©Sumner Newscow graphic illustration.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It’s tough to say if there has ever been a Wellington team in basketball, football, golf, tennis, etc. that has had this much high expectations going into the season. Yes, the 2010 girls tennis team and 2021 boys golf team were highly anticipated. But those were in sports where the media spotlight is not so intense. Past Crusader football teams, well, maybe, if you want to delve into history…

Here’s an insert from the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s digital magazine “Covered” that emphasizes the point:

“With many of last year’s state qualifiers suffering big graduation losses, the separation between Bishop Miege, Wellington and the rest of the classification looks even larger this season. In part because both Miege and Wellington return virtually every key piece of last year’s title combatants.”

Valerie Norwood had 30 points in the Bishop Miege championship game last year. 

Wellington knows what is in store for it. To finally capture that elusive Class 4A title, it has to go through Miege, winners of five straight, and hope it doesn’t get tripped up by someone else.

Andover Central finally won in football last week, ending Bishop Miege’s reign in the state title games. So there is that.

Crusader coach Eric Adams said something interesting the other day at Wellington Lions Club:

“The girls were excited to see Miege in Class 4A when the classifications came out. They want the challenge.”

Wellington opens its 2024 campaign tonight when it travels to Garden Plain.

The Crusaders will play in a high school competition for the first time since March. They already made news this week when they were voted No. 1 in the preseason Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll this Tuesday.

Wellington has all five starters back from last year’s state runner-up team that went 23-2.

The returning starters include:

*Val Norwood 5’8  Sr.  16.5 ppg; 5.0 apg; 4.5 spg.

*Britt Zeka  5’10  Sr.   14.1 ppg; 5.2 rbg; 3.0 spg.

*Lyndi Barton  6’0  Jr.  10.5 ppg;  5.0 rbg.

*Cruz Cornejo  5’7  Jr.   5.4 ppg; 2.6 aspg, 3.0 spg.

*Ella Goodrum   5’11  Sr.  3.2 ppg; 4.7 rbg.

The reserves include:

*Kylan Gregory  6’0  Jr.  (returning from ACL surgery/All-League Player Fresh. Year)

*Dru Zeka  5’10  Soph. – 4.5 ppg; 2.5 spg; 2.2 apg

*Kirstyn Gregory  5’9  Soph.  2.0 ppg; 3.0 rpg

*Kyndal Rusk   5’8   Sr.   1.5 ppg; 2.5 rpg; 2.7 spg

Claire Ginter 5’6 Jr.

Addy Schnelle 5’7 Jr. 

Adams said one of the biggest challenges he will face in the early going is getting all the girls in for enough playing time and figuring out the best rotation.

Wellington has five goals: Win the Cheney Tournament, win the Colby Tournament, win the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League for the fourth year in a row, win sub-state, and, of course, state. Is that all?

The Crusaders should see a tough Cheney squad, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, in its preseason tournament. The Cardinals were the only team to beat Wellington during the regular season in 2023.

2024-25 Wellington girls basketball team.

Wellington also has the Colby Tournament, a fun midseason event in western Kansas that attracts some of the best basketball talent from across the state and Colorado.

Then there is the league itself. Andale will again be tough as nails. However, Clearwater, which has traditionally given these girls fits, was hit hard with graduation.

That will set up a sub-state that will undoubtedly pit Wellington with a mid-range 4A opponent.

Adams had this to say in his preview questionnaire:

The first thing we need to do is enjoy the journey.  This is a special group of players who have put in a lot of hard work over the years, so we need to take it one game at a time and enjoy each moment.

On the court, we need to keep applying full-court pressure and creating fast-paced teams. That’s when this team is at its best. We should create quick, contested shots, rebound, and push the ball as quickly as we can.

Offensively, the girls know our read and react system so well.  Keep getting the ball to the paint off the dribble or post feeds, and crash the offensive boards with authority.

This team is focused and ready to make this community proud.

This team has a lot of promise and probably won’t be duplicated for a very long time, if ever. Local basketball fans, make sure you get out to see them this year.

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2024 Schedule

Thursday, Dec. 5 – Garden Plain, away, 6 p.m.
Cheney Tournament
Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Hutchinson Trinity, away, 6 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 12 – Pratt, home, 6 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 14 – Cheney Finals, TBD.
Tues., Dec. 17 – Wichita Collegiate, away, 6 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 20 – Andale, away, 6 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 7 – Rose Hill, home, 6 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 10 – Clearwater, away, 6 p.m.
Tues., Jan. 14 – El Dorado, home, 6 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 17 – Winfield, home, 6 p.m.
Colby Tournament – Thurs.- Sat., Jan. 23-25.
Tues., Feb. 4 – Mulvane, away, 6 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 11 – Augusta, home, 6 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 14 – Wichita Collegiate, home, 6 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 18 – Andale, home, 6 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 21 – Rose Hill, away, 6 p.m.
Tues., Feb. 25 – Clearwater, home, 6 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 27 – El Dorado, away, 6 p.m.
March 5 – 8 – Sub-State Tournament.
March 14-15 – State Tournament in Salina.

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