2013 Girls’ basketball state champs reflect on 10-year anniversary
Number 1 in the state! It’s been 10 years since this team brought statewide pride to Manchester High School by becoming Class C state champions. Happy Anniversary, Team! Photo courtesy of Jessica Manders
by Marsha Chartrand
Ten years ago this week, the Manchester Lady Dutch basketball team became the MHSAA champions after a long, exciting, and rather unexpected run for the state title. The Mirror was able to catch up with several members of the team and their head coach, Cori Kastel, to highlight some of the many memories that were made during the season and during the final days leading up to the championship game on March 16, 2013.
The final game, played against Saginaw Nouvel High School, didn’t start off all that well. In fact, it was close to the end of the third quarter before Manchester took its first lead, a slim 29–28, before ultimately winning the game by a score of 57–52.
It was an exciting time for the team and for the community. And of course the win is the big thing. But it’s definitely not the only thing that these girls look back on as they reminisce about that season. It’s the memories of teamwork and community support that are most important to the girls who were able to respond to our questions. It’s important to note that only one of the girls went on to play basketball beyond high school, other than intramural programs, but they all continue to play with friends, in coed leagues, or in other sports. Sarah Thompson injured her ACL a second time during her sophomore year of college, ending her college basketball career.
Taylor Manders, who played as a senior guard that year, says her favorite memory from the season was “the whole school system supporting, my friends making me posters, and the elementary school coming to the high school for a pep rally. The police escort was pretty cool, too.“ She added, “The best memory from the game was sharing it with my sister and also looking up and seeing all the support we had gotten from our hometown.“ Taylor’s sister, Jessica Manders, who played as a sophomore shooting guard, also said the community support was one of her favorite memories of the season. “We had such great turnouts at our games, and it was so fun to see our small town come together and support our team. The adrenal rush of the final game and coming back after being down was my favorite memory. I also have to add that it was my favorite memory spent with my sister.“
Sarah Thompson, who was a freshman guard in 2013, said that, “Driving down Main Street and seeing a bunch of signs in storefronts cheering us on, the student section was always big and so into the games … My best memory from the final game was the last possession of the game when we knew we had won. When that final buzzer went off and the bench ran onto the court, all of the emotion everyone had embracing one another was really special.“
Madelyn Momber (Mae Hamilton) was a sophomore forward in the 2013 season. She says, “My favorite memory is how much fun us girls had as a team. There was never a dull moment between any of us and (we) truly felt like we were a family. My favorite memory of the final game is the moment the buzzer went off and we all realized we won and all of our hard work that season really paid off! Hearing the crowd go crazy made it that much more special.“
Jess Coltre, a senior short forward and one of the team captains that year, said, “It’s hard to choose just one memory from such a memorable season. I would have to say it was when we beat Niles Brandywine in the quarterfinals. We were predicted to lose by 20 points and ended up winning by 20. I think that was one of the first times the size of our crowd was just so insane to me. It also was that win that took us to the Breslin. In all honesty, that final game was a blur, but one thing I can’t forget is the crowd. It felt as if our entire town was there and it was just the best feeling having that support. Our student section did a pretty awesome job, too!“
McKenna Warchock (Erkfritz), senior forward and captain, recalls that her favorite part of the season was “coming together as a team. I had played with these girls for a long time, and it was amazing to see us all come together for a knock-out season. My favorite memory from the final game was waiting to run out of the tunnel and seeing all of my closest family, friends, and members of the community all come together to support us.“
Kendra Beasley, who was a junior forward, says that it’s hard to choose just one memory from the season. “I still get chills every time I talk about the season in general,“ she says. “I just remember the togetherness that team had, it felt like a family. I always remember feeling the pride the town had in our team, and the week leading up to that final game was such a blur.“
Each of the girls has gone on to excel in other areas of life as well. Taylor Manders has her MBA and works from home as a Senior Logistics Coordinator. Jessie Manders is currently finishing up her fourth year of Optometry School and will graduate in May. “I am at my final externship site in Louisville, Ky., and I will be back in Manchester starting to see patients at Manchester Eye Care Center in the middle of May!“ Thompson is currently a graduate student at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. “I will be graduating this May with my Doctorate of Pharmacy. After graduation, I will be working as a staff pharmacist with Walmart in Findlay, Ohio.“ Coltre graduated from Lake Superior State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and currently works at Team Rehabilitation as a physical therapy technician.
Beasley received her Master’s in social work at the University of Michigan and is now a social worker at Comstock Park High School. She says that her experiences in basketball help her to relate to the experiences of the students she works with today. Momber is currently working for General Motors as a Brand Quality Manager, ensuring quality by being the voice between engineering and the customers and dealers. “I am also pursuing a dual Master’s degree, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Strategic Management (MBA/MSM), at Walsh College,“ she adds. Warchock is a respiratory therapist with a 4-year-old daughter “who I hope one day finds basketball to be as amazing as I did!“
Other members of the team who were unable to respond in time for the deadline include Maddie Colllins, Morgan Dresch, Sydnie Ahrens, Holleigh (Frye) Neff, Kylie Smith, and Kate Dorman.
Lessons learned from the court? Perseverance, hard work, giving up time with friends and family can all be worth it. Put your mind to something and use determination. Never give up! Always give 100% effort! Time management skills are valuable both on and off the court. Patience and how to control emotions are critical. Believe in yourself, and surround yourself with others who believe in you. Dedication — putting in the time and hard work will always set you up for success.
Valuable life lessons, indeed.
Cori Kastel, who was the head varsity basketball coach for that 2012–2013 season, had a huge influence on the team. “Coach Kastel believed in us from day one and never let us forget that we had it in us to make it to the Championship and win,“ Momber commented.
Winning a state title is definitely the highlight of any coach’s career, and Kastel is no exception. Looking back on that season from the perspective of a decade, she says, “10 years ago already? It seems like yesterday. In my classroom, pictures of ’THE TEAM,’ along with a miniature-size replica of the state trophy and banner, serve as reminders of the accomplishment I was fortunate to be part of. The 2012–’13 team was special. Each and every player played a key role in that season. When our opponents would try and shut down a specific player, someone else would step up.“
She recalls that the season’s success actually started in the summer at team camp in Notre Dame, where the girls proved they could play with the best of teams from around the country. “(But) little did I know that was only the beginning of the great things these girls were about to accomplish,“ Kastel continued. “The more we won, the more fans we attracted. And when it came down to the start of the state playoffs it was like the village of Manchester was there every step of the way, especially when we were playing at the Breslin in the state finals. I still can’t get over the support along our journey — it’s one of the benefits of being part of a small town.
“The players on that team were not only outstanding athletes but amazing individuals. This group of girls could accomplish anything they put their mind to, so I am sure wherever they are and whatever they are doing (now), they are doing great things! I am honored to be a part of the Manchester Girls’ Basketball program that won the first state title in the school’s history and had the opportunity to coach some of the best athletes that played at Manchester.“
And — in the immortal words of Taylor Manders — “Go, Dutch!”
One of the moments several of the girls recalled as most memorable was when the buzzer went off and they realized they had won the game… “The benches emptied and everyone from the stands swarmed onto the court.“ Photo courtesy of Jessica Manders
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