2022-23 Wellington High School girls’ basketball team.

by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Yesterday, when the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll came out, the Wellington girls were ranked No. 7 in Class 4A. There were rumblings and murmurs from a few fans that the rankings were too low.

So is the state of the Wellington girls’ basketball program these days when expectations are so high that a No. 7 preseason ranking is seen as a bit of an insult.

Rankings, like predictions, are somewhat irrelevant. But it does indicate a form of respect. And the Crusader program deserves respect after pulling off a fourth-place finish at the Class 4A State Tournament, a league championship, and an undefeated regular season.

Wellington hasn’t lost a regular season game since losing to Andale 52-37 on Feb. 12, 2021. The Crusaders are currently on a 27-game winning streak.

But duplicating last year may be an extremely tough task. Wellington has a slew of land mines throughout the season. The first one is on Monday at 6 p.m. when the Crusaders host Cheney in the preseason Cheney Tournament. Yes, Wellington is hosting the host of the tournament. It’s a round-robin thing and maybe an “only-in-Kansas” thing.

Wellington opens the season on Friday at Mulvane. It will need to replace two very significant starters from a year ago: Ali Zeka and Airilyn Frame.

It is also very, very young – which is an understatement. There are three seniors and – count them – zero juniors.

The bulk of the team is made up of sophomores and freshmen.

But let’s just say, don’t mistake this youth for inexperience. Wellington returns three sophomores starting or coming off the bench to play significant minutes. The freshmen coming in are significant, having run the gamut as a middle-school juggernaut.

Wellington returns two double-digit performers. Britt Zeka, a 5-10 sophomore, averaged 14 points per game and 4.5 rebounds. Valerie Norwood, a 5-9 sophomore, averaged 10.5 ppg and 4.2 assists per game. They will be joined by fellow returning starter Ashlyn Gerten, a 5-6 senior who averaged 6.0 points per game and 2.5 assists. She was known last year as the spark plug to Wellington’s tenacious defense.

Wellington fans got really excited for the team last year when it went to state.

Three other returning players will see significant playing time in 2021-22: Maddie Nance, a 5-11 senior; Kami Reichenberger, a 5-6 senior; and Ella Goodrum, 5-11 sophomore.

Freshmen Kylan Gregory, at 5-11.5, and Lyndi Barton, at 5-10, will also be factored into the starting location.

Wellington won its second league title last season. To do so again will be a significant task. The KBCA slotted Andale at No. 5 and Clearwater at No. 10. This will be fun to watch these three programs get after it.

Wellington also sees Pratt in the preseason tournament and hosts Circle on Feb. 3. Winfield also gives Wellington fits when the two square off.

Things will get really busy for the Crusaders as they play seven of their 20 regular season games in December.

The full team roster can be found here: 2022 22-23 WHS BASKETBALL ROSTERS

WHS Girls basketball schedule: 
Friday, Dec. 2, Mulvane, away.
Monday, Dec. 5, Cheney, home.
Thursday, Dec. 8, Pratt, away.
Saturday, Dec. 10, Cheney Tournament finals.
Tuesday, Dec. 13, Rose Hill, away.
Friday, Dec. 16, El Dorado, home.
Tuesday, Dec. 20, Winfield, home.
Friday, Jan. 6, Clearwater, away.
Tuesday, Jan. 10, Wichita Collegiate, home.
Friday, Jan. 13, Andale, home.
Monday, Jan. 23 – Sat., Jan. 28 – Mulvane Tournament.
Friday, Feb. 3, Circle, home.
Friday, Feb. 10, El Dorado, away.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, Rose Hill, home.
Friday, Feb. 17, Clearwater, home.
Tuesday, Feb. 21, W. Collegiate, away.
Thursday, Feb. 23, Andale, away.

Follow us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter.