HNS Lady Wildcats return nine to their varsity squad
HARTINGTON— Hartington-Newcastle and head coach, Grant Rolfes, return nine players who wore varsity uniforms for the Lady Wildcats last season.
The nine players contributed to an 11-11 campaign and are hungry for more in 2023-24.
“We don’t have a huge group of girls out, but the group we have out are great kids who work hard and have fun playing basketball,” Rolfes said. “We do have an experienced senior class with several being multiyear starters.”
Mani Lange, Lauren Howell, Olivia Grutsch, Zoey Gratzfeld and Karli Bruning make up the seniors on this season’s squad and all have plenty of varsity experience.
“Several juniors have significant varsity minutes as well,” Rolfes said. “I’m hoping our experience level to be a positive for us.”
Three juniors — Alejandra Reyes, McKenzie Bruning and Maddie Steffen — are back after playing for Rolfes last season.
Hazel Hochstein is the lone sophomore returning and will look to contribute.
Newcomers, junior Cohen Paden along with two freshmen, Tansey Kneifl and Karissa Bruning, will be searching for playing time and should provide depth.
The early, or December segment of the schedule, will be challenging, if not formidable.
“We start with a busy slate,” Rolfes said. “We have eight games before Christmas break including some programs that are always talented, tough teams to play.
The Lady Cats open with state tournament team Ponca (Nov. 30), travel to Humphrey St. Francis, take on C1 powerhouse Pierce and face a new foe in Boyd County.
Hartington-Newcastle will open 2024 at Bloomfield on Jan. 2, has a date with perennial C2 powerhouse, Crofton on the road on Jan. 19 and will end the month with the Lewis & Clark Conference Tournament.
The Lady Wildcats will end the regular season on the road with back-to-back road trips to Wausa and Class D2 state runner-up last season, Wynot on Feb. 9.
The Lady Wildcats will play in the C2-8 SubDistrict along with Cedar Catholic, Crofton and Ponca.
“We just got started practicing, and it’s exciting to be back in the gym,” the coach said. “We are looking forward to opening the year with Ponca.”