Ben Smidt

Depth, experience and leadership could lead the Blugold women’s basketball team to great things this season.

If it can stay healthy, that is.

Injuries plagued the squad last year, but at this early stage the team is looking healthy and ready to play, coach Tonja Englund said.

For the team, which only graduated two seniors, the season looks promising.

The team unofficially kicked things off last Thursday with the intra-squad Blue and Gold game, a chance for both the men’s and women’s teams to show the public what they can do.

“So far everybody’s looking really good,” senior captain Janel Soppeland said. “It’s nice to have (the Blue and Gold game) before our regular game schedule. So far I’m happy with where we’re at.”

Soppeland is also happy to be back on the court. An ACL injury sidelined her late last season, and she’s eager to get back to work.

“My knee’s definitely 100 percent,” Soppeland said. “I’m fully recovered and ready to focus on basketball instead of rehab.”

Soppeland’s return is huge for the team, Englund said.

A leader on the court as well as off, Soppeland’s absence was tough for the squad last season.

Prior to her injury, the team was 17-2. Without Soppeland its record dropped to 2-5.

Soppeland’s co-captain, Kristi Channing, and senior Kelly Guay also will have crucial leadership roles this season, Englund said.

The return of junior guard La Toya Banks after a one-year hiatus from basketball, plus the skill of incoming freshmen, will help the ‘Golds as well, Englund said.

Soppeland agreed.

“The freshmen so far have done a nice job,” she said. “They pick up on things quickly and they want to learn. Overall, they’re a very athletic class, a good mixture of speed and size.”

In addition to depth and experience, the team is in great condition, even this early in the season, Englund said. This should prove to be a major advantage.

“We’ll be able to (full-court) press a lot more due to our depth and quickness,” she said. “We really like to pressure the ball so our defense creates our offense.”

The Blugolds have developed quite an offensive arsenal, Englund said. With the return of guards Soppeland and Banks, the team will be able to both penetrate off the dribble and hit field goals, including 3-pointers, from the outside.

The well-rounded squad also will be strong in the paint, Englund said.

“I feel very good about the inside,” she said. “Our incoming freshmen provide a nice physical presence on the inside.”

The Blugold offensive weapons will come in handy against a strong WIAC conference.

The WIAC includes defending conference champions UW-Stout and defending national champions UW-Stevens Point.

But the Blue Devils and the Pointers won’t provide the only Blugold competition, Soppeland said.

“If you don’t show up to play every game (in the WIAC),” Soppeland said, “you’re gonna get beat.”

The ‘Golds don’t begin WIAC conference play until Dec. 4 when they face UW-La Crosse, but the team will have plenty of non-conference games played by the time WIAC play is in full swing.

Englund, Soppeland and the rest of the Blugolds are excited, Soppeland said.

“We should be right in the hunt this year.”