By KIM NORTH

Times Leader Sports Writer

WHEELING – According to third-year head coach Roberta Olejasz, her Wheeling Central girls basketball team is going to be fun to watch. However, those fans attending games will have familiarize themselves with the roster.

Olejasz had no problem in saying the Maroon Knights can go well into their bench during the 2022-23 season.

“We have four returning letterwinners. However, we have one transfer and a lot of freshmen who will contribute this season,” the former Maroon Knight all-stater and player at VCU explained. We are going to be fun to watch.

“Last year we only went 6-7 players deep, but this year we can probably go 10. It’s going to be fun to see the different combinations we put on the floor.”

The returning letterwinners – all seniors, as well – are Reagan Olejasz (5-10), Valerie Downing (5-6), Lily Vogrin (5-7) and Keiera Wilkinson (6-0). Olejasz is the daughter of the head coach.

“I’ve been fortunate to coach some of the seniors since they were 5 years old playing travel ball with my daughter,” Olejasz noted.

Offensively, everything centers around the young Olejasz.

“She really sees the floor well,” her coach and mother pointed out. “We run a lot of things through her because she passes the ball really well. She also rebounds well and plays good defense.”

Vogrin is the Maroon Knights’ long-ball specialist.

“She can get the three-point shot up really quick,” Coach Olejasz said. “She led us in made three-point shots and rebounds last year. She can also play good defense, especially with her quickness.”

Downing and Wilkinson are key pieces for the role play.

“Valerie can shoot the ball very well and is very quick defensively,” the coach said. “She keeps improving each day in practice. She can get to the hole and brings the next-level energy.

“Keiera runs the floor, rebounds and plays at the top of her game every night,” Coach Olejasz added. “She does anything you ask her to. She’d run through a wall for you. Very athletic.”

Only two juniors – Linsly transfer Brook Edge (5-6) and Natalie Yates (5-5) – dot the roster. Coach Olejasz is glad to have Edge.

“She is our general on the floor and we are very excited that she decided to come to (Wheeling) Central. She has played with some of the girls in travel ball for a long time,” she said. “She is a wonderful addition that shoots the ball well, distributes the ball and can get to the hoop. A huge asset … maybe that piece we were missing last year.”

Sophomores on the roster are Ava Carroll (5-4), Ava Hanson (5-5), Angelina Robrecht (5-8), Jadyn Parker (5-3) and Samara Scott (5-8). Most will be ticketed for JV action.

A seven-member freshmen class rounds out the squad, with some being ready to step in and give quality minutes. They are Mariah Ratcliffe (5-6), Eric Maxwell (5-6), Haley Severns (5-11), Addie Payton (5-6), Maddie Miehle (5-5), Emma Nickerson (5-8) and Hailey Downer (6-1).

“Our strengths will be our ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter as well as go inside. We are pretty balanced,” the coach said. “Our depth is also a strength because we can put different sets of players on the floor if we want to press. If we want to run a set offense, we can use another set of players.”

Olesjaz said the schedule has changed a lot since last winter.

“We are playing more OVAC teams than we have in the past, but we are still playing teams like Williamstown and St. Marys,” she added. “We have also added two games with Toronto and one with Caldwell. We now have 10 home games when we used to only have 4-5.

No losses were felt by graduation, but Abby Jones didn’t return this season.

Olejasz is assisted by her father, Bob Robinson, brother, Jim Robinson, and former Maroon Knight Maddie (Taylor) Seavy.

The Maroon Knights open the season Saturday when Class 4A Washington High from Eastern Panhandle visits the Friendly City.