2005 Season: 21-3 (10-2 North East Michigan Conference)
Head Coach: Barb Janish
Returning Players: Catherine Daniels, sr. (C); Julie Janish, jr. (G); Theresa Janish, sr. (G); Kaylon Leslie, sr. (G); Amber Estes, sr. (F); Robin Sievers, sr. (F/G); Kayla Wilson, sr. (G).
Outlook: The Cardinals will be tough this season, with four starters returning from last year's 21-3 district champion. One thing that hobbled last season's squad was a non-conference schedule that didn't pose many challenges and may have left the Cards less prepared for a deep tournament run than they wanted to be.
That has been remedied with games against Saginaw Nouvel Catholic and Buena Vista, two programs that are well-familiar with state-level competition.
Four of the Cards' starting five have plenty of experience as Leslie and Theresa Janish are three-year starters. Leslie averaged 17.5 points and five assists last year and Janish averaged six points and did a lot of the "dirty work" that every team needs. Junior point guard Julie Janish (12 points, five assists) has also been a starter since her freshman season, while senior Daniels (eight points, seven rebounds) gives the Cards a strong post presence.
Developing depth and replacing Kelli Barriger, a three-year starter, are the Cards' primary tasks if they want to challenge Standish-Sterling for the league title and get past the first round of regionals, which has been where W-P has finished its season the past two years. Estes, Siever and Wilson all saw significant playing time last year and will be looked on to fill that void.
W-P will also be hosting the district tournament in November, which should keep the legs fresher come tournament time.
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