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FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 7A APRIL 2015 243040006 243169002 K i t c h e n s | B a t h s | D e n s | C a b i n s | O f f i c e s | R e c R o o m s Work With Experienced Design Professionals "We Specialize in Cabinetry" 1005 Richards Road, Hartland | 262.367.9439 www.kitchencreators.com Cabinetry For Every Room, Every Budget! WE OFFER: NORCRAFT CABINETRY MID CONTINENT CABINETRY OMEGA CABINETRY DYNASTY CABINETRY WOODLAND CABINETRY 243679002 Check out our new Rustic Hickory display! Nobody does Rustic like Kitchen Creators! Also, remember we have many displays on sale. Our showroom is ever changing, call for an appointment today! We Beat All Big Box Stores and all Competitors | Visit Our Showroom By Appointment By Pat Neumuth Freeman Staff TOWN OF MERTON — It's always nice to be appreciat- ed for your success, and that's exactly why postsea- son honors are handed out. Whether a team finish- es the season completing its goals or not, the postseason is a time to reflect. So when it came to Arrow- head High School girls basket- ball coach Rick Witte getting selected The Freeman's Coach of the Year, he was very appreciative. However, he doesn't coach to win postsea- son awards. He also said win- ning a championship isn't always the end-all, be-all goal, despite the feeling winning a championship would create. "It really has nothing to do with us," Witte said about himself and his coaching staff. "I know this is the Coach of the Year honor, but we all buy into the fact nothing is for us. It's all for the kids. We look at it as we get to come back every year, and high school basketball for these kids is a blink of the eye. "They deserve a great expe- rience." If building an experience is what it's all about, then start- ing the season 5-5 is not ideal. The early-season schedule was intended to be difficult, because there was a lot of experience coming back for the Warhawks. This gauntlet of a schedule was set in place to pay divi- dends in the postseason. But Witte and the players didn't expect to see three-year start- ing point guard Jenna Goulet injured. Goulet tried to play, but it was apparent around midseason — and her playing in only three games — she wasn't going to be able to play. So instead of having a vet- eran point guard, Witte had to groom sophomore Grace Gilmore into that spot. As a former guard at Mukwonago, Witte can relate to a point guard more than a post. Get- ting Gilmore to fit into the sys- tem and play with other guards like senior Augy Jepsen and junior Katie Hinzey took some trial and error. "Quite honestly, I have a bias for that position," Witte said. "I know every position is important, but basketball, specifically girls basketball, that point guard spot is so important for control. When Jenna went down, we knew we had to figure it out fast. If we weren't able to figure it out, 5-5 could have stayed at .500 all year." If he believes the point guard is an important posi- tion to solidify, it still didn't change his mindset that a team will only go as far as its senior leaders. "As much as I can show a point guard on what it means to be a point guard in our sys- tem, especially as a sopho- more, it's so much more important to have your peers let you know you can do this," Witte said. "Ally (May) did just that. Ally made sure everyone else was on the same page with Grace, and they paved the way for Grace Gilmore." Witte put May through lead- ership meetings because he knew she was the heart and soul of the team. Those lead- ership meetings first started with May and Goulet. Then Jepsen joined the meetings when Goulet couldn't return to the court. As the season progressed, everyone attend- ed the leadership meetings. Witte couldn't say enough about how strong a leader May became, which made it no surprise Arrowhead went to state. It was Witte's tutelage that put May to the forefront of the team. "The best way was just me watching him, because he is a leader in every aspect of his life," May said. "Personally, he was constantly getting on me and he wasn't afraid to say what he needed to say for me to do what he needed me to do. "Once we were 5-5, I don't actually know when our turn- ing point was, but it was our senior leadership that boosted our team into the run we had. And as much as he doesn't give himself credit for the wins — he will always give us the credit — he was such a big reason on why we went on our run and why we were success- ful this season." One of those five losses was to Waukesha West on Dec. 16. Arrowhead knew if it wanted to repeat as Classic 8 Confer- ence champion it needed to beat the Wolverines later in the season at home. Witte said what helped in the second meeting was the team was jelling more. However, West coach Mark Busalacchi thought a lot of Arrowhead's success had to do with making everything more simple. Busalacchi said over the past couple of years Arrowhead has thrown sever- al different schemes at his team. The Warhawks played straight man-to-man defense and didn't run a lot of offen- sive sets this time around. "He does a really good job of motivating the girls and get- ting them to buy in," Busalac- chi said. "He's got great lead- ers like Ally May. Huge things were expected of them. They were picked to win the confer- ence. They finally got it rolling, then they really got it rolling after everyone found their roles." Arrowhead beat West in a sectional semifinal on its road to state. Witte is not a "me" type of guy. Coach of the Year is an individual award, but he wants to share it across the board in his program. "It wasn't just one coach," Witte said. "I've got a dedicat- ed coaching staff who put a ton of work and a ton of hours to make sure we create an experience for these kids in our program. I coach at Arrowhead, and it's a great organization. "All around me, it is set up for success. Quite honestly, I try not to screw it up." Email: pneumuth@conleynet.com Not just about Witte At a glance Who: Rick Witte What: Arrowhead High School girls basketball coach, who was selected The Freeman's 2014-15 Coach of the Year Age: 31 Residence: Mukwonago Family: wife, Laura; and daughters Leah, Evelyn and Ruby Education: 2001 graduate of Mukwonago High School with degrees from UW-Whitewater and Wisconsin Arrowhead coaching experi- ence: 2001-02 junior varsity boys assistant; 2006 head freshman girls, 2009-12 varsity girls assistant THE FREEMAN'S 2014-15 GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR Witte

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