Grueling practices push the team as it works throughout the summer and fall to improve skills, according to junior captain Hannah Ellingson.

Ellingson said the younger players will make up the team this year as a result of the graduation of many seniors.

“I look forward to meeting the new players,” Ellingson said.

Varsity head coach Brian Massie said he takes pride in the girls’ work ethic.

“We spent a lot of time throughout the summer training and working out and playing a lot of basketball,” Massie said. “I am a strong believer of hard work paying off.”

Massie said he has higher hopes for the future of the program as he enters his second year as head coach.

“I want them to raise their expectations and their level of play,” Massie said. “I want to be conference champs and to make it to a State tournament and have these girls experience that. I want them to know what it feels like to play at the highest level.”

According to Ellingson, the coaching staff now embodies a desire to get better.

“We have had a lot of coaching changes throughout the last three or four years,” Ellingson said. “But the coaches who
are here now are continuing to improve even throughout the changes. They believe in us.”

Massie said he wants the program to generate a feeling of togetherness for all players.

“I want there to be a family atmosphere. All the years I have been coaching at Park they have said ‘family,’” Massie said.

The team’s first interest meeting is 4 p.m. Nov. 10 in room B131. Tryouts take place 3:30- 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16-17.