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Winter Sports • December 2013
Edwardsburg Boys Basketball
Wright takes over Eddies’ program By BOB OPPENHEIM bob.oppenheim@leaderpub.com
First-year Edwardsburg boys basketball coach Steve Wright has big shoes to fill on and off the court. Wright replaces Dan Gunn, who led the Eddies to four straight winning seasons including a 15-6 mark last year. When it comes to players, Wright must replace five starters including Central Michigan University recruit Josh Kozinski. “Dan (Gunn) established a program a system and a hard-nosed defensive philosophy,” said Wright, who led the Edwardsburg junior varsity boys basketball team to a 74-45 record over the last six years. “I want to carry those things over. The guys are working hard in practice.” Players that got varsity minutes last year and must contribute more this season are junior center Jackson Gaideski, sophomore guard-forward Dante Razzano, senior guard Dylan Hulett, junior center Joe Queener and senior guard-forward Grant Szalewski. “Razzano brings athleticism and a nice frame,” Wright said. “He’s pretty versatile. He’s a great kid, student and teammate. He’s the kind of guy that players and coaches like to be around.” Junior varsity players from last year who have the opportunity to make an impact on the varsity are junior guard Isaac Vite, junior guard Derrick Pierce, junior guard Drew Conley, junior forward-center Dalton Raymond and senior guard Jordan Douglas. “Pierce had a great sophomore year on the junior varsity,” Wright said. “He has a good mind for the game. He’s one of those quiet kids that leads by example. “Douglas is a kid that just seems to get better every year.” Wright doesn’t mention record when asked what would make this season a successful year. “I just want the guys to work hard, play together and enjoy the game,” Wright said. “Certainly, we want to be near the top at the end in the Wolverine Conference and make noise in March.”
Leader photo
Dante Razzano returns for Edwardsburg, which has a new coach in Steve Wright.
Edwardsburg Girls Basketball
Edwardsburg wants more than six wins By BOB OPPENHEIM bob.oppenheim@leaderpub.com
Leader photo/File
Olivia Hack averaged 8.2 points per game last season for the Eddies.
The good news for the Edwardsburg girls basketball team last year was that the Eddies finished second in the Wolverine Conference West Division with a 6-4 record. The bad news for Edwardsburg is that in the other games the Eddies were 0-10. Edwardsburg coach Nicole Cartwright is confident that her squad can capture more wins this season. “I’m excited about the season,” said the sixth-year coach of the Eddies. “We have a lot of kids returning and I’m very excited about the dynamic of the team and the potential to do well in the conference.” Cause for optimism is based on the
return of three returning starters and some talented newcomers. Starters back for the Eddies are senior center Alexis Blake (9.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg.), senior guard-forward Oliva Hack (8.2 ppg) and junior guard Katelynn Rogers (5.9 ppg). “(Rogers) will definitely have a bigger role when it comes to scoring this year,” Cartwight said. Other Edwardsburg veterans are junior guard-forward Gabby Golba, who got some minutes as a starter last year, sophomore Anna Roberts and junior Rachel Boyles. Newcomers to watch are freshman guard Savannah Dixon, junior guard Alise Markel, junior guard Nikki Bolich, junior forward Haley Stanton and See EDDIES, page 15