Less of a transition expected for Cowgirls

Wyoming coach Joe Legerski

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The Wyoming Cowgirls turned a difficult transition into another successful basketball season. Knock on wood, this year’s transition looks to be much easier.

Last season, Wyoming head coach Joe Legerski began without some of the top players in the program history due to graduation. Then he lost who was expected to be the team leader – sophomore Aubrey Vandiver – because of illness.

Yet, despite a slow start, the Cowgirls finished 8-8 in Mountain West Conference play and 16-14 overall.

To say the least, last season was a big challenge for Legerski and the Cowgirls.

“You talk about the group we ended up losing, with Hanna Zavecz, Justyna Podziemska, Jodi Bolerjack and Dominique Sisk,” said Legerski on The Mtn.’s live streaming Wednesday as part of the MWC Basketball Media Days in Denver. “That was a tremendous blow to our program, but everybody goes through graduation. What you don’t count on is having an Aubrey Vandiver not being able to participate.

“I thought that was a bigger challenge because Aubrey was our leader, she was third team all conference as a sophomore. She was going to be the stability needed to make the transition. When I take a look at it now, it was a very satisfying year with a winning season… our fifth consecutive winning season for Wyoming. I’m proud of that and I’m proud of what the players on last year’s team were able to accomplish.”

With that said, the Cowgirls also had to overcome a slow start in league play, losing their first four contests. Several adjustments and just the maturation of a very young team turned things around.

“The Mountain West Conference is an extremely difficult conference to play in. We started 0-4 and that was a shock to our fan base. They were used to seeing us win and win at a very high level,” Legerski said. “We made some adjustments as a team. We started playing a little more zone, which you do not see from a Wyoming team very often. We started finding some victories down the line and were playing pretty well down the stretch. We had a .500 record within the league.”

Look for more adjustments this season, and yes, more zone defense.

“I think you’re going to see a little more from Wyoming in terms of a zone,” Legerski added. “I was happy with the way we were able to play it. You’re going to be able to see some different looks from this Wyoming team. Once again, it still comes down to playing the basics and we’ll get back to some of that.”

This season, Legerski has three starters returning, not including a healthy Vandiver, 10 letterwinners and another talented newcomer class. That has Legerski, always an optimist, excited about the possibilities this season.

“We’ve gained a great deal of experience. Kristen Scheffler and Emma Langford were two freshmen who we threw in the mix, maybe when they weren’t ready at times. We’re anxious for them to be able to participate and how they are going to play,” he said. “Then you take a look at having Aubrey back, and then in the post, having (junior) Hilary Carlson, a second-team all-conference player. She played extremely well for us and she gives us an inside presence. We are excited about what this season holds. We’re still young. We’re going to start two juniors, possibly three juniors, a couple sophomores and look out, we might have a freshman or two who see the court.”

Beginning his seventh year at the helm, Legerski has never had any problem playing freshmen. That won’t be any different this season with three promising talents in this year’s fold.

“We have Rebecca Campigli, who is a true point guard who we expect great things. Chaundra Sewell comes here from Broomfield, Colo. All Chaundra does is win. I think her high school record was 106-4 with three state championships. You put yourself around winners and they continue to win," he said. "Sara Wilson, from Nebraska, shoots the ball very well. I’m excited about this freshmen group.”

That excitement will turn into reality when the Cowgirls hit the courts officially for the first time on Oct. 16.