Roesener takes the lead for Lady Blazers
The Daniel Boone senior looks to help Boone continue to win
With the 2015-16 basketball season looking to get underway, the Daniel Boone Lady Blazers are hoping to have another positive year after finishing 14-11 overall and 7-3 in the Berks League in 2014. The team is relatively young, but senior Alayna Roesener is taking strides to lead the budding group.
“We made it quite a dis- tance last season,” said Roesener. “We got the chance to play in the Santander Arena. We’ve lost two seniors heading into this year (Shelby Vanderslice and Steph Sievers), who were two of our starters. We’re going to miss them a lot this year. One of our juniors, Julia Bookwalter, tore her ACL and MCL during the soccer season. However, I think we still have the players to be a force this year.
“We’re a very young team. We only have two seniors and two juniors. The rest are sophomores and freshmen. We have very good talent amongst the younger girls, though. We’re still looking to be right in the thick of things when everything is said and done.”
Roesener said one of the team goals is to return to the point where they left off in 2014. She commented, “We want to stay together as a team. We’re not look- ing for any drama, which I don’t think there will be, and we’re just looking to have fun and make the season go as long as we possibly can.”
The senior said that the goals the team has set would be accomplished through hard work and practice. Roesener noted that team bonding is important, even off the court. She said, “We’re always strengthening our bonds and getting to know each other better, and that can only lead to good things when we play.” She commented that team chemistry is a big part of what the team is going to focus on. She said, “When you have five people on the court, you have to be able to work together. If one person has an off game, then we have to be able to pick each other up and make sure there isn’t any slack.”
Roesener said that her main goal for herself this season is to have fun and enjoy the time she has with her teammates.
“I want to make this year a good one for us, and I want it to be a season to remember,” she said.
The senior said that the majority of the team goals and her personal goals would be accomplished through team bonding and getting to know the younger girls on the squad. She said, “My favorite part
about playing any sport is getting to know my teammates and making memories with them. The season will go whichever way it will. Obviously we want to be successful, but if we’re not, I’ll enjoy the time I spent with my teammates.”
Roesener’s role on the team this season is more than one-dimensional.
“I see myself as someone who the underclassmen can look up to,” she said. “I’m always trying to do what I can to be a good role model for them. Whether it’s getting my homework done right after school, making sure we’re ready for practice on time, cleaning up, listening to Coach (Ray Cinquanto), etc., I want to make sure I have a positive effect on them.”
The senior noted that on the court, her role includes showing the team that 100% effort is to be given no matter the situation.
“Everyone needs to know that we need to have each other’s backs,” Roesener said, “We need to play our hardest for one another.”
Even with the loss of their top two scorers in Vanderslice and Sievers, Roesener noted the team would be able to make up for that with their speed and young talent. She said, “We’re going to be a young team this year. Our younger girls are really skilled and have the experience to back it up, and I think that will show itself throughout the season. Our scoring will definitely be more spread out this year, and we’ll all have a chance to contribute in that way.”
Roesener said that what she’ll have to do personally for the team to do well is be there for her teammates and encourage them. She commented, “I want to be able to be with them every step of the way and play as hard as I can, and encour- age them to do the same. I want to be able to stress to them to do everything as a team. I think that is how I can contribute personally, and I think it’ll help us in the long run.”
The senior said in order for the team to ultimately be successful this year, they have to have good chemistry (which it appears they do), and stay healthy. Roesener noted, “Injuries in the past have always put a kink in things, so as long as we are healthy and watch after each other, we should be in it for the long haul.”
Roesener commented that she is excited going into this season because of how far the team was able to advance last year. She said she’s also excited because it’s her senior year. She noted, “I’m definitely looking at this year a little differently because it’s my last go around, my last first game and all of that. I’m looking to make the best of it, and I’m sure it’ll be a blast.”