Photo submitted by head coach Janet Gustafson
The Dell Rapids St Mary Cardinal girls basketball team will welcome a new coach for the 2022-2023 season. Ed Gustafson takes over the team after an 11-10 finish last season and a loss in the opening round of the regional tournament.
The Cardinals return three starters from a year ago, two of which the leading scorers: Ella Griffin (senior), Sydney Klein (senior), and Madala Hanson (sophomore). Other key players this season will be Maya Heinitz (senior), Whitney Warwick (senior), Sierra Klein (junior), Brianna Griffin (sophomore), and Addi Libis (sophomore).
The team does return a lot of experience with eight of the top 10 varsity girls back from a year ago along with some sophomores and freshman who will push for playing time. St Mary strengths this year will be speed and depth. The Cardinals will need to play good team defense and rebound as a team to overcome size disadvantages this season. They play in a very good conference and region, but hope to be competitive in the conference and finish near the top in hopes of competing for a spot in the SoDak 16 at the end of the year.
The Cardinals start the season at home against Howard on Friday, December 9th
