Tashia Wolf spent her Tuesday afternoon working to build a budding love of basketball.
The Arlington High School girls hoops coach hosted a three-day youth basketball camp with her staff and players this week. About 60 potential basketball-lovers in grades 1-8 took part on the opening day.
“I think coming here and working with our (high school) girls, and seeing how much fun they can have playing it, is bringing them in,” Wolf said.
A lot of the youngsters are familiar and not just because she's seen them around the community or school.
“A lot of the kids actually came to a lot of games last year, too,” Wolf said. “So, they know the girls on a more personal level, too.”
The Eagles went 21-5 this past season, reaching the district finals. It was, inarguably, AHS' best season in many years.
To follow it up, Coach Wolf's squad has attended several team camps already this summer. It has one this weekend in Iowa and another next week in Lincoln.
“A lot of traveling,” Wolf said.
But the Eagles are into it. Multiple non-basketball players have joined the team this summer to give a shot, while others are motivated to fill the roles of graduates Taylor Arp and Austyn Flesner for next year.
“Losing Taylor and Austyn from last year, they've earned the appreciation,” Wolf said. “(The grads) picked up some of responsibilities and some dirty work that the rest of the girls didn't realize.”
Now that Arlington's players are aware, though, they're gunning for the opportunity to help fill the void.
“Now, we have to find somebody to fill those roles and fill those jobs,” Wolf said. “I think a lot of them are really motivated to get better, so that they can have another successful season.”
For some, those efforts included helping at a youth camp.
