By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Craig Foreman

19th year

179-219 career record

THE TEAM

League: Suburban League American Conference.

Coaching Staff: Kate Swango, Jaclyn Mahoney, Jeremy Bish, Leah Reeves, Greta Wilker.

2023-24 Record: 11-13 overall, 2-12 Suburban League.

Returning Letterwinners (7): Julia Nash, sr.; Danica Banks, sr.; Claire VanDamme, jr.; Lindsay Wills, jr.; Mahlia Friedman, jr.; Abby Booher, jr.; Brooklynn Frank, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (5): Zariyah Taylor, Abby Carbone, Maddie VanDamme, Kinsey Crawford, Emmy Derry.

SEASON OUTLOOK

Height and post play have been calling keys to the Riders over the last few years, but this season presents a different roster and skill-set.

“We are now a much smaller team, so we will look to play and attack in multiple ways,” veteran coach Craig Foreman said.

“This team is a ton of fun to be around and that energy is meaningful.”

Success will hinge on the team’s new, inexperienced players growing and excelling at the varsity level.

GUARDS

Nash returns to lead the offense and has an elite level of playmaking abilities and court vision. She is already the record-holder for career assists, but has also continued to develop her scoring, while also being known as an top-level defender.

“She is our captain and a leader. She is truly someone who will go down as an all-time great at Roosevelt.”

Nash averaged 7.2 points and 4.8 assists per game a year ago.

Friedman is described by Foreman as a “gifted athlete and a bulldog on defense.”

“Sh is willing to give it her all to guard the opposing team’s best player, regardless of position.

Wills is another talented athlete, who runs the floor well and “defends with a purpose,” according to Foreman.

Frank is known to make plays happen with her hustle and determination.

Aniyah Wahid, Grace Schoenberger, Ava Elliott and Maggie Pazderak are all expected to contribute in varying ways and times this season.

Wahid, a junior, is a crafty point guard with a good understanding of the game.

Schoenberger, Elliott and Pazderak are all freshmen.

“Grace is a solid overall guard with an exceptional outside shot. Ava can do a little bit of everything and Maggie is an excellent ball-handler and one of the fastest players on the team.”

FORWARDS

Banks is a senior captain, who leads with effort and pace. She is the team’s best shot-blocker and is an above average rebounder and defender.

Booher is athletic and has strong hands and fundamentals. She has the ability to play in the post, but could also shift to the backcourt if necessary.

Sophomore Lexi Schiavoni runs the floor well and has found a way to get involved defensively with deflections and steals.

Senior Brooklynn Wade returns to the roster after not playing as a junior and brings leadership and depth.

CENTERS

VanDamme, a junior and a captain, made great improvements during a sophomore season that saw her average 9.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

She is poised to blossom into a top-tier center in the area.

Sophia Vorhauer, who is a sophomore, continues to improve, while senior Pam Ntalah is a solid rebounder and has undoubted dedication to the program.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Brooklynn Frank, soph.; Grace Schoenberger, fresh.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We will be counting on a ton of young players to get solid varsity time, but we are confident in their abilities.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

“This year, I feel, will be a really tight race within the league and it will be hard to predict night in and night out.”