It is no secret that the Girls Varsity Basketball (GVBB) program has made its mark in the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA), with a 25-0 record in the 2022 season and winning first place for a consecutive 6 years. However, the team has yet to seal the deal in the New England Tournament (NEPSAC). Having been runner-ups in last year’s NEPSAC Championship Game, the girls are putting in the work in hopes of continuing one of the most outstanding and monumental performances in all of St. Luke’s sports history.

The GVBB team started the season off strong with an overall record of 13-1, undefeated in the regular season, losing one game during the Shooting Touch showcase.

Led by two fierce and dedicated leaders, Ava Sollenne ‘23 and Mackenzie Nelson ‘23, the team is ready to give everything they have to make this season the best one yet.

Mackenzie Nelson ‘23 is committed to Virginia Tech, a top-25 basketball program, and she intends to round out her years here at SLS with a show-stopping season.

Mackenzie Nelson ‘23 stated that her goal for the season is to “win FAAs and NEPSACs. We came short of being able to win NEPSAC last year with a tough loss to Brooks, which has motivated us as a team. Every day in practice, we compete against each other to accomplish our goals.”

Ava Sollenne ‘23 believes that the main step the team needs to take in order to achieve their goals is “to work hard during practice every day and stay focused. If we continue to compete against each other during practice during drills and scrimmages, we will continue to improve and can achieve any goal we set our mind to.”

Fortunately, most of the team has been playing with each other for multiple years. Athletic Director and GVBB Head Coach Matt Ward said, “I am excited for this year especially because the starters have lots of experience not only playing, but playing together.”

The season will continue to get harder, especially with the tough and competitive games against Nobles and Wilbraham & Monson Academy, and the FAA and NEPSAC Tournaments. However, with the captains and players’ continued dedication to the team, GVBB can surpass the limits they reached last year and achieve what they have been working towards all season.

As the season comes to a close, the team hopes the SLS community can come support the team as much as possible. Ending the season with some tough games at home and the FAA Tournament, there will definitely be games worth attending to watch the GVBB make SLS history.