Lady Trojans looking to take the next step

HARTNGTON — The Cedar Catholic Lady Trojans will look to take another step forward this season after a strong run through the sub-districts and district final last year earned them a trip to the state tournament.

This year, the plan would be more to get to the tournament and stay awhile.

Plenty of fire power returns for just such an endeavor as four returning starters came to practice for coach Craig Wortmann this season including a returning all-state player in Makenna Noecker.

Add the fact, the majority of Wortmann’s players are coming off a state championship season in volleyball and you have the ingredients for what could be a special year on the hard court.

“We’re hopeful to pick up where we left off last season,” Wortmann said. “We had a number of young girls last year that are now a year older, which should help us compete early in the season.”

Noecker, who brings a 19.1 points per game average to the court this season from her junior season looks ready to go and will welcome fellow returning starters, Laney Kathol, Katy Jones and Lauren Bernecker.

Kathol averaged seven points last season and grabbed eight rebounds every night to lead the Lady Trojans in that category.

Wortmann will also look for some additional help from Samantha Pick who saw a lot of action last season and looks to be a front runner for the a starting spot in 2022-23.

Bailey Hochstein and Addison Walters will also look to contribute.

Last season, the Lady Trojans stumbled out of the gate. In fact they lost six of their first seven games, but righted the ship to finish with a 13-16 record and the trip to Lincoln.

Experience across the board should help with any slow start, but a rugged schedule from the opening will be waiting.

Boone Central will be first on the slate before South Sioux City and O’Neill on the road before a date with Norfolk Catholic then at Crofton.

And that’s all before Christmas. The Great Northeast Shootout in Wayne will come right after the break and a full January will take Cedar Catholic to the Mid State tournament at the end of the month.

The Lady Trojans once again compete in D1.

They will face Norfolk Catholic, Wausa and Bloomfield in the D1-4 SubDistrict.