After going all the way to the finals last year, the varsity basketball team is ready to take on another season! They have already started off very strong: the team is nationally ranked, made it to a tournament championship and have won most of their games. As of Tuesday, the Royals had a 5-1 record. Based on their current trajectory, this team is going to be very successful this season.
Senior captain Kate Duarte, who was recently mentioned as a standout player in “The Orange County Register,” is excited to see the team grow and hopefully go very far this year. When speaking to pre-game routines, Kate shared, “If we are at home, we go into the chapel at Rosary and say a prayer to get us ready for the game. If we are away, we gather holding hands, and I will say a prayer for us before we play.” The basketball team makes sure to both pray well and play well. Kate is hoping to grow as a leader and is ready to be a part of another great season.
Varsity players Izzy Holmes ’27, Kaiya Watties ’27 and Riyanna Meaders ’27 are all looking forward to advancing the team to victory whether that be league, CIF finals or state. Izzy explained, “As the season progresses, I am looking forward to league, our tournament in Las Vegas and a possible second chance at CIF and state playoffs.” The season is off to a great start, so it is not hard to imagine this team going to CIF again. In fact, Kaiya put together a recipe for success: “I am hoping to grow a lot, win games and make it to state.” From pre-league to state, the Rosary community will be right there to cheer the basketball team on!
Brigid LeVecke ’26 dove deeper into the important on and off-court value of team chemistry. She is hoping to grow as a shooter and sees how each player brings a valuable aspect to the team as a whole. Brigid said, “I am hoping we can grow closer as a team because when we work together, we create such a strong and talented team.” This team has proved to be a force to recon with on the court, and it is no surprise that they have great potential.
Coach Aragon, a second-year coach for the Royals, noted that the basketball team is a great team that continually fights for their successes. With this, comes some challenges; Coach Aragon mentioned that having so many talented, multi-sport athletes can sometimes feel difficult and affect the team. However, each player makes an effort to show up and work hard. He plans on having the most physical team on the court as they prepare to “host our own tournament this week, go to Las Vegas during break, play Sage Hill twice and host a showcase on Jan. 9 and another one on Jan. 19.” Coach Aragon is ready to have a season full of energy, toughness and victory.
Make sure to mark your calendars for Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. to watch the Royals continue to dominate in the 1st Annual Rosary Classic!
