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Schlegel signs on at Youngstown State |
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Wednesday, 11 November 2009 |
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 Wapakoneta High School senior Heidi Schlegel, middle, signs her letter of intent to play basketball for Div. I Youngstown State University at a ceremony Wednesday. Staff photo/Chris Voloschuk By CHRIS VOLOSCHUK
Sports Editor
With a few strokes of a pen, Wapakoneta High School senior Heidi Schlegel sent her basketball career to the next level earlier this morning.
By November of next year, she’ll be a full-fledged member of the Youngstown State Penguins women’s basketball program, which is a part of the Horizon League. Today’s signing ceremony confirmed her final decision.
When it came to choosing a college destination, Schlegel fell in love with the YSU program and the work of head coach Cindy Martin.
“Coach Martin and her staff were awesome,” Schlegel said. “I love their work ethic and I just love everything about it.”
The current Penguin roster, consisting of 12 players from Ohio, California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and even Serbia also helped sway Schlegel.
“The team was so welcoming,” she said. “I just love everything about their team. The team really meshed well and they’re about camaraderie and going out in the community and helping.”
Schlegel will bring some much-needed help in the post to the YSU program. Last season, they ranked in the bottom half of the Horizon League in almost every offensive and defensive statistical category on the way to a 3-27 overall record (1-17 in league play).
There is a chance Schlegel could see some playing time as a freshman.
“I really believe I could [play right away] if I work hard,” she said. “Dedication and working hard is their whole aspect over there. I really think that I could play if I go over there, work hard and put all my effort towards it.”
Redskins varsity girls coach Rusty Allen believes YSU is getting a heck of a post player.
“They’ll be getting a super player,” Allen said. “She’s solid in the post, strong, can do a lot of things. She’s pretty versatile. She can handle the ball pretty well. It’s a big jump going from high school to college but I think she’s prepared and ready for that.”
But before she embarks on the next phase of her basketball life, there’s still her senior season of high school, which will officially start November 27 at Botkins. Coming off a season in which the Redskins finished Division II state runners-up, Allen gets one more year of Schlegel in the post, rebounding and scoring inside with All-League efficiency.
“We get her for one more year, so we’re going to enjoy her for this last year and try to use her a lot,” Allen said.
Schlegel will be the backbone of the Redskins on the floor and will command a lot of attention from opposing teams. She’s coming off a 2008-09 campaign in which she etched her name into school record books for rebounds (244) and points (205) in a season (second all-time) and was named to the All-Western Buckeye League and All-District teams.
She also moved into elite company today when she became the third member of the state runner-up team to get a college basketball scholarship. She joins Devon Golden (Georgetown College) and Emily Steveley (Mount Vernon Nazarene).
“We all worked hard, we all had a common goal last year,” Schlegel said. “We all love basketball and we all wanted to play hard. We got together and played our game together.”
Academically, Schlegel will focus on earning a degree in middle-childhood education.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 16 November 2009 )
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