HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: Freshmen to the rescue

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By Madison Kadlec, Xavier sophomore

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Cedar Rapids Xavier sophomore girls' basketball team found itself  in a hole when the 2013-14 basketball season start.

Of the 15 players who went out for the freshmen team, seven quit.

"I changed directions in a drill in practice and twisted the wrong way when I played in Minnesota," sophomore Carly Gosch said. "I tore my ACL, partially tore my meniscus, and chipped my knee cap."

"I don't feel confident enough to play on it and I'm afraid of it happening again. I don't want to go through the surgery again or have issues for the rest of my life. Plus, I'm afraid that I would not play as well or hard worrying about it."

Eight girls were left and another joined the team. But the coaches didn't feel nine players were enough, so a handful of freshmen were moved up.

"It was hard leaving the freshmen team to come to the sophomore team because I have played with them for six years," freshman Kylie Brown said. "So far I have experienced great things with this team because they are easy to get along with."

Not only did the sophomore team gain players, they also got a new assistant coach in Beth Samek.

"I chose to coach at Xavier because I have a connection from going to school there," Samek said. "I now attend college at Mount Mercy. Plus, Coach (Tom) Lily built a great program and I want to be part of a winning tradition."

"So far, I like coaching the sophomore team because it is a good level and the girls are awesome."

The freshmen have been a big help, too.

"I think that the freshmen are good players and they will help us succeed," Kaci Cox said earlier this season. "The season has only just started but we definitely need some work but we will get there."