The Yelm girls basketball team honored six seniors on their home court as the Tornados celebrated senior night prior to squaring off against conference rival Timberline on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Joined by their family and friends, seniors Lilli Williams, Henlee Sherman, Maria Casihan, Shay-Lah Squally, Jayde Connally and Priacias Douglas were recognized in their second-to-last home game as a Tornado.
The Blazers defeated the Tornados, 64-30. Timberline boasts a 15-1 record (9-1 in the South Sound Conference).
“This group in particular has had the ‘unusual’ high school sports experience. The pandemic alone was such an emotional roller coaster for all indoor sports: the emotional demands of being tested, playing with something over your face and then [being] asked to focus on a skill or strategy,” head coach Jennifer Sleeman said. “As coaches, we were more emotional support and a physical outlet to frustration. To discuss the mind game that these athletes everywhere experienced would be its own article.”
Sleeman added the 2024 class of seniors also faced adversity from injuries throughout their tenures as Tornados, noting Sherman broke her ankle, and Casihan and Williams both experienced significant knee injuries.
To battle back from so much adversity is a testament to the girls’ characters, the coach said.
“Physical injuries to athletes can be not only career ending, physically, but also mentally. Each player had to decide if the game was worth it,” Sleeman said. “To say I’m proud of these girls for not only choosing to play, but to compete, is an understatement. It really is inspiring to see. It has not only made me put things into perspective, but the other seniors, too. Quite a testimony.”
The YHS girls basketball team is the definition of resiliency, Sleeman said. Many of the girls have participated with the program since they were young athletes in the “Tornados of the Future” camp.
“I like to think I have a close relationship with all of them. They all have stepped up and served each other in multiple ways, on and off the court, throughout their high school career,” Sleeman said. “This group of kids are natural leaders. They continue to support each other and the program through all steps of their high school career. It has been our coaches’ privilege to be able to have a great group of kids throughout the time of building our program.”
Sleeman said the best times have always come when the team has tasted success, including when the Tornados were successful at the district tournament when this senior class was freshmen.
“That is a memory that we as coaches and our kids hold dear. As we approach the last couple games, our goal is to finish the season strong and win the games we need to win to get to districts,” Sleeman said. “The seniors are so deserving of seeing districts again just like they did their freshman and sophomore year. We as coaches, and our program, we want to be able to give them that.”
The Tornados will turn their attention to North Thurston High School on Friday, Jan. 26 at home before hitting the road for a two-game stretch to conclude the regular season. Yelm will travel to Central Kitsap High School on Tuesday, Jan. 30 and to River Ridge High School on Thursday, Feb. 1.
The Tornados also competed against the Capital Cougars on Jan. 24 at CHS, but results of the contest were unavailable before press time.
“I can’t wait to watch what these young women do as adults, and I know that they are going to change the world in our community for the better,” Sleeman said. “We are confident as a program that we are giving our community some of the best young adults.”
