The Steffeck sisters have taken the court, playing on the same team for the Fossil Ridge High School girls’ varsity basketball team. However, this is not a first for Ashley Steffeck and Sami Steffeck, and you can often find them on the court practicing various skills together. However, they now have the opportunity to compete for their high school team together. “We both rely on each other a lot during games and it has been a dream come true to start in the varsity games alongside my sister” said Ashley Steffeck, the younger of the two. Senior Sami isn’t new to Fossil’s basketball program but Ashley is, as she is the only freshman that is starter on varistyy.
It’s an awesome feeling being the only freshman. It makes me feel like my hard work is starting to pay off. With that said, I know there’s still plenty of work in front of me. My friends, coaches, and teammates are very supportive and help me a lot. However, the coaches also don’t expect anything less of me” said Ashley. The younger Steffeck is really looking forward to the upcoming season because it will be her first year playing a high school sport. She is also very excited to be playing her freshman year on varsity because the FRHS basketball program is competitive and high achieving, and it is an honor to make the team right off the bat in high school. One other thing Steffeck is looking forward to is reflecting on the season and the improvements she has made by the end of the season.
A lot of high schoolers think playing on a varsity team is difficult as a freshman because the freshman athletes are looked down upon. However, Steffeck states, “It has nothing to do with the grade you are in. The coaches have the same expectations for freshman as they do for the upperclassman; high intensity, and effort is required from everyone.” The freshman throughout the whole program also do not get treated differently just because of their age. Ashley Steffeck makes the comment, “We never get treated differently besides the nickname ‘freshie.’” Other than the common and harmless nickname, being a freshman and playing a sport helps the transition from middle school to high school as you make lasting friendships with your teammates and meet upperclassmen as well.
For every season, FRHS teams always set goals, and the players often set individual and team goals as well. This year, the team have several goals, including being city champions, conference champions, and then to make it to the coliseum. The teams have been known to be very successful in the past and Ashley Steffeck hopes to continue that success by helping the team reach their goals. Her individual goals, however, include: “when you walk into the gym, people see all the basketball records. Career records for steals, points, rebounds, assists, three points, free throws, etc. Since I am only a freshman, by senior year my goal is to beat all the records. Along with the career records, it is also a goal of mine to break some single game records.” Hopefully by the end of the season Steffeck and the girls basketball program can accomplish the goals they set for themselves.
Wish the girls basketball teams luck in their pre-season tournament in Gillette, as the games start tomorrow. Also, their first home game is Wednesday, December 16 against Pine Creek: Varsity plays at 6:30, JV and C team play at 5:30.
