The excitement level for Julie Fonda is always high heading into a new season. And this year is no different, as the Glenbard South coach eagerly awaits watching her young team grow over the course of the winter.
“This will be a process,” Fonda said, who enters her fifth year at the helm. “We’ve got some great talent in my returners, who gained valuable experience winning a regional last year. The seniors are great leaders and great kids. But early on, it will be a process showing the freshman the ropes.”
The underclassman Fonda is talking about is freshman Theresa Scheets, who will handle the point guard role for the Raiders. “I look to see great things out of her,” the coach said. “But she is obviously young. She is a talented kid but has never played at this level. It will be interesting to watch. I told her that her job is to initiate the offense and limit turnovers.”
Scheets won’t have to carry a large burden as she has a lot of talent surrounding her on the court. Headlining the list of starters is 6-foot-4 junior center Nevena Narkovic, who was second in scoring last winter for Glenbard South. Sophomore forward Patrice Hicks is also back and should be a force in the paint as well.
A quartet of seniors returns for the Raiders in guards Erin Anderson and Allie Romano and forwards Tess DiIorio and Maggie Norton. Junior guard Sarah Englehardt, junior forward Bridget Anderson and sophomore guard Dani Chitkowski are three more newcomers expected to see time on the court.
“A key will be how quickly we come together,” the coach said. “Nevena and Patrice are also keys. If those two take the team on their shoulders, we can do some damage.”
Glenbard South will be competing in the Western Sun Conference for the last time, with the school moving to the Metro Suburban next fall. Defending champ Geneva is once again the favorite after placing fourth last year in Class 4A.
“Geneva is always a team to reckon with,” Fonda said. “Even though they lost Taylor Whitley, they reload every year.”
