Great expectations

PALMER — Don Witzel knows his Colony Knights aren’t going to be sneaking up on anybody this season.

After dropping five of its first six games last year, Colony won 17 of its final 19. The Knights stormed through the Northern Lights Conference tourney, won a conference title and carried that momentum into the state tourney before finally cutting down the nets as the 4A state champion.

“We weren’t the guys with our target on our back,” Witzel said earlier this month. “(Now) everybody wants a piece of us.”

And now as the Knights work to defend that title, Witzel has almost all of his troops back.

The only piece missing to the state championship puzzle is graduated guard Hayley Hotchkiss. Although the presence of Hotchkiss was key for Colony, the Knights’ incredible depth is expected to keep opponents puzzled throughout the 2008-09 campaign.

On the long list of returning veterans is a group of eight seniors, most of whom saw significant action last season. The Knights should start five seniors on any given night, thanks to the class’ significant depth at the guard and post positions.

That senior class includes at least two college bound athletes.

First-team all-state forward Alex Coon will play for Division II Alaska Anchorage next year and first-team All-NLC guard is headed for DII Colorado School of Mines.

Coon, who averaged 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a junior, is Colony’s top player in the paint. But Coon will have plenty of help from fellow seniors Kara Larson and Maci Eisenhower.

Grazulis, who turned down a full ride at Division I Utah Valley in favor of better academic opportunities at Colorado School of Mines, has been a top scorer for the Knights as a four-year varsity player. But this season, Witzel said, Grazulis will take more responsibility running the offense and will be a leader on the defensive side of the floor.

Witzel, who is known for bring a high-pressure defensive approach to the Knights’ program, has a host of veteran guards to work with.

There’s senior Jackie Hamann, who will share the point guard responsibilities. Joining Hamann are senior guards Tara Garrod, Maria Bowker and Kysha Mallo.

Garrod provides another tough defensive presence, Bowker brings an outside shot to the team and Mallo will also see time at point guard.

Among the younger talent on the squad is junior Megan Bowker and sophomore Kaitlyn Klapperich.

Witzel said he’d like to allow reserves such as Mallo and Klapperich to see more playing time, but with such a senior-laden lineup, it can be tough to distribute the minutes.

Colony has jumped out to a 10-2 start this season, and the Knights are 3-0 in NLC play.

Tonight, the Knights host rival Palmer at 6:30 p.m.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

COLONY KNIGHTS

Head coach: Don Witzel

2007-08 finish: NLC champion, 4A state champion; 18-7 overall, 8-2 in NLC.

Key returners:

Allie Grazulis, Sr., G;

Alex Coon, Sr., F;

Kara Larson, F;

Jackie Hamann, Sr., G; Tara Garrod, Sr., G.

Key newcomers: Kaitlyn Klapperich, Soph., G.

Key losses:

Hayley Hotchkiss, G.