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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Three starters and three bench players return for a Stratford girls basketball team that just found itself a little behind the top three teams in the Marawood Conference South Division.
The Tigers went 17-0 against teams not named Marathon, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, or Auburndale, but couldn’t get past those three and went a combined 0-7 against them, including a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal loss to Marathon.
Fourth-year head coach Tammie Christopherson said the Tigers have plans on moving up in the conference standings, but will have to find new ways to score after losing their top two scorers from last year, second-team all-Marawood South performer Savannah Schillinger and Macie Frueh.
Seniors Andie Zuelke (6.2 points, 5.7 rebounds per game) and Sammy Griesbach (11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) will be back in the starting lineup, along with junior Kaylee Hollatz (4 ppg, 5.6 rpg).
Juniors Taya Nett and Chelsey Gliniecki, and senior Olivia Burrows played reserve roles a year ago and also are back for Stratford. Junior Olympia Garrigan and sophomores Blaire Linder, Mariah Zawislan and Brooke Peterson are newcomers that round out the roster.
“We have high expectations for the season and plan on being in the hunt for the Marawood Conference title,” Christopherson said. “We will have a good balance of experienced veterans and young newcomers.
“We are a scrappy, determined team, with strong defensive skills and a core of experienced players. We need to have people step in and fill that offensive (scoring) void.”
Christopherson said the Tigers will be tested both in and out of conference. After three nonconference games, Stratford will open Marawood South play at Wausau Newman Catholic on Dec. 6 and host Auburndale on Dec. 6, two teams that should be in the championship chase.
“I am very excited to get the season underway,” Christopherson said. “We have an incredibly tough schedule (conference and non-conference) so we will be tested early and often. This is an extremely focused, hard-working group of young ladies.”