There may not be a team in the state of Missouri with as much contrast as the combination of great expectations, balanced by youth and inexperience, as the Trenton Lady Bulldogs. Trenton, in the 2015-2016 season, started two freshmen (Salem Croy and Ainsley Tolson) as indications of a strong surge of young talent became very evident. The season ended in disappointment, as Trenton lost decisively to rival Chillicothe in the district championship game at Lawson High School.
This season, the Lady Bulldogs 15 deep roster boasts only two upperclassmen (senior Whitley Richman and junior Ashten Whitaker). The two returning sophomore starters should be buoyed by a surge of classmates, including guard Mykah Hurley, forward Taylor Richman, forward Saedee Jackson and center Sydney Lynch, that played huge parts of a successful junior varsity season a season ago, with many “getting their feet wet” at the varsity level by late in the season.
Coach Brian Upton indicates that “two or three” of this year’s freshmen have the potential to see significant varsity time over the next four months. Also of note is the shifting of two girls basketball powers in Class 3, in Chillicothe and St. Pius X, who both have been bumped into Class 4 this season, adding to the potential of a postseason run for a Trenton program nearly 17 years removed from its only district championship in 2000.
While the reasons for excitement exist, Upton knows that the three seniors graduated from a season ago (Ally Ockenfels, Lexie Tolson, Daryian Otto) will not be easy to replace:
Upton speaks more about the Lady Bulldogs and their newfound goal of winning a conference championship, with the move into the Grand River Conference officially made over the summer:
Trenton will play in a preseason jamboree at Kirksville High School on Saturday, November 19th, host East Buchanan in the regular season opener on Tuesday, November 22nd, and play in the Gallatin Tournament the week of November 28th to December 3rd.
