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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – The Auburndale girls basketball team will have nearly an entire new look this season.
The Apaches return just one starter and five players overall to a team that went 21-3 and was co-champions of the Marawood Conference South Division, along with Wisconsin Rapids Assumption and Marathon.
Nearly all of the scoring from last year’s squad that won 16 games in a row prior to losing in the WIAA Division 4 regional finals to Neillsville.
Senior Brooke Anderson is the lone starter returning, but she averaged just 2.4 points per game as the Apaches relied heavily on post players Paiton Richardson and Taylor Gotz, who combined to score 32 points a game and were both first-team all-conference performers.
Adding to the mix of a new lineup is a new coach. Michael Gehrke takes over for Scott Meidl, who coached the Apaches to a 57-18 record the previous four years.
Mackenzie Raab, a sophomore, and juniors Rachael Bolder and Hannah Bolder will find increased playing time, along with senior Rachel Gronemeyer. All four played off the bench last season, with Raab seeing the most playing time.
Junior Lauren Dillinger and sophomore Marissa Ponshock are also expected to contribute.
“This season will be one of transition as the Apaches have no players returning that averaged more than 3 points,” Gehrke said. “We will be looking for returning starters Brooke Anderson and Mackenzie Raab to step up this season.”