![Walking through the tunnel created by the cheerleaders and Celebrities, senior Frances Tran smiles as the soccer team is sent off during DEN for their playoff game against Rouse tonight. Tran said the wins against Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights gave the team a morale boost to take on the Raiders tonight. “I know we were not 100% confident in those games,” Tran said. “But, Rouse is a big opponent for sure. We’re definitely going into tonight with a lot of morale [because of the previous wins].”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frances-tran.jpg)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6.png)
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901.jpg)
Lady Timberwolves Basketball Season Preview
Young Team Has Eyes on Another District Championship
Warming up before practice, varsity captain, junior Nicole Leff, prepares for the Lady Timberwolves’ first game. The team has been practicing since early August to prepare for their tough preseason schedule. “[The team] is dedicated to making everyone the best they can be,” Leff said. “And to ensure that happens, we come into every practice with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard.”
With over 40 program wins last season and an undefeated district title under their belt, the Lady Timberwolves basketball team began their first full week of practice last Monday. Varsity captain, junior Nicole Leff, said they are working to repeat last year’s successful season.
“I’m looking forward to going 14-0 and being district champs again,” Leff said. “Our team is dedicated to making everyone the best they can be, and to ensure that happens we come into every practice with a positive attitude and a willingness to work hard.”
Part of what Leff said makes their team successful is their close bond, from pranking each other in the locker room to making music videos at tournaments. However, she said that they never fail to get down to business during practice.
“Even when we stretch it’s pretty intense,” Leff said. “It helps us get focused for our warm-up drills and individual drills that we do.”
Senior captain Pujita Shukla said that every practice starts with warm-ups and individually-focused drills, followed by scrimmaging and practicing potential game situations.
“At first, [in preseason] we conditioned a lot and went to the weight room,” Shukla said. “And now we go over more offensive and defensive breakdown drills, which is everyone’s favorite part of practice.” There is a certain level of ‘we know what it takes to be here, so we need to make sure we practice that way.’ — Coach Donny Ott
Shukla said that everything is followed by running punishments- every free throw missed, scrimmage lost and each drill not finished in a certain time. Even when a drill is completed or a scrimmage is won, Shukla said the team has to “verify” the win with a made free throw.
“Last year we got more in shape because of [the running], and this year it’s more about the competition part of it,” Shukla said. “Because we know that there is running for everything, there is more of a drive to succeed and not have the punishment.”
Another aspect of the game that the team has been working on since Coach Donny Ott arrived is communication on the court. Coach Ott said this year’s team is more vocal in practice and that he sees a tighter bond between the players.
“There is a certain level of ‘we know what it takes to be here, so we need to make sure we practice that way,’” Coach Ott said. “I feel like there is a maturity level on this team that I love.”
Apart from looking forward to last year’s returning players improve, Coach Ott said that he is excited for the younger players to make their mark. Sophomore Alisa Knight is a first-year varsity starter and said that she is looking forward to contributing spirit and energy to the team.
“I hope to be a leader by being vocal on the court,” Knight said. “I want to encourage younger generations to work hard in practice, play as a team and work individually outside of practice.”
Knight is one of the five players new to varsity competition, and one returning varsity player, junior Addie Dawson, said that she is hopeful they will adjust to the new level of play and become assets to the team. The toughest team we’ll face is us. Mentally, we have got to believe that we can beat Pflugerville. Inevitably it comes down to the kids- the kids have got to believe that. — Coach Donny Ott
“[The team] is definitely younger,” Dawson said. “But with the lack of experience, we have more spirit and determination to do or to exceed what we did last year.”
Leff, Shukla, Knight and Dawson all said that the main obstacle in the way of another record-breaking season is one of the Lady Timberwolves’ district opponents, the Pflugerville Lady Panthers.
“They have a Division-1 post and they just recruited a really good guard,” Shukla said. “But we are not afraid of them even though they are big competition because our practices are geared to win against anyone we face.”
Coach Ott, however, said that the team’s greatest obstacle is not an opponent they will meet in preseason tournaments, district games or even playoffs.
“The toughest team we’ll face is us,” Coach Ott said. “Mentally, we have got to believe that we can beat Pflugerville. Inevitably it comes down to the kids- the kids have got to believe that.”
The Lady Timberwolves will compete in their first tournament of the regular season this week in Burleson. Their preseason and district schedule can be found here.
Callie is a senior here at Cedar Park High School and this is her first year on staff. She's involved in multiple honor societies, including being the President of NEHS, she plays on the varsity basketball team, and she is the President of Ping Pong Club! She enjoys writing human interest stories and keeping people updated with the goings-ons of the school. In her free time, she watches countless hours of The Office and plays with her two miniature poodles. She plans on going to college but is currently undecided on what she will major in and what she will do with her life.
![Catching a ball, junior Alivia Robinson plays at the Cedar Park vs Glenn game. Having played since she was 5 years old, she is dedicated to softball and has committed to UTPB for softball. “When I got my offer it took me a very long time to decide where,” Robinson said. “Softball has always been my dream for college, and UTPB is my fit. When [I committed] I knew I was going to be loved and supported.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Lilly-Adams-3.13aliviaedit-901-600x400.jpg)
![Holding a bucket of materials in one hand and a roll of tape in another, anatomy and biology teacher Tyler Terry prepares for a lab. Terry said his proudest moments are when his students are happy to see him. “When I take my wife to a football game or something and a bunch of students want to say hi to me or they like to smile and wave and it just makes me feel good that the students are really kind and supportive of me,” Terry said. “[I’m also] proud when I see students perform really well in their extracurriculars because I can see how hard they’re working in my classes, [so] when I see that they’re also working so hard in other things. Like they’re winning band competitions or they’re getting awards for their theater productions, or I see them put on their choir shows, that’s like, wow, you guys are incredible.”](https://cphswolfpack.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rags-6-600x400.png)
