Leadership by Jenna Wesselhoeft (Bicego)

Jenna Bicego started for the Streaks in 2003 and 2004. Those two seasons, the Streaks went 61-8. As point guard, Jenna she set single season record for assists as a junior and then reset the record as a senior. These are still the top two single season assist totals for Galesburg.

While Jenna was fantastic as a point guard setting up our offense, as a leader she set the tone for team in terms of competitiveness. She shares her thoughts on being a leader….

Riley- She's Got Passion

 Today I have a conversation with Riley. Riley has started as a sophomore and as a junior on the varsity. While playing the point guard position, she has led the Streaks in scoring the past two years. As junior, she shot 50% from the field and 35% from threes.

Leadership by Jaque Gohlinghorst (Howard)

Jaque Gohlinghorst (Howard) was three year starting guard in 1998-2000. She was captain of the Streaks her junior and senior years. Presently she is 8^th grade coach in Galesburg.

How can a player be an effective leader for their team?

A player can be an effective leader on their team by being willing to do the “extras” that no one else wants to do.  For example, it could be asking the coach to come in on a Sunday to do some extra shooting or dribbling routines.   On the other hand, it could be someone who stays after away games to check the locker room to make sure no one leaves anything behind when everyone else is rushing out to get on the bus.  A leader is someone who isn’t afraid to communicate with the coach or a teammate even if it is not always a positive conversation.  A leader is someone who takes challenges head on and is willing to work through the obstacles. 

Proud of Our Seniors- 2020

We want to recognize our three members of the class of 2020- Arleta, Chelsea, and Kaylee. You have given so much to the Streaks basketball program, to your teammates, to your coaches, and to each other.

You have been fantastic leaders by example. You never took shortcuts. You were first on the floor for practice. You came into shoot extra. You practiced and played with passion- always.

When something needed to be said- you stepped up to say it. If our weight room session was not great, one of you would tell us we needed to do better next time. After practice, you would not hesitate to say if we had not practiced at a championship level. And the practice before the Swirl, one of you was willing to tell the team, “Don’t do anything stupid tonight.”

David Klockenga Looks Back

I have run into David Klockenga a couple times in the last five years at a Drake men’s basketball game. It was always good to see him, even if for a short time. I reached out to David to see if he would be willing to talk about his days covering the Streaks girls basketball team for WAIK. It turns out his memory is better than mine, it is great reading his thoughts and memories.

David covered Streaks basketball for fifteen years, and during a very exciting time from 1993 thru 2007. Consider some of the following stats from the 15 years he broadcasted:

Lauren- Changed Plans This Spring

Lauren had a great year as a freshman. She played regularly for Coach Barshinger on the freshman team, and practiced with the varsity. We had just started to rotate her in with the first team in practice, and hoped to start bringing her off the bench in varsity games. Unfortunately, just as this was taking place, she tore her ACL in a freshmen game and was out for the season.

As a sophomore, Lauren was the first off the bench for the varsity. She had a good year but it was up and down season for her. The work and the experience of playing and practicing with the varsity as a role player paid off for her as a senior. Lauren had a great year. She started out slow but worked herself into basketball shape, and was a force for us.

"Is Great Worth It"

Anyone who is serious about being a champion should listen to this 2 minute talk by Doc Rivers. "The whole team has to make a choice: Is great worth it?"

Anyone who wants to be a champion, should listen to this 2 minute talk by Doc Rivers. "The whole team has to make a choice: Is great worth it?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJtq_mJ1piA

Woody, Thiel, and the 1968 Streaks

I did not grow up in Galesburg but my mother was from Galesburg, and my grandparents still lived in Galesburg throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s. My grandparents sent me clipping of Streaks boys basketball. They never missed a game, tuning into WGIL for the games. My cousin, Chauncey Kenney taught at GHS, so we usually managed to get tickets to a game or two in a soldout gym.

I grew up a Streaks fan, hearing my grandparents rave about the Kimbrough’s. Watching the State games, including the agonizing loss to Cobden and then the exciting years of Dale Kelly and the ’66 Streaks.

"It's raining, I can't do anything."

We can't lift but we can still get stronger.

“It’s raining, I can’t do anything.”

There are a ton of things you can do to make yourself a better athlete, and a better basketball player in your garage, in your basement, or in your room.

“It’s raining, I can’t go to the weight room.”

A critical thing for athletes is to work on maintaining and building strength. You can’t get to the weight room but you can do body weight exercises. Players MUST be doing body weight strength exercises 5-6 days per week. They will only take 15 minutes.

Here is an at home strength program:

https://masseybasketball.blogspot.com/2020/04/home-strength-program.html

Here is a series of at home ACL jump exercises which will help reduce risk of ACL injury but also increase vertical jump:

http://masseybasketball.blogspot.com/2014/08/acl-prevention-exercises.html?m=0

Audree- Dealing with Stay At Home

Audree had a good year for us this past year. She got better and better as the season went on. She finished the season shooting 62.4% from the field, which is the 5^th best in GHS history.

Audree has some basketball people in her family. Her grandfather, David was boys basketball coach at GHS and then at Knox College. Her father, Ryan was one of our all-time top practice players. And her mother, Jenny was captain of our 1999 2^nd in State team. In her interview, it is nice to see the respect she has for her family.

It is tough for players now. As students, their course would has changed dramatically. With basketball, there are no open gyms and no access to the weight room. There is no scrimmaging, running, sweating, and getting tired. So it is a time where as students and as athletes, players have to have the self-discipline to push themselves and to make themselves better. Audree is someone who we think can have a big year next year, so we are hoping she wears the net out in her driveway!

Molly Watson- Mom & Coach

Molly Watson is the most famous player to play for Galesburg. Everyone in town knew who she was, and she was every little girls favorite player. In junior high and high school, all the girls wanted to be #14. She led teams to Sweet 16, 3rd in State, and 4th in State. Her senior year, the Streaks were undefeated in the regular season and ranked #1 in Illinois in a two class system. I would challenge anyone to find a male or female high school player who had more impact on her teams and on her community. 

She went onto play at DePaul and then professionally overseas. Molly has since be selected into GHS Hall of Fame, and the IBCA Hall of Fame. 

She could score, she could pass, and she could defend. On the fast break teammates had to be ready because she might whip a behind the back pass at anytime. She could do it all!!

 Today she is continuing to do it all. She is a mom, a teacher, and a coach. I am so excited to see her insights into balancing parenting and coaching. And she offers terrific thoughts to our present Streaks about handling the “stay at home.”  

Player Development

Principle #1- Off-Season Work Determines In-Season Success

The famous coach’s line, “Teams are made in-season, and players are made in the off-season.  I once heard a coach in a clinic talk about a player who came to them in January and asked what they could do to become a good FT shooter. The coach said that his thought was, “Go back to last May and start shooting 100 ft’s a day.”

Principle #2- With Basketball You Can Work By Yourself

Basketball is unique in that you can do ball handling in your basement, or if you have a hoop in the driveway, you can shoot by yourself. As a result, basketball rewards players with good work ethics.

Thom Sigel- Coach of the "Face Painters"

Years ago, when my son was only 3, he and I took a father-son trip to watch Galesburg play at Rock Island in football. We went out for pizza before, and then headed to the game- a real guys’ night. Every time Rocky scored, they shot off a cannon. It was loud and it scared Allen. The problem was Rock Island scored and scored and scored. By the middle of the second quarter, Allen was a nervous wreck. We headed home early with little Allen expressing his dislike of Rock Island.

The same winter, Allen and I headed to the Rock Island boys basketball game at Thiel Gym. On the way in he expressed how he had hated going to Rock Island. I assured him that Rocky would not have brought the cannon down to Galesburg. As we walked into the gym, right in front of us, were a dozen RI students with face paint. They were big and they were loud. Allen was not happy. He turned to me and said, “I don’t like Rock Island, and I don’t like the ‘face painters.” All the way through high school, Allen referred to Rocky as “the face painters”, and maintained a dislike for them.

Coaching at Galesburg, I am not a fan of the “face painters” either. But having known Thom Sigel for 30 years, I am a fan of his. Thom has won two State Titles since he left Galesburg, and has had tremendous success.

Mark Makeever- Parent Instilling Work Ethic as a Skill

Mark Makeever is a Galesburg High graduate of 1980. While at GHS, his senior year, he emerged as a great basketball player. He went onto Parkland JC, where he was JC All-State. He finished his basketball career at Panhandle State, where the team was nationally ranked, and Mark was All-District.

Mark went onto coach both boys and girls high school basketball in Oklahoma and Texas. His teams have gone 531-218, and had numerous state appearances.

200 Pounds Dribbling

200 Pounds Dribble Race

• Time how long it takes to go thru the dribble series.
• 1- 25 Right Hand Pounds at Your Ankle
• 2- 25 Left Hand Pounds at Your Ankle
• 3- 25 Right Hand Pounds at Your Waist
• 4- 25 Left Hand Pounds at Your Waist
• 5- 25 Right Hand Pounds, Crossover, Re-Crossover- (Repeat- Pound, Crossover, Re-Crossover)
• 6- 25 Left Hand Pounds, Crossover, Re-Crossover- (Repeat- Pound, Crossover, Re-Crossover)
• 7- 25 Right Hand Pounds, Between Legs, Crossover- (Repeat- Pound, Between Legs, Crossover)
• 8- 25 Left Hand Pounds, Between Legs, Crossover- (Repeat- Pound, Between Legs, Crossover)