Starting the Season With A Swish

Sara Blossey, Staff Writer

December 15, 2023

Senior girls basketball player Elle Synder is starting this year with a bang. In the first games of the season, Elle was named tournament MVP and all-tournament team in the River Valley Tip-Off tournament. In the championship game, she scored a double-double with 29 points along with 14 rebounds. The team’s current record stands at 2-3 after winning the championship on the first weekend of play. One of her strongest traits as a player is her sharp shooting and good ball handling.

Her relationships with her teammates are an important part of her gameplay as well. Elle always tries to stay as close to her teammates as possible. She states, “Every year the girls have always gotten along very well from my freshmen year to my senior year. Having fun on and off the court with my teammates has always been something I look forward to.” Over the years this team has come so far and is always willing to put in hard work.

Elle has had lots of success in her high school career, setting a girl’s record and tying the boy’s record with 10 3-pointers in one game. She also has the title of leading scorer from the last season. This year, she has a big role for the Lady Wildcats being a top scorer and as a significant piece to this puzzle. She also earned the title of Captain along with teammates Belle Blossey, and Addison Toy.

“My goal when I step on the court is to win. Every year our goal is to make it to playoffs and to do this we have to come focused and ready to work hard for each and every practice,” said Snyder.

After losing Five seniors from last year the team is a lot different. “This year we do not have as much size as we have had in previous years. We all have to put in more effort on the boards this year to help us win,” says Elle.

Recently former coach, Mark Burkhart stepped down leaving the coaching position available. This year coach Makenzie Livingston has stepped in to push these girls and help them play their best. When asking about the new coach Elle states, “I like Coach Mack’s drive in wanting to help us get better. She shows this through her positive energy and encouragement with all the girls on and off the court.”

Elle is a kind person on and off the court and is a captain and role model for her fellow teammates. Elle will continue to step up and be a leader for her team and push them to be the best players they can be. She has many aspirations for her senior year and knows that if she keeps working hard she will see the results she wants.

About the Contributors

Sara Blossey, Staff Writer

Sara Blossey, 11th grade, is returning for her second year at the High Post as a staff writer. She is a member of high honors, and the varsity field hockey team as a midfielder, and the varsity softball team as a middle infielder. She is excited to have the opportunity to share peoples' perspectives and stories through writing. As well as taking photos and getting more involved with her community. She can't wait for many more new and exciting experiences. She enjoys reading and writing in her free time as well as hanging out with friends and family. She can't wait to write stories about her community and peers and is beyond excited for this year on the staff!

Madison Snyder, Staff Writer

Madison Snyder is a sophomore student attending Greater Latrobe Senior High School, set to graduate in 2026. Outside of school, she love to hang out with her friends and have a great time. She recently joined the high post and hopes to become a valuable member in the years to come. She joined so that she could get closer to other people that she may have not have met before, and too further develop prior friendships. She has been a dedicated leader of the lighthouse leadership team for a little over a year now and enjoys that she has been able to develop positive relationships with teachers and staff. She hopes that she will continue to meet more people, make more connections , and continue to be extremely involved in her next three years of high school at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. Other than being involved with the lighthouse team and high post she is also a dedicated member of the Key Club, and she is on the Envirothon team, she will be running for a representative position in student council in the years to come. She also does other things outside of school including volunteering, tutoring, babysitting, and she also work at an ice cream shop called Twist and Shake. She very much enjoys cooking, baking, painting, using cameras for photos, being with family, drawing, taking walks, hanging out with her friends, painting pottery, and listening to music. She also loves traveling and going to new places. She especially love cruises. She have been on Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas. Because of these cruises, she has been to Labadee Haiti, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Roatan Honduras, Costa Maya, Cozumel Mexico CocoCay, and the Bahamas. She hopes to continue traveling and going to new places. In conclusion, she want to be a computer engineer in the future and she hopes to influence young children to become more active in school and outside of school.

Karlee Clark, Staff Writer

Driven by a passion for leadership and learning, Karlee Clark, a junior at Greater Latrobe, is a returning member of The High Post staff. She originally joined to explore her love of writing and is continuing to dive into her passion for sports photography and to help guide new members. Karlee’s interests include archery, which she's enjoyed for over six years, reading, writing, journaling, singing, and playing the flute and guitar among a handful of other instruments. She’s actively involved in the chamber choir, wind ensemble, pep band, and drama club, where she participates in the spring musicals. This year, she takes on the role of choir secretary. Karlee also plays as a defensive specialist for the Girls Varsity Volleyball team, where she values the teamwork and inside jokes and memories shared with the team. She is also a committed manager and statistician to the boys volleyball team dedicating an unimaginable number of hours analyzing stats and doing anything to help out at practices. Leadership is a central part of Karlee’s life. She’s a member of the Lighthouse Leadership team and has been a student council representative since elementary school, currently serving as secretary having just stepped down from student store manager. Her love of learning extends to the forensics team, where she’s competed in persuasive essay and impromptu speaking, qualifying for the state competition in both her freshman and sophomore years. Beyond school, Karlee is committed to volunteering, always eager to make a difference in her neighborhood.