|
 Coach/Mrs. Kari Froebe is one of "those"
educators. Along with being a teacher at West Lincoln-Broadwell
School, Froebe has also guided the highly successful girls
basketball program for 10 years now. During that time Froebe has
coached seventh and eighth grade teams to multiple state
championships where both team and individual state records were
shattered.
After their most recent state championship win (December 2018),
Froebe responded to the question, "What drives you to be
successful?"
Coach Froebe responded:
"Basketball has always been an important
part of my life and I've learned many lessons and developed
countless friendships over the years from this wonderful sport. My
goal was then and continues to be, to instill a love of the game as
well as develop self confidence and a great work ethic within the
girls I coach.
"When I first started ten years ago we were having larger schools
drop us because they seemed to think we were not competitive enough
for their programs. I have never forgotten that feeling. Over the
years the girls and their parents have bought into the program and
commit a lot of time, and with that has brought much success.
"Mr. (Bailey) Climer was superintendent when I was first hired and
he told me the only thing he wanted me to accomplish was to bring
home some hardware before he retired because, the girls program was
the only program he had not won any hardware with as an
administrator at West Lincoln Broadwell. I was glad we could give
him a few before he left.
"(At) the beginning of the year (2018) the team talked about game
day goals, individual goals, team goals and post season goals. The
girls all knew what they wanted at the end of the year, and that was
to be state champions again in both seventh and eighth. We discussed
the obstacles we would face and what we would need to do to
accomplish that goal. As the season started you could tell these
girls were on a mission.
"We adopted the saying 'earned not given' because I wanted them to
know that every practice, every game they had to earn the win, that
nothing would be given to them this year because of their success
last year. Every team would give them their best game.
"We stressed the fundamentals over and over again, and the girls
responded each and every day. That is what makes this team and
program so special, the girls understand that it takes doing the
little things to make big differences in games.
"The Seventh and Eighth Grade teams both won the Logan County
Championships, I believe for the sixth year in a row. Post season
was next, and these girls were not done yet. The Seventh Grade Team
would find themselves playing multiple games a week as the Eighth
Grade Team consisted of only one eighth grader, Elly Martinez.
At one point the Seventh Grade Team played a Wednesday in Pontiac
for a Sectional Championship, Thursday and Friday for an Eighth
Grade Regional Championship, and then Saturday two games in
Assumption for State. All these games and travel didn’t seem to faze
these girls at all, as they knew what their goal was, and nothing
was going to stand in their way.
"The Seventh Grade Team defeated an undefeated Ottawa Wallace Team
by a score of 52-20 to clinch a State Championship 3-peat. The team
broke 11 team records and Kloe (Coach Froebe's daughter) broke eight
individual records; to say this team rewrote the record books is an
understatement.
"This team was not satisfied as they were still hungry and wanted to
give their eighth-grader one last “ship.” The girls never looked
back during the Eighth Grade State run. They remained focused and
never let a team within 25 points. The championship was a rematch of
the Seventh Grade State Championship as the Eighth Grade Team faced
an undefeated Ottawa Wallace Team once more.
"The girls came out with poise
and confidence, they executed our game plan perfectly! The
fan/community support was simply amazing and the girls fed off that
energy. They pulled out to a 18-0 first quarter lead and never
looked back. The girls also broke eight, Eighth Grade Team Records
and Kloe broke five Individual Awards. Most importantly they are
back-to-back Eighth Grade State Champions. For most girls on the
team, this is their fifth state championship in three years,
totaling a record of 109-0.
[to top of second column] |
WLB Pride was out in full force
supporting the Lady Wolvlerines.
"It has never been about wins and
losses as much as it has been about preparing the girls for high
school and beyond. We rarely speak of our record during the season,
that is never the spotlight. The focus is on getting better as a
team each and every game. We harp on the girls even when we have a
big lead about cutting baselines off, not boxing out, closeouts,
little things that separate good teams from great teams.
"Don't get me wrong, competing at State never gets old, but
ultimately the success of the WLB girls at the high school level and
beyond is very gratifying. Junior high athletics is about prepping
student athletes for the future, and I feel very confident that our
girls leave this program ready to compete and succeed."
WLB Superintendent/Principal Heather Baker recognizes
how the program Coach Froebe conducts elevates values and qualities
for the whole school body. She said, "WLB is very fortunate to have
Coach Froebe to serve the district as a teacher, coach, role model,
and parent. She places high expectations for her players on and off
the court as shown by numerous State Championship Titles and the
number of players achieving High Honors/Honors each quarter.
"The players serve as role models for younger students while
promoting school spirit. It is truly amazing to watch the fan
participation at all the games and assemblies. I can attest to her
effectiveness in building character in her students and players, as
an administrator, and as a mother of one of her players.
"I wish the best to Coach Froebe and the program for many years to
come. It is a "fun ride!" said Mrs. Baker.
Those students who have the privilege to be taught and coached by
coaches and teachers like Coach/Mrs. Froebe get so much more than
just a basic education. They get the building blocks for a
successful life.
|
Read all the articles in our
new
2019 Education Magazine
Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES |
Page |
|
Lessons
for all - How to be good people |
4 |
| LJHS
new Eaton STEM Lab sparks learning |
9 |
|
Hands-n learning in LJHS STEM lab |
11 |
|
Cheerleading encourages discipline and high
academic standards |
16 |
|
Outstanding educators produce students who
succeed at life |
19 |
|
Current status report for West Lincoln Broadwell
School |
23 |
|
Tutoring can minimize anxiety and result in
stronger grades |
24 |
| ACT or
SAT: What is a college bound high school
student to do? |
28 |
| Logan
County Education Coalition assists in finding
post secondary education opportunities and funds |
31 |
|
Lincoln Colleges moves forward by looking to its
past |
35 |
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