As the start of a new basketball season approaches, fans of Liberty High School are eager to know what the team has in store for them this year. To get a preview of what to expect, we sat down with Coach Joseph Walterbach for an exclusive interview. He shared valuable insights about the team, the returning players, new additions, and the upcoming challenges they will face.
When asked about the top returning players from last season, Coach Walterbach highlighted the impact players, senior Kennedi Brower and sophomore Leighana Shelton. These two players were the top scorers for the team last season, and Coach Walterbach emphasized their skills and abilities that make them stand out on the court.
He also mentioned the starting lineup from last season, consisting of Alli Greer, Kennedi Brower, Leighana Shelton, Liv Schmersahl, and Sanaa Woods, who are all returning this year. In terms of new players making an immediate impact, Coach Walterbach mentioned the depth of the team and how players like Lyida Witt, Annabelle Hargrove, Ainsley Kammermeyer, Lucy Lant, and Reece Hoffman have the potential to make it into the starting lineup.
He also added that with these players, the team feels confident and can have a solid 5-player lineup on the court. When it comes to choosing team captains, Coach Walterbach looks for qualities like leadership, dedication, and hard work. He expressed his excitement for the team's depth this season and how these players are not only talented basketball players but also great leaders.
Currently, the team is made up of 3 seniors, 3 juniors, and 4 sophomores, and Coach Walterbach believes that they all have the potential to lead the team. The biggest challenges the team is facing in preparation for this season are focusing on effort over results and improving their mental game. Coach Walterbach shared that the team is working on implementing "Mindful Mondays" to help them be mentally prepared and confident.
They are also tracking important statistics that may not show up on the stat sheet, such as crashing the boards and running back on defense. These efforts ultimately aim to help the team be the best they can be and compete for all 32 minutes of the game. When it comes to the team's schedule for this season, Coach Walterbach admitted that it is quite challenging.
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