"They Have the Heart to Compete"

Then there’re times when the headwinds blow fiercely, storm clouds hover low overhead, and the journey is fraught with one unexpected challenge after another.

 

This was to be a rebuilding year for Collegiate’s very young girls varsity basketball team.

 

When their competitive season began in December, Coach Kevin Coffey and his staff (Abby Freeman and Michele Cosel) sent an 8th Grader, six Freshmen, one Sophomore, one Junior, and three Seniors into action against more seasoned teams laden with upperclassmen.

 

Despite their youth, inexperience, and challenging schedule, the Cougars held their own early on and went into the winter break with a 3-4 record.

 

Then, on January 3, Mia Shrestha, a talented freshman point guard and two-year starter, suffered a season ending injury against Cape Henry Collegiate.

 

Ten days later, Makenzie Weiss, a Senior shooting guard who succeeded Shrestha at the point, suffered a knee injury that required surgery.

 

To say that dealing with this unfortunate turn of events tested the Cougars’ resolve and resilience is an understatement of the highest order. They didn’t flinch, though. Instead, they kept smiling, adopted a next-player-up mentality, and adjusted as best they could to fill the void left when two top-flight players were out of action.

 

“The bottom line is that you have to coach according to what you have,” Coffey said. “You can’t coach a pro-level skill with a beginner. You have to work to get them to that level. That’s how we’re approaching it.

        

“We have a lot of young talent on this team. My goal is to develop them to become better players. They have the heart to compete. They love each other. Our mission is to make sure we get them to take a few steps forward every single day.”

 

The Cougars record stands at 5-14 with victories over Central Virginia Home School, Douglas Freeman, Cristo Rey, Episcopal, and Cape Henry Collegiate.

 

With a revamped starting lineup that includes one Senior (Janey Ferry), one Junior (Myour Trotman), two Freshmen (Delaney Settar and Ellie Purcell), and an 8th Grader (Ellis Pace), they’ve soldiered on and enjoyed the journey, the record notwithstanding.

 

“We’re competitors,” said Ferry, a three-season varsity veteran. “The beauty of this team is that we’re all in it for each other. Everyone’s trying to get better all the time. We’re always lifting each other up, no matter the score. This year has been fun. Everyone plays hard and has a good time. We’re not going to be perfect, but it’s about making mistakes, bouncing back, and celebrating the small wins.”

 

Watch the Cougars play, and you’ll see a team that runs the floor with spirit, defends (mostly out of a zone alignment) with as much passion as they can muster, rebounds unhesitatingly despite often being at a height disadvantage, and shares the basketball unselfishly.

 

They scrap and claw, they go fearlessly after every 50-50 ball, and they play each possession as if the outcome of the game weighs in the balance.

 

“It’s a matter of helping them understand their roles and how much what they’re doing means to the team,” Coffey said. “They’ve embraced that. A lot of them have gotten out of their comfort zones to do things that go above and beyond. They understand it’s for the greater good of the program, so they’re willing to do it.  That’s going to make you a better player.

 

“Everybody has taken on that role. We’ve shifted some people to doing things they normally wouldn’t do. They just roll with it and then play however they need to.”

 

Now, watch the coaching staff in practice and on the sideline during games. They’re patient and encouraging. They’re quick to celebrate good plays with both words and high-fives. They’re coaching not just the game but the athletes who play the game. They’re focusing on life lessons and a much bigger picture than just wins and losses. They know that one season isn’t the destination but merely a layover on a much longer journey.

 

“The girls are always great,” said Freeman, a 2020 Collegiate alumna and 1,000-point scorer who earned All-League of Independent Schools and All-VISAA honors and went on to play at Bridgewater College. “They always put a good effort into whatever they do. The season has been rough, but to look at them, you’d never guess. They always play hard. They’re getting better in their way at their pace. As long as they’re getting better, that’s a win.”

~Weldon Bradshaw