Veterans lead defending NLC champs into season

WASILLA — Ryan Engebretsen may have his concerns now, but the Wasilla head coach knows the goal is to be at your prime in March.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’ll get there,” Engebretsen said following a loss to defending state champion West Anchorage last Thursday. “The guys work hard, the drive is there, the pieces are there. We just need to put it together and get it going.”

With those pieces — parts of a group that includes five veterans of a squad that won a Northern Lights Conference title and finished as the 4A runner-up last year — Engebretsen is confident the Warriors will remain in the conversation regarding the top teams in the 4A class.

“We’ve got five returning guys, five really good kids,” Engebretsen said.

Senior guards Joel Quenga, Wade Stahle and Cole Schierman; and junior forwards Braydon Kuiper and Connor Devine return for the Warriors.

“It’s nice to have those five guys who were with me for every practice last year and played in some pretty big games,” Engebretsen said.

Engebretsen said the veterans provide some versatility for the Warriors.

“Every one of them bring something different to the table, which is nice,” Engebretsen said.

The Warriors have the height — Devine is 6-foot-8 and Kuiper is 6-5. Both will rebound and score. The 5-7 Quenga provides speed at the point guard position. Schierman is noted for his defense and Stahle is expected to be a top outside threat on the team.

“Joel is one of the best on-ball defenders I’ve had the privilege to coach,” Engebretsen said. “Cole is always in the right place at the right time.”

Engebretsen also praised the work of Stahle during the offseason.

“Wade worked so hard to get better,” Engebretsen said. “He’s gotten a boatload better.”

Kuiper and Devine were both named first-team All NLC last season. Devine was also third-team All-State.

“They’ve both spent a lot of time in the gym, both are pretty motivated to play at the next level,” Engebretsen said of Kuiper and Devine.

The Warriors did lose talent. Guards Cody Pfeifer and Drew Ford graduated, and it appears senior David Green will miss the season with a knee injury.

Engebretsen will look to his veterans to step into greater scoring and leadership roles, and has a few newcomers ready to contribute to the varsity team.

Senior Seth Dinkel and juniors Tyler Anderson and Dillon Ferro will add depth to the roster.

Wasilla (0-1) continues its season Monday, hosting the Doc Larson’s Roundball Classic at Wasilla High. The six-team round-robin tourney also features Colony, North Pole, Dimond, Fairview (Colo.) and Banning (Calif.). The Warriors open tourney play against Banning Monday at 8 p.m. The Warriors meet Fairview Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. and Dimond Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The Warriors will also compete in the Arby’s Classic — a nationally recognized tournament in Bristol, Tenn. — later this month. The Warriors open tourney play against Hampton (Tenn.) on Dec. 27 at 10:30 a.m. AST.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.