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Seven letterwinners return for Sibley East’s girls’ basketball team this season but the Lady Wolverines will have the task of replacing its top point scorers from a year ago.

Sibley East will open its season on Monday, November 27th against Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. The non-conference tilt will be played in Arlington beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Headlining the list of returning letterwinners are senior captains Tara Dietz and Whitney Trocke. Other returning letterwinners for the Wolverines include seniors Kaili Schwirtz, Kirsten Nienaber, Andrea Bauer, Kim Myhro and Missy Trebesch.

Dietz, Trocke, Bauer and Trebesch were all regulars last season for the Wolverines who posted a 11-12 overall record and a 7-7 mark in Minnesota River Conference (MRC) play.

Lost to graduation from last season’s team were leading scorers Sami Larson and Leah Ihrke. Larson also led the Wolverines in rebounding during the 2005-2006 campaign. Sibley East’s Laura Kloeckl and Britney Glisczinski were two other starters lost to graduation.

“We are a little less experienced team this season but we have some talented players returning to the squad,” Sibley East head coach Al Ihrke said. “We’ve got some good, quick guards and a few girls who know how to score in the post. I’m excited to see what this group of seniors can accomplish.”

There are nine seniors, four juniors and two sophomores on Sibley East’s preseason varsity roster.

Joining the returning letterwinners on the team are foreign exchange student seniors Julia Steiner and Rie Nygaard. Juniors include Jenni Heibel, Jenni DuFrane, Abby Marshall and Brittany Trocke while Renae Rose and Ashley Martens are the two sophomores on the varsity squad.

There are 15 girls on Sibley East’s preseason “B” squad roster. They include Martens, Rose, Laura Schuneman, Kale Peterson, Kelsey Brandt, Abby Sharp, Courtney LeGare, Amanda Weckwerth, Megan Meyer, Lindsay Thomes, Brittanie Schmerbauch, Jessica Barlage, Beth Risk, Sammy Trebesch and Abby Muehlenhardt.

The Lady Wolverines got a taste of competition Saturday in a nine team scrimmage hosted by Minnesota Valley Lutheran. Sibley East’s varsity squad played in seven 15-minute scrimmages against MVL, New Ulm Cathedral, Maple River, NRHEG, Blue Earth Area, Le Sueur-Henderson and St. Clair.

“It was a typical preseason scrimmage,” coach Ihrke said. “Some things we did well while other things need some work before the season starts. Overall, it was nice to see the girls improve as the day progressed.”

Ihrke and the Lady Wolverines will open MRC play on Tuesday, December 5th at Montgomery-Lonsdale.

Coach Ihrke listed Jordan as the preseason favorite to win the MRC. The Jaguars went unbeaten (14-0) to win the conference crown last season and they have their top players returning. Ihrke also expects Norwood Young America to be one of the top teams in the MRC circuit.

Ihrke will again be assisted by Chip Wolverton this season. Wolverton will serve as “B” squad coach while Sibley East graduate Steph Schultz will lead the ninth grade squad.

A 23-game schedule is on tap for Sibley East’s girls’ basketball team. The schedule includes the annual holiday tournament at Redwood Falls on December 27th and 28th.

SCHEDULE

Nov. 27 GFW

Nov. 30 S.E. St. Mary’s

Dec. 5 @ Monty-Lonsdale

Dec. 8 @ Holy Family

Dec. 11 Watertown-Mayer

Dec. 14 Norwood YA

Dec. 19 Le Sueur-Hend.

Dec. 22 Jordan

Dec. 27-28 @ Redwood Vlly. Tourney

Jan. 4 Mayer Lutheran

Jan. 9 Holy Family

Jan. 12 @ Jordan

Jan. 18 @ Belle Plaine

Jan. 23 @ Mayer Lutheran

Jan. 26 Monty-Lonsdale

Jan. 30 @ St. Peter

Feb. 1 @ Le Sueur-Hend.

Feb. 6 @ Norwood YA

Feb. 9 Belle Plaine

Feb. 13 @ New Ulm

Feb. 16 GSL (parents night)

Feb. 22 Maple River (senior night)

BOLD = Home game

All home games at Arlington