Kristina Willis and Hannah Wolgamott started their basketball careers at Pittsburg High School as members of a team on a long losing streak.
They ended it as key components of Pittsburg’s winningest season in a decade, and as members of the All-Southeast-Kansas League teams released Monday night.
“For a lot of programs around here, 10 wins isn’t necessarily a big deal,” said Pittsburg coach Tom Hubbard. “In a few years, for us, hopefully it won’t be. But they started off with nothing and made something out of themselves and our basketball program.”
Willis was one of only two unanimous choices to the first team, along with Fort Scott’s Jolee Sharp. Joining those two on the first team were Ali Aylward of Chanute, McKenna Britton of Labette County, Jazmyne Honeycutt of Iola and Kelby McGrath of Independence. Out of those six, only McGrath, a junior, was not a senior.
“I think the biggest thing with Kristina, as it is with everything she does with any sport, her work ethic and her attitude are unbelievable,” Hubbard said. “She helped us to play better by holding herself to a high standard and was one of our leaders on the court, along with Hannah. Those two both have been very good seniors, and have really been leading this team for three years.
“You could really use every cliché in the book to describe her,” Hubbard said. “She’s just a special kid, and I probably won’t meet anybody quite like her. She’s one of those kids where they say you should just feel very fortunate to have her. She’s very well deserving and is one of the elite players in the area.”
But while Willis has excelled at several sports during her time at PHS, it was always just basketball for Wolgamott, a third-team selection.
“She didn’t play basketball until she was a freshman,” Hubbard said. “So for her to get from there to where she is at now, it really shows her desire.”
Hubbard said Wolgamott trained for basketball year-round, while often leading and imploring her teammates to do the same.
“To get this accomplishment is a big hat off to how hard she worked,” Hubbard said. “The only thing with Hannah is that she’s been held back by shoulder problems, where she’s had to have surgery. That’s how she played all year, and for the last couple of years. She played hurt, where it hurt to move that arm.
“But she had competitiveness in her, and a will to win,” Hubbard said. “She helped to build this program to where we could compete night in and night out.”
Hubbard said both players helped to make the Pittsburg program stronger.
“I’m going to miss both of them tremendously for their leadership,” Hubbard said. “I’m excited to see them get that acknowledgment.”
Members of the All-SEK team include:
• Kristina Willis, Pittsburg (Unanimous); Jolee Sharp, Fort Scott (U); Ali Aylward, Chanute; McKenna Britton, Labette County; Jazmyne Honeycutt, Iola; Kelby McGrath, Independence; on the first team.
• Megan McDermed, Fort Scott; Jessica Anderson, Columbus; Morgan Workman, Labette County; Sandi Wilson, Independence; Shelbie Foister, Labette County; on the second team.
• Hannah Wolgamott, Pittsburg; Danelle Crain, Columbus; Kameron Braman, Chanute; Kelsey Larson, Iola; Taylor Kemp, Parsons; on the third team.
Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134
