MENOMONIE (February 16, 2013) – It didn't take UW-Stout women's basketball coach
Mark Thomas long to say what he would miss most about his two graduating seniors –
Kayla Windt and
Whitney Rawdon.
“I will really miss their competitive spirits,” Thomas said. “They are really two strong-minded competitors.”
Windt has been a four-year starter and Rawdon has been a starter since transferring to Stout for her sophomore year.
Windt, a three-year team captain, is defined by Thomas as a rock for the program.
“Kayla is the type of player you have to have in the program,” Thomas said. “She is just a rock. She comes every day, both for the off-season and during the season. As a coach, that is so huge to have players like her. Kayla is a tremendous worker and is all about the team.
“Kayla is a caretaker behind the scenes. If we had to switch something around, practice, a film session, we would contact her and she would let everyone know. She has been teaching the team (members) the rights and the wrongs of the team and is not afraid to hold people accountable.”
Windt hasn't missed many games in her career. Prior to an injury during the 2012-13 preseason that forced her out of two games this season, Windt played in all games her first three years – starting all but two games.
“People have asked me where, over my 26 years (as coach at Stout), Kayla would rank,” Thomas said. “I would put her in my top 10 on my “Heart and Hustle” list.”
Saturday's game against UW-Oshkosh will be Windt's 100th game as a Blue Devil.
Rawdon started all three years during her Blue Devil career until a medical condition forced her out of the line-up in the beginning of January. Rawdon may very well make her way back into the line-up against Oshkosh.
“Whitney is a unique player in that she can play both around the basket and get outside of the basket,” Thomas said. “Her biggest strength is her skill set. She is so strong and tough and is not afraid to mix it up.”
Rawdon, a 2011-12 WIAC honorable mention pick, has been out the last 10 games and is still the team's leading scorer with 13.2 points and the leading rebounder at 6.5 boards.
“Whitney is a very skilled player,” Thomas said. “We challenged her last year to become our top tier player. Whitney has a great vision for herself and a passion for taking care of the team. When she gets quiet, it is because she is disappointed in herself. She is a quiet leader and she is going to motivate the team by her good work ethic.”
Rawdon has played in 65 games over her Blue Devil career, averaging 10.4 points over the three years, tallying 674 points. She has pulled down 365 rebounds for a career average of 5.6.
Over Windt's 99 games, she has scored 611 points for a 6.2 points per game average. She has also averaged nearly two assists per game and just short of three rebounds per contest. Windt has scored in 94 games.
“I just want to thank the both of them for that wonderful competitive spirit and sacrifice for the team,” Thomas said. “The have made the most of their opportunity.”
