Spartan girls have good numbers

“We’ve increased our numbers from last year when we had 17 out,” Gulick said. “And we return all but one starter from last year.”

Senior Ce ’Aira Marks, a first-team all-Old Oregon League selection, leads the returning players.

The other returnees are seniors McKenzie Bell (5-foot-8), Kristen Gulick (5-4) and Emily Coombes, juniors Kaylee Holmstead (5-10), Cassie Bloom (5-4), Randi Coon (5-5), and sophomores Justine Pallan (5-2), Shelbi Thompson (5-3), Ashley Butler (5-0), Elise Terjeson (5-6), Sam Simrell (5-110, Annette Wilson (5-3), Randee Koski (5-1) and Chelsea Gulick (5-5).

“We’ll count on Ce ’Aira a lot,” Gulick said.

“Kristen is a great role player. Emily has improved a lot from last year. Kaylee has really come and will be a handful. Cassie is a great player to have on the team, a team leader.”

Senior Alicia Marlow (6-1) returns after sitting out last year.

Junior Kolbie Keller (5-5) is out for the first time, as are sophomore Debri McNeal (5-9), and freshmen Tyrah Steele (5-7), Leena Carr (5-7), Haley Davis (5-6), Brianna Thatcher (5-8) and Madison Thatcher (5-8).

Gulick will have a new assistant coach, Chris DeCastro.

“Chris has put a lot of energy and knowledge into the program,” Gulick said.

“We’re really looking for a good year. We’ll be a high pressure system; really quick.

“I’m really tickled. We have a lot of veteran players coming back. And our grade school program kicked in last year and brought us a lot of younger talent.”

Gulick sees Imbler as the front runner for the league title.

“Outside of that the league should be pretty wide open,” the Spartans coach said.

“It’s going to be a knockdown dragout.”