Maidens prepare for season under direction of new coach

The Ronan Maidens underwent a significant transformation from last season’s undefeated regular season as they prepare to enter the 2017-2018 campaign.

The biggest changes came at the start and at the middle of the last season. Towards the end of the 2016 year, the Montana State High School Athletic Association chose a massive overhaul in realignment, primarily affecting the Class B and Class A schools.

The Maidens, who went undefeated in last year’s regular season in Class B, will now enter their first season in the remodeled Class A that will feature Browning, Libby, and Ronan as three newcomers to the conference.

Then Maidens’ skipper Ron Hanson, who guided the team to an undefeated season, also stepped down to assume an administration position in Oregon. Ronan hired long-time teacher Steve Woll to take Hanson’s place.

The Maidens also lost two significant contributors that were key components to last year’s undefeated regular season squad in Lee and Alicia Camel.

Woll didn’t let all of the changes deter him. He has embraced the challenge as he prepares to lead his team into the 2017-2018 campaign.

“I express how excited I am,” Woll said. “My staff and I met at dinner and had a player’s meeting. I felt the excitement in the room and honestly, I am ready for all of us to get started. This is a new year, a new system, and a new wave for all of us.”

Woll embraced the new challenge of playing in Class A and is confident he, his team and coaching staff will make a smooth transition to the new conference that will include the defending state champion Columbia Falls girl’s basketball team, and Browning, Polson and Whitefish.

“We will be playing in a new conference and it’s uncharted waters,” Woll said. “We are real unclear where we stand in the new conference. We are ready to get going and see how we do. We should be able to compete every day and finish strong.”

Woll said he felt the competitive nature of Class B will adequately prepare his team for the change.

“Our schedule really prepared us to go to Class A,” Woll said. “We played Libby, Florence, Deer Lodge, Loyola, Fairfield and Colstrip. Hopefully, that helps us when we play Columbia Falls, Hamilton, Corvallis, Frenchtown. Just like every league, you have to bring it every night because there are so many good teams. You just can’t take a night off. We are looking for the challenge of that.”

Woll said he anticipates his team will be younger but was pleased with the progress they made in the summer.

“The younger players have improved their confidence in learning a new system and now that they aren’t going to be blindsided, they will understand what to expect,” Woll said. “Their transition to high school will be easier the first month. They will know what to do and that is kind of neat to see. Because we are in such transition, the biggest thing is that players get used to and are comfortable in what we are doing.”

Woll said he anticipates some senior leaders intermixed with some younger players as the Maidens will sort out its roster on its first official day of practice on Nov. 16.

“Our freshman class was in the gym quite a bit and could challenge some of the older girls for playing time,” Woll said. “I always tell my players that they are one play away from not playing, whether it be injury or sickness. You are always one play away from playing at the next level.”