Published: September 18, 2006 09:09 pm         

Indiana State women’s basketball coach excited about new faces

Sycamores to kick off official practice start date with Big Blue Block Party

TERRE HAUTE — The official start of practice for the Indiana State women’s basketball team is now less than a month away. The coaching staff is allowed limited workouts with players, but they can’t all practice as a team until the first day of practice Oct. 13.

The squad will inaugurate the official practice date just as it did last year with a celebration, which this year will be callled the Big Blue Block Party. It will be a similar event to the one last year in the parking lot of the Terminal and Clabber Girl.

“It should be bigger and better,” ISU coach Jim Wiedie said.

While Wiedie is excited about a long list of new faces, he won’t have one of those newcomers when practice starts. Forward Kendra Reynolds, who didn’t play as a true freshman due to academics, won’t play this season.

“She decided to pursue other things,” Wiedie said. Reynolds is still enrolled in school at Indiana State.

Reynolds isn’t the only player that hasn’t been in action. Sophomore guard Tiffany Reida will likely be lost for the season. Reida has to have surgery on her back.

“Her back has not gotten better,” said Wiedie. “A decision by the family has been made and it’s the best move for her.”

The surgery will be performed over Christmas break and she’ll need a three to four week recovery period.

Freshman guard Heather Seyfred is 21/2 months into her rehab from surgery on the ACL. Wiedie is optimistic that Seyfred will be ready close to the beginning of practice.

And junior guard Angela Phillips, a transfer from Kentucky, has been out of action all summer. She had surgery earlier this week to remove kidney stones. “She should be healthy within a week,” Wiedie said.

The players that have been working out have Wiedie’s excitement level rising for the start of the season.

With the addition of freshmen guards Kelsey Luna, Sarah Paul and Seyfred to go with sophomores Leah Phillips and Annie Bankhead, Wiedie said he’ll have a true transition basketball team.

“We haven’t really been a transition team [in the past],” Wiedie said. “This team is different. We’ll have six players that can lead the fast break.”

Angela Phillips showed in practice last season that she can shoot the 3, and Anne Thatcher is back in the picture and still shooting the lights out, Wiedie said.

“Our three guard positions are interchangable so whoever doesn’t lead the break can run down, spot up and shoot the 3. It should be the best 3-point shooting team we’ve ever had.”

And the young guards have had the chance to workout with former ISU standout Melanie Boeglin has spent many days in the gym with Luna, Paul, Seyfred and Leah Phillips.

“It’s just been an incredible experience for them, to be able to learn from a professional athlete that’s played here for four years and teach them how to do things,” associate head coach Megan Lanhma said. “You couldn’t ask for a better way to coach a player, especially freshmen.”

With Lanham, assistant coach Heather Cassady and new assistant coach Nikki Motto giving all their attention to the Sycamores’ guards, Wiedie’s focus is on the post players.

Rachel Maenpaa made a big improvement from her sophomore to junior year, and Wiedie said to expect another big jump for her senior season. Maenpaa spent the summer in Colorado, Springs, Colo., training with former NFL player Ernie Thompson of Terre Haute. “It was amazing,” said Maenpaa, now a senior. “I loved it out there. The mountains are so beautiful and it was great runninig up and down them.”

Junior Laura Rudolphi has been playing at a high level, said Wiedie, adding that this post group is a versatile one, especially when you add dynamic sophomore Kara Schilli to the mix.

With freshmen Maria Olsthoorn of Class 4A state champion Castle and late Canadian addition Laurence Rivest expected to round out the frontcourt, Wiedie has no qualms about this group up front.

“We lost a lot with the five seniors and Steph [Lisch], but these young kids are talented and excited about playing,” Wiedie said. “We’ll just see how quickly they pick things up.”