De Pere Redbirds ready to run it back, guided by senior leaders and talented youth

The De Pere Redbirds are coming off a standout 18-4 season, and this year, they’re ready to prove they can do it again. 

With a mix of experienced underclassmen and senior leaders, the Redbirds are aiming to reclaim the Fox River Classic Conference crown and make a deeper run into playoffs. 

Despite losing two first team all-conference seniors– Egan Bierowski and Jaden Ciesielczyk–  both of whom averaged 11 points per game, the Redbirds return a talented and experienced roster poised to contend for the conference crown again.

“There’s great opportunity for players to fill in. We have a lot of girls that have experience, only two seniors on the roster,” Head Coach Jeremy Boileau said. “A lot of girls have played some really good minutes for us the past couple of years that are now sophomores and juniors. Addie Dwyer, Aubree Fischer and Allie Neuenfeldt, and even some of those girls that are now sophomores, they have a lot of good, valuable varsity time, and just being able to see who’s ready to step up.”

The Redbirds are leaning on senior leadership from Abby Tassoul and Hailey Gerlikowski to guide the team. “Egan and Jaden brought great senior leadership,” Boileau said. “Now I’m looking for Abby and Hailey to really lead by example in practice and games. Every year Abby has been able to up her game, and we’ve already seen her be more vocal with her leadership and stepping up.”

Tassoul, a UW-Eau Claire women’s basketball commit, is optimistic about the season. “I think we have great chemistry as a team. We’re just starting, but I feel like it’ll be a good season,” she said. “Our goals are the same as last year– win conference– but a really big goal of ours this year is win regionals because we haven’t done that in three or four years.”

The Redbirds are also counting on balanced scoring from players stepping into larger roles. Tassoul highlighted Alexa Spaeth, Paityn Meulemans and Allie Neuenfeldt as players expected to take on bigger scoring responsibilities. “Everyone’s gotta contribute this year for really balanced scoring,” she said.

Key returning players like Aubree Fischer and Addie Dwyer bring versatility to both ends of the floor. “Aubree understands she’s gotta guard the bigger post players but also score from the outside and inside,” Boileau said. “Addie has a knack for getting steals and scoring, and we’re looking forward to seeing her expand her game with perimeter shooting.”

Defense and speed figure to be major strengths for the Redbirds this season. 

Tassoul added, “I feel like our biggest strength will be defense, running on a press or going fast, getting steals. We have a lot of quick people, so I think that’ll help a lot.” 

Boileau emphasized that attention to detail will be key. “I think that just making sure that we’re really hammering on the details, and we are holding each other accountable on that because those details are important if we’re consistent on it. And knowing that's a difference between a stop and a score.”

With just two seniors but plenty of experienced underclassmen, De Pere is primed to compete for the FRCC title once again. 

“(Our goal) is fear no one and come out with something to prove every day, in practice and in games,” Boileau said. “And I feel like if we do that, good things will happen and will lead to success and just taking it with that one game at a time mindset, and I’m looking forward to seeing that happen.”