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CBUâs Grace Schmidt had been in an ongoing battle with tendinitis in her knees since her senior year of high school.
It was a battle that stopped at Christmas Break last season when she underwent surgery to address a partial patellar tendon tear. Six months later, the rejuvenated junior is eager to return and help a CBU side looking to defend their regular season and tournament championships of a season ago.
In August, just under 90 days before opening night, I spent some time with Schmidt via Zoom as we looked at her road back to basketball and the â24-â25 Lancers.
Grace, who picked up the game in first grade, took her longest break away from basketball as a result of the surgery and chose to look at the blessings of her time away.
âIt was really hard to sit on the sidelines because of the season we were having and ended up with but God gave me a break when He knew I needed it,â Schmidt said. âI had gotten burned out and wasnât sure if I could handle another two years of college basketball. The doctors also told me that if I had kept playing on it Iâd fully rupture the tendon which becomes a year away instead of a few months.â
The time away gave Schmidt, an all-WAC second team selection as a freshman and preseason first team pick last year, a new appreciation for basketball.
âI learned how to be a better teammate and how to take joy in other peopleâs successes without being a direct part of it,â Schmidt added. âIt also gave me an opportunity to work on being more coachable, which is something Jarrod (head coach Jarrod Olson) and associate head coach Brittany Chambers in particular, had wanted me to become better at.â
One of the things that recruiting experts encourage prospective student-athletes to do in picking out a school is imagine themselves there but without their sport.
âMy faith is a really big part of this and having a coaching staff, professors, classmates, and teammates that are rooted in Christ was really big for me,â Schmidt said. âThey were so wonderful in constantly reminding me that my identity isnât in my sport but in my faith in Christ. I didnât fully appreciate being on a Christian campus until five months ago when I was crutching around and people were offering to help me get food from the cafeteria among other things.â
Although CBU loses a lot with the departure of their big three in Player of the Year Chloe Webb, Nae Nae Calhoun, and Kinsley Barrington (who transferred to Clemson with her grad year) the Lancers will still be title contenders.
Schmidt, Khloe Lemon, Filipa Barros, Anaiyah Tuâua, and Nhug Bosch Duran will lead the Lancer returners.
âAnaiyah and Nhug have done a great job of assuming the leadership mantle this season,â Schmidt said. âAnd even though opening day is still two plus months away Jarrod has already brought up the fact that weâll be getting peopleâs best shots from day one as defending champions. We saw how excited Utah Valley and Abilene Christian were to beat us and know thatâs what itâll be like every night.â
This season also means that CBU will play their final four games against Seattle and GCU, who join the WCC in 2025.
âWeâre going to embrace our last chances to play those programs, especially GCU who has become a rival, and make the most of it.â Schmidt said about the two departing programs.
Ten with Grace:
1. Whatâs your favorite off-campus dining spot? Tacos y Mas, which was one of the first places I visited when I met the team my Freshman year.
2. Have you mastered the art of sleeping on an airplane? Not yet, more on buses than airplanes.
3. What is on your Netflix/Hulu binge watching list? Avatar: The Last Airbender, Bojack Horseman, and Stranger Things.
4. Favorite Dessert? Tiramisu
5. Favorite Southern California beach? 1,000 Steps in Laguna Beach
6. Best and Worst subjects in school? Best: History & Worst: Sciences
7. Favorite Road Trip in the WAC? Seattle
8. Dream Vacation? Greece
9. If not basketball, What sport would you have played in college? Swimming, I definitely gained an appreciation for swimmers during my rehab.
10. What is one item that is on your sports fan bucket list? Attending an Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces game.
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It is the first year of full Division I membership for the Tarleton Texans, and Billy Gillispie is back on the sidelines.
The Texans won 25 games in 2023-24 and made an appearance in the WAC semifinals. Technically, the Texans were a weird loss at home to Utah Valley away from earning a share of the WAC regular season title.
Now, with a fresh new roster, and an interesting perspective on NIL, Gillispie is back.
#WAChoops
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ACU head coach Brette Tanner is accustomed to his teams playing hard and winning a lot of games.
At times in 2023-24, the Wildcats played hard. However, the inconsistency led to a less-than-stellar season, one in which Tanner believes was somewhat of a letdown for the Wildcats.
However, Tanner is excited for his new squad even though there are a lot of new faces.
Listen to what the fourth-year head coach has to say about the Wildcats, vacations, and much more.
#WAChoops
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Players staying at the same school for the entirety of their career is a rare thing in college basketball these days. The transfer portal has made it easy to jump from school to school.
However, Bella Earle is not one of those types of players. Earle will finish up her playing career at ACU, and has been a starter in every game over the past two seasons for Julie Goodenoughâs squad.
Listen in as she talks with Derryl about ACU, what this season is about, and much more.
#WAChoops
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CBU womenâs basketball head coach Jarrod Olson might be, at least on the surface, the most chill coach in all of Division I college basketball.
However, all Olson does is win, win, win.
Two WAC regular season and tournament titles in four years. And the Lancers already have a trip to the NCAA tournament under their belts fresh off a run to the WAC title in 2023-24.
Losing Chloe Webb, Nae Calhoun, and Kinsley Barrington is hard to replace. But, Olson has had great players leave before.
The big key will be the health of the Lancers. Grace Schmidt is back off a knee injury. Khloe Lemon and Filipa Barros hope to be healthy and ready to go after late season injuries in 2023-24.
The Lancers play fast, shoot a lot of 3-pointers, and make just enough stops to win games.
Will that continue in 2024-25?
#WAChoops #LanceUp
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Remember the names Bella Earle and Payton Hull. ACU womenâs basketball fans will hear those two names many times throughout the 2024-25 season.
However, according to head coach Julie Goodenough, the Wildcats have more depth than the two All-WAC performers. ACU plays a style of basketball that is reminiscent of defending WAC champion CBU, and Goodenough loves for her team to get after it.
#WAChoops #GoWildcats
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It is the final season in the WAC for GCU. So, can the GCU womenâs basketball team get over the hump and shake those WAC semifinal woes in 2024-25?
Tiarra Brown is back. Plus some key additions that will help the Lopes be more efficient on the offensive end.
Keep an eye on Trinity San Antonio, who played in the Olympics this Summer with Puerto Rico.
Molly Miller is excited about her squad and shares some other thoughts in this episode of the Straight Outta WAC podcast.
#WAChoops #LopesUp
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In some preseason polls, many already have Southern Utah tabbed to finish last in the WAC. Head coach Rob Jeter loves that because he believes that means people donât know his team and what they are capable of accomplishing in year two.
The T-Birds have size, experience, and what Jeter says is a group that enjoys being around one another.
Give it a listen to learn more about the T-Birds.
#WAChoops #TBirdNation
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Second-year head coach Bill Brock believes the Texans will be much better in 2024-25. There is experience, size, and now a full offseason to get even more comfortable in Stephenville.
Faith Aker, among others, is back. And with the finish to the 2023-24 season, Brock believes there is momentum brewing for his Texan squad.
Brock also discusses his family and their importance in his coaching career. Plus, there is also an interesting perspective on the conference schedule. Give it a listen.
#WAChoops
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After setting a new standard for wins by a first-year head coach at Utah Valley, Todd Phillips is back for year two.
The Wolverines have a little more depth than in 2023-24, plus more shooters on the floor.
In an ever-changing transfer portal where guys come and go, especially at the mid-major level, Phillips and his staff do the best they can with the resources they have in order to be competitive in the WAC.
#ValleyForged #WAChoops
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Utah Valley head coach Dan Nielson jumped on the podcast last week to talk about the Wolverines.
Nielson returns quite a handful of his roster from 2023-24. Ally Criddle, Tessa Chaney, Tahlia White, Kylee Mabry, and Amanda Barcello just to name a few.
The Wolverines have size, and some athleticism in the backcourt, which could help Nielsonâs crew have a bounce back year in Orem.
#WAChoops #ValleyForged
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The Utah Tech Trailblazers are finally eligible for the NCAA Tournament. It has been a long four years. However, there is excitement in St. George. And who better to tell us why than head coach Jon Judkins.
Noa Gonsalves and Beon Riley are back, among a handful of others. There are a lot of new faces, but Judkins says he loves the toughness of his team.
Can that help the Trailblazers compete in the WAC in 2024-25? Utah Tech has pulled upsets over the last four years. But, the Trailblazers have finished middle of the pack, or lower in each of those four years, as well.
Juddy has been at Utah Tech for a few decades now. And with a non-conference schedule that is top-loaded with road games, and bottom-loaded with home games, it should be an interested first two months for the Trailblazers.
#WAChoops #UtahTechBlazers
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Experience is a key to success. And Seattle U womenâs basketball head coach Skyler Young has brought in some experience from the transfer portal.
Tai Kozlova is one of those veterans with Division I experience. The Moscow, Russia native has played at both Maryland and Dayton, and not prepares for her final season of college basketball in a Seattle U Redhawk uniform.
Kozlova is part of a team with more length, and more athleticism that Skyler Young and his staff brought in over the Summer.
Give it a listen as Kozlova talks about the relationship that was established with her head coach as a big reason why she is in the Emerald City.
#WAChoops #TogetherWeSoar
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Skyler Young enters his second season as the head coach of the Seattle U womenâs basketball team. And with a bunch of new faces, there is some excitement in the Emerald City.
Young talks about the roster build, and how it is ready to compete in a WAC that is loaded with talent. Athleticism, size, and the ability to play multiple styles of basketball are what Young and his staff were after during the offseason.
It is the final run in the WAC for the Redhawks, and the goal is to get back to the WAC Tournament after missing out in 2023-24.
#WAChoops #TogetherWeSoar
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Having a player stay at a school their entire collegiate career is a rarity these days.
However, Seattle U forward Kobe Williamson is gonna do just that. Williamson is in his fifth, and final year of college basketball. All five years, Williamson will have been in a Redhawk uniform.
A share of a WAC regular season title, three straight 20-win seasons, and a CBI title.
Now, Williamson, who is getting his degree in biochemistry, wants to go out with a bang.
#WAChoops #TogetherWeSoar
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After dealing with a plethora of injuries in 2023-24, Utah Tech is hoping to keep everyone healthy.
Macie and Madie Warren each suffered a torn ACL to end their season prematurely. Emily Isaacson also tore her ACL early in 2023-24. Kastyn Young never played a minute due to a torn hip labrum.
And so it went.
But, despite losing two of the greatest Trailblazers of all time in Maggie McCord and Breaunna Gillen, JD Gustin is excited for what the future holds.
#WAChoops #UtahTechBlazers
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Seattle U head coach Chris Victor is excited about where the Redhawk program is, and where it is going.
The Redhawks are coming off another 20-plus win season, and a CBI championship.
But, Seattle U will have to replace sharpshooter Cam Tyson, dynamic floor general Alex Schumacher, and the motor of Seyi Reiley.
With Kobe Williamson, Paris Dawson and a handful of others, plus some experienced newcomers, Seattle U could make noise once again in the final year in the WAC.
#WAChoops #TogetherWeSoar
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In his first head coaching gig, KT Turner led the UT Arlington Mavericks to 20 wins, an appearance in the conference tournament championship game, and made believers out of Maverick fans.
Now, with a whole new roster heading into his second season, what will the Mavericks and Turner do for an encore?
Listen in as the head coach talks about the challenges of rebuilding a roster, and much more in this episode of the Straight Outta WAC podcast.
#WAChoops #BuckEm
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In this episode of the Straight Outta WAC podcast, Kyle visits with GCU head coach Bryce Drew.
The Lopes are the defending WAC regular season and tournament champions and coming off a 30-win season.
Along with that, the Lopes also won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history.
Now, GCU has reloaded for 2024-25, returning four starters for its final year in the Western Athletic Conference. #WAChoops #lopesup #grandcanyonuniversity
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The Southern Utah University women's basketball team dealt with quite a bit of adversity in 2023-24, one year after winning the WAC regular season and tournament titles.
But, 2024-25 is a new day, and there is some excitement in Cedar City as everyone is healthy, there is more athleticism, and there is a good deal of experience.
Here, starting point guard Dayla Ballena and head coach Tracy Mason talk about the T-Birds. #WAChoops #AlwaysUs #TBirdNation
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