After losing four talented seniors at the end of the last season, the East Grand Rapids Girls Basketball team has been looking for some new faces to fill the places of the graduated seniors.

This year’s roster is filled with several talented players, including six returning on the varsity team. However, there are a couple of newcomers with plenty of potential.

Ali Carlson ‘22 and Kate Sheridan ‘22 earned their spots on the varsity team this year; a feat few have accomplished at such a young age.

Both girls have been playing basketball for nine years on East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department teams, travel basketball teams, and at camps that have helped improve their game.

The two have always played with girls their age, but this year, they are much younger than most of their teammates.

Since the girls became varsity players, the team atmosphere has improved in numerous ways.

“I think both Kate and I being freshman has impacted the team by making the girls who have been on varsity communicate more,” Carlson said. “They’ve also become better leaders by helping both me and Kate with plays and other parts of the game.”

While being a freshman surrounded by upperclassmen might seem intimidating, Carlson and Sheridan don’t mind being the youngest on the team as they are able to bond with the older girls both on and off the court.

“The upperclassmen have helped me with basketball because they are really good, so practicing against them makes me better,” Carlson said. “They’ve also helped with high school by always saying ‘hi’ and they’ve helped me with homework and studying.”

Sheridan feels the same way, agreeing that the girls have been very inclusive and helpful to the freshmen this year.

“They have helped me feel included among the team and given me rides whenever I need one,” Sheridan said. “They help make practice fun.”

With such a positive and youthful team energy, the girls are ready to dominate their competition in the 2018-2019 basketball season.