After coming off a 21-1 record, the Weedsport Varsity Girls Basketball team is coming into this season with high hopes; their only loss being to the Cooperstown Hawkeyes in the Section III final. Despite the loss, the girls ended a fantastic season being seeded No. 2 in the state in Class C.

This year, players have big shoes to fill. After losing Abby Marsden, who is second on the all-time Weedsport scoring list. They also have to fill the big shoes of Morgan Besner who was an active team player for the Warriors.

“I feel the most important thing is the calming down effect that Seniors have on our younger players, not only in a game but in practice as well,” said head coach Chris Vargason. Vargason is entering his ninth year of coaching in Weedsport. “Young players need seniors (such as Morgan and Abby) to teach them that it’s ok to make mistakes, do your best, have fun, and pass this experience on as each one takes their turn and become seniors.” Vargason also stated that he is so proud that the girls call him their coach.

The Warriors have a particularly young team for their starting roster. They only have one senior this year, who is ultimately their captain, Grace Beardsley. The ladies also have four outstanding freshmen on the team.

“The incoming freshmen are very talented they all play AAU basketball so they have a lot of experience,” said Beardsley. “They’ll definitely help our team out in a big way this year.”

“We do have a strong freshman class this year. However, on the side of caution, they are young and still are learning the game of basketball,” said Vargason, who is looking for big things from Brooke Hammersley, Cassidy Carroll, Sydney Gilfus, and Libby Nemec. “I, like so many others, need to be very patient in their growth and development…It is fun to watch as they continue to improve daily.”

“It’s definitely tough,” said Beardsley on being the only senior this year. “But I have the help of the juniors to help lead the team and be successful.”

While also losing multiple players due to graduation, and to not returning to the team, they also lost a key part to their playing style, junior varsity coach, John Sgarlata. Sgarlata took the job as head coach for the varsity boys this year.

“Although Coach Sgarlata is not sitting on the bench with myself and our girls this year, I do not feel as if I have lost him,” said Vargason. “He and I talk to each other almost every day about the game of basketball. He is a great teacher of the game and the results will be positive for our boys. I wish him my best!” The new JV Girls coach is Weedsport alumnus, PJ Piascik. Last year, he was the modified girls coach. He also assisted Matt Lipiskia in coaching the varsity boys last year.

“Our goals for this year are to play our hardest every game, control the boards,” said Beardsley on team goals for her final year. “And hopefully win a lot of games and get very far.”  Big games this year are including the obvious rivalry with Port Byron January 16.

As the season starts to begin, the girls as usual, have big expectations with this dynasty that they have created for themselves.

“My expectations for this team is, I want to play basketball as long as we can for our one and only senior, Grace Beardsley this year,” said Vargason on where he expects the Warriors to be. “If that takes us all the way to the sectional championship game,or beyond, let’s play!” He said he expects to have key contributors, including: Grace Beardsley, Jeslyn Files, Maddie Patchin, Lexi Appleby, Nicole Soutar, and Mya Maloof. 

The Varsity girls are entering the season as the runner-ups for the Section III Class C, and No. 2 in the state for Class C from the 2014-15 season. They hope to leave the winter sports season at a higher level of playing, and at a better standpoint.

“I have respect for Cooperstown girls basketball team and their program. They were the better team last year on March 7 [the date of sectionals last year],” said Vargason if they’re destined to play Cooperstown once again. “However, we did not give them our best! Win or lose, it would not hurt my feelings to see them again in March!”