Anticipation can be sensed in the air as the fall sports have come to a close and the winter sports season has started. For the girls’ basketball team, that excitement started during the summer and has steadily grown to this moment–their season. 

The girls have been working together since the summer and have participated in open gyms this fall. On Nov. 13 when official practice started the girls amped up their game under the direction of head coach Wade Coulter, in preparation for their jamboree on Nov. 21 and their varsity season opener, which will be on Nov. 30, at 5:30 p.m. against Omaha Northwest at home. 

“It’s exciting as a new program and there’s going to be a lot of challenges that come with that, but at the same time, we get to write our own history,” Coulter said. “That’s something not a lot of programs get to do. On top of that, I think we’ve got a pretty good group of young athletes, that once we learn to play the right way, we can have a lot of success relatively quickly.” 

Coulter and his team of coaches, including Faith Ross, Logan Holle, Jen Van Pelt and Bill Richt, have already set goals for themselves and their team for this season.

  “Our coaches are going to learn and grow every day and build relationships with our players that are positive, this will allow us to all reach our potential,” Coulter said. “For our kids, their goal is similar. I always say be the best you, so we can be the best us. And that’s the expectation at all times for everyone in our gym.”

Sophomore Tayrn French and junior Karli Williams, both former varsity players for Gretna High, are ready to be back on the court. 

“Our main goal is to have as much fun as possible since we don’t know what to expect,” French said. “We get to play a Class A schedule while being in Class B, so it’s going to be more of a challenge with points and keeping up. But, we want to be successful and do everything we can to win, but then also have fun.”

While she also wants to have fun, Williams is concentrating on her mental game.

“Individually, I am showing up to everything with a focused attitude and trying hard while doing so,” she said.

With over twenty girls trying out for the team, the official roster for each level of team has not been made official yet, however, it is expected to be released tomorrow. Regardless of who plays for which team, the girls are excited for competition and to show their skill.

“I am excited to start the basketball season as a brand new team with no expectations on us,” Williams said.