As Grinnell’s women’s basketball season continues to heat up, the team is pushing through their last few games with an overall season score of 16-7 as of Feb. 18. Despite the impending departure of senior players Nikki Ware, Grace Marsh and Sara Booher, all `25, the foundation they’ve built ensures that the program will continue to thrive long after they’ve hung up their jerseys.
For Marsh and Booher, this season represents a culmination of years of hard work, growth and a consistent upward trajectory. The team’s growth is reflected in its well-rounded approach to both training and games.
“The biggest shift for us this year is that we have more balanced scoring,” Marsh said. “Everyone’s willing to share the ball. And there’s a lot of versatility this year.”
Booher added, “A big part of it is that as a team, we’re very unpredictable. A lot of folks have stepped up [and] a lot of folks put in a lot of work.”
Whether it’s drawing attention from opposing defenders or other players stepping up to fill the gap, the team’s versatility has made them a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest Conference.
“We’ve just inched closer each year, and this year, we match up really well against a lot of teams in our Conference,” said Booher. Though their success is built on years of consistent growth, it’s more than just technical skills. Chemistry has been central to their success, and even with additions like Steve Lewis and Maddy Griess, who are both new coaches under the strength and conditioning program at Grinnell, the core values of the team’s relationships remain unchanged.
“I think the legacy Nikki, Grace and I are really trying to leave behind is [it] doesn’t matter how many games you win. Like these are your best friends. This is your family. That is what will carry you through and keep you motivated,” said Booher.
For the seniors, watching the team evolve has been both rewarding and emotional. “I think it feels great to see how far we’ve come,” Marsh said. “We’ve always been just knocking on the door of our Conference tournament, very close, especially last year, kind of ending with a sour note.”
When it comes to supporting the underclassmen players, Booher says it’s not just about basketball. “It’s about the relationships you build. At the end of the day, it’s about having fun with your teammates.”
The underclassmen on the team have taken notice of the leadership that the fourth years have displayed on and off the court through their overall commitment to balancing life and sport.
“This team has some amazing leaders and role models –– their leadership will continue to build the foundation of this team when they leave,” wrote Bailey Strovers `27 in an email to The S&B. “When our seniors leave, the next year we have others step up in their footsteps to fill those roles once again. The impact never leaves, but it shifts to a different outlook.”
Marsh added to Strovers’ point, offering her senior perspective on what lies ahead to keep this season’s momentum going. “I’m not worried about the team after we leave,” Marsh said. “The future is in good hands.”
Looking back at their time on the team, all seniors agree that the best way to sum up their experience is through the words “family,” “together” and “bond.”
“No matter what, you’re together,” Booher said, “They’re always gonna be there for you just working through the highs and lows.”
Ware added, “You don’t go through everything that we’ve gone through together without feeling like you’re bonded for life, and that there’s something about this team that’s really special.”
Even as they prepare to move on to the next chapter of their lives, the senior class can take comfort in knowing they’ve left the team stronger than ever.
“It’ll definitely be difficult to say goodbye to them, but it’s not a goodbye forever. It’s a, ‘I’m no longer technically your teammate, but I’m always going to be your teammate and family,’” said Ware.
Jim • Feb 19, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Excellent article!