RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Coach Wendi Graf is no stranger around the campus. She’s the girls Junior Varsity (JV) basketball coach at Cordova High. Besides her extensive sports background in basketball, volleyball, track and tennis, her main attraction to the coaching scene was her two daughters, who both play, or played, various sports at Cordova High. Her daughter Kelsie has already graduated and played college basketball, while her youngest daughter, Eva, is currently a star Junior forward on the Varsity basketball team.

Graf started as the freshman head coach in 2013 until players became too scarce to field a team. She was then recruited by Coach Kim Little to be her assistant coach for the JV team. Coach Graf became the head JV basketball coach after Coach Little was called up to be the Varsity head coach for the 2016-17 season. Graf’s now in the middle of her seventh season as a coach and has enjoyed the challenge ever since.

Coaching on the junior varsity level hasn’t been a cakewalk. There are many obstacles that determine her team’s ability. Some of her girls haven’t ever touched a basketball before, mainly due to the lack of girls recreation basketball programs in Rancho Cordova, unlike teams in Folsom or Elk Grove. Also, if an incoming player shows up and has AAU Basketball experience, they get pulled up to the Varsity team. 

There has been an effort to start a recreational basketball program in Rancho Cordova, but it takes a while to get going and there hasn’t been enough girls participating.  “If we had girls participating in a recreational league, like players that are participating in Rancho Cordova’s recreational soccer program, we would have more girls interested and skills would be more developed”, said Graf.

Coach Graf says that her girls are funny, kind, respectful and appreciate the adults that take the time with them.  “Even during a challenging season when we are not winning a lot, I try to keep things in perspective. It’s about growth and a positive experience,” said Graf.  Two of Coach Graf’s standout players this season are Junior Olivia Jones, who recently joined the squad from varsity, and Freshman Alyssia Firecloud. Both girls bring the needed sparks to the team as point guards and average double digits in scoring.

“What I like most about coaching the JV level is that I can focus on the fundamentals.  I get to see such a huge improvement from the beginning to the end of the season in each individual and the entire team. The difference is significant and it always amazes me,” said Coach Graf. 

Effort is the most important thing Coach Graf stresses. It’s Okay for one of her players to make a mistake as long as she is trying her hardest. “I don’t like to micro-manage during a game. I want them to make decisions and trust their instincts. The success will come. When players know that you believe in them, great things happen,” said Coach Graf.

The next home game will be on January 31^st against Johnson at 5:00 pm. Come on out, cheer the team on, enjoy some refreshments and stay for the varsity boys and girls game afterwards.