Triton’s agenda is taking the next steps forward

BOURBON — It will be a new start for Triton in the coming season. Literally.

Adam Heckaman, who had been at the helm for the past 12 season’s decided it was time to hand over the reins and the Trojans decided on Kennedy Krull who is a history teacher at Triton, but one that in spite of her age has a long history in sports.

Krull played basketball, softball, and golf at Whitko High School and then played four years of softball at Huntington University. She spent her off-season in college coaching JV basketball at Southwood High School and when the job opened, she was a natural choice.

“Honestly I’ve coached more basketball than softball,” said Krull. “I really hope to use the advantage that I have of knowing many of them from the classroom, and being pretty young I think that I relate to the girls pretty well.”

“I have been probably annoying some people at school,” she said. “When they told me we only had 12 girls I’ve been on the recruiting path. I’m sure I’ve been annoying some girls in the hallway lately but asking them to give it a chance to get a solid group that will make each other better in practice.”

With the Trojans going to the regional round in volleyball, Krull has had to wait to have her team completely together but that anxiousness has changed to another emotion.

“To be honest right now I’m trying to keep my head above water,” she said. “It’s been really good. I have been excited and a little anxious the past couple of weeks. Our volleyball girls just got done with regional and we haven’t had a chance to practice together much so I’ve been anxious to get the ball rolling and not that it is I’m getting really excited.”

Krull has quite a bit to be excited about.

“One that literally stands out is Addyson Viers,” said Krull. “She is about six feet tall and can be a presence in the paint and shoot the three if you leave her alone. Her athleticism goes well with her height.”

“Taren Yates handles the ball well, Kinsey Atkins also handles the ball well and they can both shoot outside pretty well,” said Krull.

“Jolie Groves is back and she can be a great role player, facilitating the ball, rebounding,” said Krull. “She’s been rebounding the ball well in practice which is really exciting. She’s not close to the tallest person on the floor but she’s bodying people up and rebounding the ball.”

“I’m excited about them.”

A sophomore has also caught the coach’s eye in the early going.

“Jenna Bules is extremely fast and extremely scrappy,” said Krull. “She’s been the person at practice that overwhelmingly stands out with her hustle. If there is a ball on the floor, Jenna is coming from across the floor and is on the ground fighting for it.”

“She looks right now like one of our best defenders. Her hustle and aggressiveness stand out.”

Some changes are in store for this year’s squad but the defense will still be the calling card of the Trojans.

“We are learning a new offense,” said Krull. “They played zone a good share of the time last year, but I love man defense. That is something that we are working on that we will continue to work on. A good man defense with good rotation and communication can be a shutdown. That’s what we have been focusing on for now.”

Continuing to move forward for the coming season is big on the list for Krull.

“Looking at last season there were a few things that stood out,” she said. “Number one is our team free throw percentage (55 percent). If I were another team I’d foul us. Getting that into the 70’s is huge for us. I’d love to get our record above .500, and definitely repeat as sectional