van Meter notes. “Fans will see different lineups this season.”
The first five in practice have been Bruns, Kassidy Schell, Mears, Gillman and Rolfes, with Crain and Kiersten Schell right there.
Injuries, lingering or otherwise, are a concern at the season's outset. The Schell twins each sprained ankles during volleyball, though they look good to go, according to the coach. Mears, however, just sprained her ankle last week in practice and the staff will need to work around her absence as she recovers. Bruns is back after being sidelined nearly a year; her coach says, “she's looked great in practice.”
East Central, flashing All-State candidate Josie Trabel, and Rushville, returning most of its talent from a regional finalist team, will have a head start on all EIAC squads this winter. FC will battle among the remaining six to finish in the upper half of the league.
“We have set high expectations for our team and our program, but we do not talk about winning much,” says Van Meter. “We believe the way we do the little things every day will translate to wins. I do believe we'll have a successful season because of that.”
The last time the Cats finished over .500 was 2016-17, before any current players took the court. To achieve that, FC will need to play well at home (home opener Friday vs. Rising Sun, East Central Nov. 9, Union County Nov. 19, Shelbyville Dec. 3, South Ripley Dec. 11, Batesville Dec. 14, Oldenburg Dec. 17, Rushville Jan. 4, Connersville Jan. 14 and South Dearborn Jan. 25) and steal a few on the road.
“We plan on playing our best ball at the end of the season,” the coach adds. “It's a marathon, not a sprint.”
FC will take part in the Triton Central holiday tourney Dec. 28-29 for the first time. Other schools at the competitive event are Jac-Cen-Del, Northeastern, Providence, Danville, Heritage Christian and Southport.
“JCD is always good,” says Van Meter. “We played them really tough this summer and I enjoyed talking to and competing against coach Scott Smith, so I'm excited for that.”
The young coach and his staff – varsity assistant Whitney Gillman, JV coach Michael Kristoff, C-team/freshman coach Carin Dudley – have all been working hard and desire the community's backing.
“FC residents, come out to our games!” Van Meter exhorts. “We'll be an exciting team and we would love your support!”
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The rallying cry for the 2021-22 Franklin County Lady Wildcats accompanies the team ahead of a new season that started Tuesday evening at North Decatur (result not available at press time).
“We talk all the time about getting back to where we were as a program,” says first-year head coach and FC Class of 2012 graduate Kyle Van Meter, who's taken over after a three-year run by Joe Adams (23-43).
“There was a time when Franklin County owned the (Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference), winning 13 of 14 championships from 1999-2012, and we aim to get back to that point.”
The message is foremost in everyone's minds and t-shirts even bear the slogan.
“It's an everyday thing,” says the coach.
“We started preseason workouts this year at 6 a.m. before school,” he continues. “We have a hands-on approach with our youth and junior high teams; we've taught players how to watch and break down film effectively. It won't be easy but, as a program, we are committed to getting back to that next level.”
It could happen sooner rather than later, considering the Wildcats return over 94% of scoring from last season, including the seven girls who scored in a competitive sectional battle against Greensburg. Also coming back: over 92% of rebounding and 90% of both blocks and steals.
“I am very blessed to inherit a great group of girls,” states Van Meter. “We plan to play hard every possession and do everything in our power to have a great season.”
Junior Josie Rolfes led the team in scoring at a 10.6 clip (45 3-pointers), but a half dozen others can find the net as well – junior Macy Crain (6.7), junior Kiersten Schell (6.2), senior Jenna Bruns (5.4), sophomore Nicole Mears (5.4), senior Alex Gillman (4.4) and junior Kassidy Schell (4).
“We'll have 10 full-time varsity girls with eight getting the most minutes,” adds the Wildcat coach, throwing freshman guard Tiffany Billman into the lead rotation, followed by the senior experience of Saige Mergenthal and Kylie Lea. Junior Lauren Stacy and sophomore Jacy Grimmeissen will split time between varsity and junior varsity.
“The eight girls all can play, and it allows us to have different lineups based on matchups and style of the teams we play,” Van Meter notes. “Fans will see different lineups this season.”
The first five in practice have been Bruns, Kassidy Schell, Mears, Gillman and Rolfes, with Crain and Kiersten Schell right there.
Injuries, lingering or otherwise, are a concern at the season's outset. The Schell twins each sprained ankles during volleyball, though they look good to go, according to the coach. Mears, however, just sprained her ankle last week in practice and the staff will need to work around her absence as she recovers. Bruns is back after being sidelined nearly a year; her coach says, “she's looked great in practice.”
East Central, flashing All-State candidate Josie Trabel, and Rushville, returning most of its talent from a regional finalist team, will have a head start on all EIAC squads this winter. FC will battle among the remaining six to finish in the upper half of the league.
“We have set high expectations for our team and our program, but we do not talk about winning much,” says Van Meter. “We believe the way we do the little things every day will translate to wins. I do believe we'll have a successful season because of that.”
The last time the Cats finished over .500 was 2016-17, before any current players took the court. To achieve that, FC will need to play well at home (home opener Friday vs. Rising Sun, East Central Nov. 9, Union County Nov. 19, Shelbyville Dec. 3, South Ripley Dec. 11, Batesville Dec. 14, Oldenburg Dec. 17, Rushville Jan. 4, Connersville Jan. 14 and South Dearborn Jan. 25) and steal a few on the road.
“We plan on playing our best ball at the end of the season,” the coach adds. “It's a marathon, not a sprint.”
FC will take part in the Triton Central holiday tourney Dec. 28-29 for the first time. Other schools at the competitive event are Jac-Cen-Del, Northeastern, Providence, Danville, Heritage Christian and Southport.
“JCD is always good,” says Van Meter. “We played them really tough this summer and I enjoyed talking to and competing against coach Scott Smith, so I'm excited for that.”
The young coach and his staff – varsity assistant Whitney Gillman, JV coach Michael Kristoff, C-team/freshman coach Carin Dudley – have all been working hard and desire the community's backing.
“FC residents, come out to our games!” Van Meter exhorts. “We'll be an exciting team and we would love your support!”
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