Wildcat girls basketball recently wrapped up one of their best basketball seasons in history.
They finished 23-9, won the inter-city championship, the State Farm Classic Constellation Championship, and were ranked #1 going into sectionals.
Although they bowed out in regionals, the girls’ 2025-2026 season was definitely one to remember.
Senior Captain Savannah Steers had a great season and had a lot of love for her team and the game, but having love for basketball wasn’t always the case.
“I was in 7th grade, and I did not want to be playing basketball. It was right after COVID. Life was just rough, and I hated every minute of it,” Steers shared.
While struggling to continue playing basketball, now Varsity head coach Coach Ostling helped Steers navigate through tough times by checking in on her and having positive energy all the time.
Teamwork is a massive reason for the outcome of this season.
A major focus for the girls was creating relationships and building off of those to work towards success.
The team put effort into making sure others around them were ready to go.
The team was comfortable enough so they could push each other and execute better without “walking on eggshells,” as Steers mentioned.
They held sit-down conversations to address nerves and built confidence by reviewing their fundamental superiority in areas like boxing out and shooting percentages.
The team grew together and became a family over the season, and it paid off with an amazing season.
In her final year, Steers shifted her focus to the friendships and bonds made with her teammates, particularly her “ball and a partner,” fellow senior, Haley Upton.
While she does not currently plan to play at the collegiate level, she considers this season a highlight where she could genuinely cherish the sport and the people around her.
In the end, Coach Ostling has brought together not only a team but a family.
Ostling’s positive energy and consistency in keeping up with players shows that he truly cares.
Coach Ostling always has a smile on his face and welcomes all with his friendly attitude. His positive vibes spilled over to make help make the team a success.
The future is certainly bright for Normal West girls basketball as in addition to the accolades above, the Normal West JV girls basketball team finished their season undefeated with a final 20-o record.
In addition, junior Avery Dodge was awarded all state honors while being named to the 3A 3rd team All State roster.
