Angel Whetstone’s first year as the Madison College women’s basketball coach came with some challenges. With seven players on the roster and only five players for half of the season, she knew the importance of recruiting for her second season.
“I wanted to make sure we had a whole roster of players,” Whetstone said. “Recruiting is a year-round process, getting players that are committed to playing, and also on the academic side as well.”
After a tough year with just one win in 25 games, she faced the challenging task of rebuilding the team from the ground up.
Heading into this season with no returning players from that first year, she had confidence in her ability to recruit the type of players to build a strong foundation through offseason training and preseason preparation.
“Not only do we want good athletes and students, but we want team players that want to do well,” she said.
The recruiting part is just the beginning. Once the players come to campus it is important they are ready to play basketball and take their academics seriously.
“We are making sure we aren’t only getting good players, but girls that are good in the classroom and good people,” Whetstone said.
Whetstone believes success goes beyond talent and skill – it starts with character.
“When you have team players and players that want to do well you don’t have to motivate them to be a good person,” she said.
She emphasizes that recruiting athletes goes outside of the court. For her, she’s looking for a strong work ethic and accountability in the classroom and having a positive attitude both on and off the court.
Once the fall semester begins, the next step is player development and preparing for the season ahead. The transition from high school to collegiate basketball is a major adjustment, both physically and mentally.
Preseason conditioning and training become the beginning foundation, as players must adapt to the faster pace, higher intensity and increased physical demands of the college game. Through weight training, skill development and structured practices, the coaching staff takes the time to prepare the girls for their new season.
For Whetstone, the challenges of rebuilding the team didn’t dampen her enthusiasm – in fact, they fueled it.
“I was excited, I got to start from scratch. The only thing I was worried about was having a young team. It was like my first year all over again,” she said.
She embraced the opportunity to shape the program from the ground up. With a fresh start and a group of new players, she saw endless potential.
“I was amped and ready to go because it was only up from there,” she added.
The tough previous season only reinforced her determination to build a stronger foundation this past season, instill a winning mentality and develop a team that was ready to grow together.
Her team’s hard work and resilience paid off, leading to a season of growth and milestones.
“I think we did extremely well, we broke a lot of records, and I am excited for next year as we continue to build our program,” she said.
With progress already being made, ending the season with 11 wins and only 17 losses, she sees the future as an opportunity to keep improving, developing talent and setting new standards for the team.
As Whetstone reflects on the season, she is proud of the progress her team has made and is eager to continue building on that success.
“I am happy with our overall success this year. I want to continue to build our program, I want to continue to make sure our players are developing here not just as basketball players but as young women on and off the court,” she said.
For her, the ultimate goal goes beyond wins and records – it’s about fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and perseverance. With a solid foundation in place and a commitment to player development, she looks ahead with excitement, knowing that this is just the beginning of what is yet to come.