The Wildcats won three straight NLL titles from 2002-04 and are once again gunning for a three-peat. Veteran coach Jerry Sigler, who has a career record of 642-164, said the league coaches appreciate the program's competitiveness which has included eight titles in the last 14 years. Northview is the preseason pick to win another championship.
"There is a respect there for our team. We're honored that the other coaches look at us as the power in the league and the prospect of a three-peat," Sigler said. "We're just trying to put all the pieces together and hope we can make a run."
Northview is led by two seniors that have signed to play at Mid-American Conference schools.
Senior guard/forward Miriam Justinger will play at Kent State and senior forward Jessica Jessing will play at Western Michigan.
Justinger earned all-Ohio third team and all-district 7 first team honors after leading the league in scoring with 16.4 points per game. Jessing earned all-NLL first team and all-district second team honors after averaging 10.5 points per game. The duo is joined by senior Skylar Rose who averaged 10.4 points.
"That is a good core group," Sigler said. "Miriam does a little bit of everything. She has good size inside and can shoot the ball well outside. She's a competitor. JJ is 6-3 and can shoot as well. She has nice moves inside. Skylar is consistent. She shoots the ball very well for us."
Sigler said his players seem to rally around the legacy of the program.
"There are games every year we win just because of the jersey," Sigler said.
In the same breath, Sigler said a lot has to go right to win the NLL.
"Every night it will be a heck of a fight," he said. "We'll have to have other players stepup."
The league's top four scorers from last season return.
Bowling Green and Perrysburg are neck-and-neck as the teams expected to challenge Northview.
Perrysburg, which had won the previous two NLL titles before Northview's back-to-back crowns, returns seven letterwinners from a team that went 12-2 in league play last year.
"We always intend to be at or near the top of the league," Perrysburg coach Todd Sims said. "Our league is always tough so this will be a big challenge."
Bowling Green has all five starters back among six letterwinners.
"We expect to compete in the top half of the NLL," Bobcats coach Jeff Nichols said.
The addition of Napoleon to the NLL makes a tough league even tougher, Sigler said. The Wildcats won the Greater Buckeye Conference title under veteran coach Rod Hersha last season.
Here is a look at the teams in predicted order of finish based on a preseason coaches' poll:
NORTHVIEW
Coach: Jerry Sigler, 36th season
Last season: 18-4 overall, 13-1 NLL
Top players: Seniors Miriam Justinger, 6-0, G/F; Jessica Jessing, 6-3, F; Skylar Rose, 5-9, G; Chelsey Mason, 5-8, G/F. Junior Lauren Yurjevic, 5-11, F. Sophomore Lori Myer, 5-7, G
Outlook: Sigler has three starters and six returning letterwinners back.
Justinger (16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game), Jessing (10.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg) and Rose (10.4 ppg) are a formidable trio.
"This past success, plus a strong incoming freshmen class, should help bring success this year," Sigler said.
Potential trouble areas are inexperience off the bench including numerous freshmen.
"Being led by our three veteran starters, we will be a much more up-tempo team this year," Sigler said. "As our younger players get more floor time, we will become a very solid team by tournament time."
BOWLING GREEN
Coach: Jeff Nichols, 10th season
Last season: 11-11, 5-9
Top players: Seniors Hayley Williford, 5-7, G; Jenna Stoner, 5-9, G; Alyssa Kopp, 6-0, C; Vivian Vazquez, 5-2, G; Marissa Milligan, 5-8, F. Juniors Chelsey Morlock, 5-4, G; Haley Glandorff, 5-4, G.
Outlook: Nichols cites team experience, depth at guard, team chemistry, and quickness as strengths.
Williford ranked second in the NLL in scoring (15.0 points per game), while Milligan (8.1 ppg), Stoner (7.3 ppg), and Kopp (7.4 ppg) also scored consistently. Milligan also averaged 7.0 rebounds per game and Stoner dished out 3.0 assists per game.
Depth in the post could be an issue and learning to be consistent will be a task to develop, according to Nichols.
"Our kids are ready for a good season with hard work ahead," Nichols said. "Staying healthy, out of foul trouble, and learning to be consistently ready to play will be key factors."
PERRYSBURG
Coach: Todd Sims, third season
Last season: 18-4, 12-2
Top players: Seniors Kelsea Newman 6-0, G/F; Emily Treece 6-0, F; Taylor Knight, 5-5, PG ; Becca Tudor, 5-8, G. Sophomore Sarah Baer, 6-0, C.
Outlook: Sims believes team chemistry, shooting, and athleticism will be the Yellow Jackets' top attributes. But he is concerned about rebounding.
Newman ranked fourth in the NLL in scoring (13.6 ppg) and was fifth in rebounding (7,0 rpg). Treece averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, followed by Knight (5.0 ppg and 4.0 assists per game) and Tudor (4.0 ppg and 3.4 rpg).
"We only return one starter but have players that have played in some big games," Sims said. "Our team chemistry has been excellent."
SOUTHVIEW
Coach: Tim Nottke, 1st season
Last season: 13-9, 5-9
Top players: Senior Cierra Coleman, 5-9, P. Juniors Lexi Lopez 5-9, PG; Amanda Harlan, 6-0, P; Bailey Hejl, 5-7, G; Morgan Ersig, 5-8, G; Allie Cline, 5-7, G/W; Madi Thomas, 5-10, P; Makaila Marshall, 5-9, W.
Outlook: Lopez dropped in 14.0 points per game, third highest in the NLL. She also averaged 3.6 steals, 4.1 defensive rebounds, 6.1 offensive rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Nottke said having one of the best players in the area also will help his younger kids adapt to the varsity style of play.
"We should be a very physical, athletic team that is capable of running the court in transition," Nottke said. "We should be a scrappy team who is not afraid to battle regardless of the score or situation. We are also a pretty close knit group."
Potential sources of trouble are a lack of varsity experience and the development of the younger players. Finding a consistent secondary scorer and ball handler is another issue. Lopez is the lone returning starter.
"We have talked all summer about believing in our potential to be a very good team," Nottke said. "We have to work for everything that we want. Our kids believe this idea. The key to our success is how quickly we assimilate our younger kids into the varsity level of basketball."
NAPOLEON
Coach: Rod Hersha, 22nd season
Last season: 20-3, 10-0 (Greater Buckeye Conference)
Top players: Seniors McKenzie Myles, 5-6, W; Taylor Miller, 5-7, G; Kelsey Meyer, 5-9, F; Amber Willeman, 5-8, W. Sophomore Courtney Smith, 5-5, G.
Outlook: The Wildcats enter the NLL after winning the last GBC title and reaching the district semifinals.
The four seniors bring plenty of experience led by Myles and Miller, who each averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
"Our guards are experienced and skilled," Hersha said.
Weaknesses include lack of depth and size in the post.
"Our outlook is to be competitive," Hersha said. "We have some holes to fill defensively and offensively. We need some younger players to step up."
ANTHONY WAYNE
Coach: Jeremy Terwilliger, first season
Last season: 18-6, 11-3
Top players: Seniors Aubrie Kreft, 5-9, F; Aisha Tyrie, 5-9, F. Juniors Lauren Cardinal, 5-9, G; Alex Venglarcik, 5-11, F. Sophomore Megan Bedard, 5-10, G; Jasmine Bonivel, 5-9, G; Raechel McCay, 5-4, G; Sara Zankel, 5-8, G/F.
Outlook: Terwilliger takes over for Justin Zemanski, who coached the Generals for seven seasons. He inherits five returning letterwinners, including two starters.
"We have good overall athleticism and have worked hard to become a good defensive unit," Terwilliger said.
Kraft averaged 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while Tyrie scored 7.0 points and grabbed 5.0 rebounds. Bedard (4.0 ppg) and Bonivel (3.0 ppg) both contributed as freshmen.
"Overall we will be a young group with more than half our varsity minutes being played by sophomores," Terwilliger said.
SPRINGFIELD
Coach: Steve Carroll, first season
Last season: 3-18, 2-12
Top players: Seniors Chelsea Haas, 5-8, G; Nina Bond, 5-2, G; Ciara Ruiz, 5-9, F. Juniors Tori Collins, 5-9, F; Destine Geiger, 5-5, G; Taylor Nopper, 5-6, G.
Outlook: Carroll takes over for Mike Hampton, who coached the Blue Devils for seven seasons.
Carroll said his team's strengths will be speed, work ethic, and chemistry. But lack of depth inside and rebounding are concerns.
Only three letterwinners return.
"We will be a very hardworking team that is looking for every opportunity to improve," Carroll said. "We have a group of dedicated seniors we will lean on to help mentor our younger players on the floor and in the classroom."
MAUMEE
Coach: Mimi Olson-Takats, fifth season
Last season: 5-16, 2-12
Top players: Seniors Julia Mauro, 5-4, G; Elizabeth Theaker, 5-6, G; Kayla Thomasson, 6-0, P; Emily Burkert, 5-7, G. Junior Lindsay Sayre, 5-10, P.
Outlook: The Panthers are looking to move up another step after moving out of the basement last season.
"Guard play and post play both should be much improved with returning starters at those spots," Olson-Takats said.
Theaker tallied an average of 10.0 points and 4.0 assists per contest, while Mauro averaged 8.0 points and 6.0 assists. Thomasson scored 8.0 points and averaged 8.0 rebounds.
Olson-Takats said she expects her team to finish in the middle of the pack and have a record above .500.