Q&A with Coach Celeste Ratka
By Erik Buchinger
Number of years as head coach: Third season.
Returning varsity athletes: Emily Nelson (12), Macy McGlone (11), Morgan Draheim (11), Aliyah Schmidt (11), Lexi Day (10).
Team goals/expectations: Just get better every day, win the day and be the best you can be. We don’t really talk about it. They all know and that’s what you get with a good-cultured team. They expect to win and expect good things to happen.
Team’s strengths: I think they really like to compete. They want to get better, and they’re OK with getting pushed. Our skill level is pretty good on the premaster. We have a lot of kids who can shoot the ball.
Team’s weaknesses: Weaknesses would be some youth. Our inexperience showed at times against Marshfield, so we’re working through that. Rebounding could be a weakness especially when Macy is not on the floor.
Biggest game/s on the schedule: Every game will be important. It’s going to be a process for the team to learn that greatest form of competition will be against ourselves. Playing to a standard, not a score or opponent.
What would make for a successful season: A successful season will be the girls truly understanding what seeking excellence is all about by the end of our journey. Not being perfect but striving to reach their full potential in everything that they do on and off the court. I want them to leave this program strong enough to not conform or accept the norm of taking shortcuts or doing what is easiest. But instead doing the work and doing their absolute best in all that they do regardless of their circumstances. We want them to be champions in life.
Why fans should be excited for this year’s team: I think you’re going to see a team that plays extremely hard and plays for each other. I think you’re going to get a good product out on the floor once we start putting everything together. You’re going to get a team that busts their tail for one another.