BEATRICE – Head coach Vicki Wooton and the Storm women’s basketball team will always remember the valuable player they lost during the off season.
Former starter, Rhiannon Peak of Paxton was killed in a motorcycle accident last April, leaving the team and campus devastated.
The Storm’s first appearance at home this season will be Friday, Nov. 9, and Saturday, Nov. 10, for the Rhiannon Memorial Classic.
“The Rhiannon Memorial Classic is our way of honoring one of our outstanding academic and athletic students,” Wooton said of the tournament.
Peak passed away shortly after the national championship tournament last season in which the team finished eighth after finishing their regular season 23-7. It was the first time the Southeast women had attended the NJCAA National Championship.
The Storm have four returning players including starters, Mesha Pillips, Hannah Tatum, MaKala Gardner and Amand Fluker.
Several transfers have also been added to the team including Destiny Whithead, Danielle Sante and Callie Percival. Incoming freshman will include Sierra Hester, Olivia Moore, Brook Hochstedler, Kiana Alexander and Jamica Wilson.
“Basically, we are working with a brand new team,” Wooton explained. “We have more height and more speed than last year, and the players have good ball handling. We have still to learn how the team chemistry works.”
Tiffany Herbek and Shelby Schardt, two Southeast sophomores, will also join the Storm for their first season at the college level.
Wooton says she is confident in her team and eager to explore their talent.