By Chris Parker
Last season’s three-win campaign proved to be a valuable learning experience for the Wheaton Bulldogs.
“One of our biggest strengths is our resilience,” Wheaton head coach Cheyanne Gudgell said. “The challenges we faced last year have instilled a sense of resilience in our team. They’ve learned to handle adversity and come back stronger, which will be crucial as we navigate through the season.”
Gudgell identified Meyah Peckham (sophomore), Avery Schlessman (sophomore), LeAnna Gomez (junior), Jayci Park (junior) and Nevaeh Crandall (junior) as returning players.
Gudgell on Peckham: “Meyah Peckham served as our setter last year. This year, we aim to utilize her as a defensive player. Meyah is dedicated to putting in the work to pick up every ball. She is quick on her feet and continually improves her ability to read hitters.”
Gudgell on Schlessman: “Avery Schlessman will be an outside hitter for us this year. Avery has worked extremely hard this summer, hitting the weight room every day and spending extra time during practice to perfect her timing and become an effective outside hitter.”
Gudgell on Gomez: “LeAnna Gomez, a middle hitter, brings a positive attitude and has the highest vertical on our team. By the end of last season, she had significantly improved her ability to read hitters and set her block correctly. LeAnna is expected to be a highly effective blocker against bigger hitters.”
Gudgell on Park: “Jayci Park, an outside hitter, has dedicated significant effort in the weight room and in practice this summer to become a stronger and more aggressive attacker. Additionally, she has focused on improving her defensive skills. Last season, Jayci ranked second on our team in both kills and digs.”
Gudgell on Crandall: “Nevaeh Crandall, a middle hitter, has been dealing with a shoulder injury this summer but has been doing everything possible to be ready for the season. Despite her injury, Nevaeh consistently showed up to the weight room and worked hard in practice. She led the team in kills and digs last season, and we believe she will be back to 100% by the start of the season.”
Sophomores Perla Hinojosa and Lily Walling are also expected to contribute to varsity this season.
Wheaton will be a young team focused on development.
“Another one of our strengths is our long-term development,” Gudgell said. “We have 20 players on our team, we have no seniors and only three juniors. Our team is very young. With a focus on long-term development, we’re not just thinking about this season but also about building a strong foundation for the future. The experiences and skills these players gain now will be valuable in the years to come.”
Wheaton travels to Southwest for a jamboree on Aug. 27 before opening the regular season on Sept. 3 at home against Sheldon.
“This season is about development and laying the groundwork for future success” Gudgell said. “While we may face some challenges, my expectations are focused on growth, learning, and building a strong team foundation. The key expectations I have for the team this year is every team member to make significant progress in the individual skill, the players to build strong bonds and learn to work effectively together on and off the court, a consistent level of effort and a positive attitude from all players, develop a competitive spirit to help push themselves and each other to perform at their best, and I expect the team to learn from every game and practice session. I want the player to be able to analyze their performance, understand their mistakes, and make the necessary adjustments.”
