Full circle: Austin seniors have been reunited on the hardwood this season
Published 2:57 pm Thursday, December 26, 2024
Nyabol Mourwal puts up a shot in the paint against the Cougars in Ove Berven Gym. Herald File photo
Austin’s Nyabol Mourwal works inside during the first half against Mankato West in Ove Berven Gym Thursday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Kenzie Brede drives past Kasson-Mantorville’s Malea Haraldson. Herald file photo
Back in 2020, the Austin Youth Basketball seventh grade girls team recently took home a Big Nine title and a state championship. Back row, left to right, Ajiem Agwa, Nyabol Gach, Laura Bekaert, Kenzie Brede and Nya Babuothka; front row, Andrea Hernandez, Olivia Schmit, Marissa Shute, Akwata Oman and Addison Boysen. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin’s Marissa Shute drives past Kasson-Mantorville’s Keigan Cummings. Herald file photo
Ajiem Agwa attacks the Kasson-Mantorville defense. Herald File photo
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In high school sports, a team is often as good as its senior class. Last year, the Packer girls basketball team had no seniors on the roster.
The juniors ended up serving as the leaders as the team went 11-15 overall, but still there was something missing. This year, seniors Marissa Shute, Kenzie Brede and Ajiem Agwa have been reunited with their longtime teammate Nyabol Mourwal, who played for Rochester John Marshall last season. Mourwal has given the Packers a solid paint presence as the team won its first seven games this season.
“It was sad to play against Austin last year, because I’d played with these girls my whole life,” Mourwal said. “I enjoy being back, because our chemistry is so strong. The girls have been really welcoming.”
Shute said the seniors have picked up where they left off as they have all been teammates since they played Austin Youth Basketball together.
“We played all our AYB years with Nyabol and to have one more year to end it with the four of us together is nice,” Shute said.
The four Packer seniors have all played together since their elementary school days and they all compliment each on the court. Mourwal crashes the boards, Agwa is the team’s primary scorer, Shute is an all-around hustle player who can shoot from the outside, and Brede brings energy and effort every time she’s in the game.
Austin head coach Eric Zoske recalled watching the four current seniors play when he was running the scoreboard for a youth basketball game years ago.
“There was a lot of potential there. Marissa has always been a go-getter with 100% effort all the time. With Ajiem, I don’t know if I would’ve predicted her to get to this level with her scoring ability. She’s come so far,” Zoske said. “Kenzie is one of the greatest stories. She’s worked so hard to get where she’s at and she’s a fantastic human. With Nyabol coming back, she’s like that good friend you haven’t seen in awhile and you want to catch up with. We aren’t where we’re at without the seniors.”
Agwa has scored as many as 51 points in a game for the Packers and she has already surpassed the 1,000-point barrier. She has a chance to surpass Austin grad Hope Dudycha’s 1,657 points for first all-time in Austin. However, scoring points is not the sole reason why Agwa plays.
“I grew up watching the team play and it made me want to play basketball. I also like being out here with my friends,” Agwa said. “In AYB, all of our roles were established, but we just had to step into those roles as we got older. Last year we really had to step up into that leadership role with everyone being younger than us.”
Mourwal, who is the younger sister of former Packers Gach Gach, Mer Gach, Both Gach and Duoth Gach, credits her family for inspiring her to play basketball and Shute credits her older sister and former Packer Cassidy, and her mom Nicole, who once coached the current seniors AYB teams, for pushing her towards basketball.
Brede sees basketball as something that goes well beyond sports.
“We know how to work with each other and how to help each other. It’s been really beneficial,” Brede said. “Basketball has kind of given me a second family. My teammates are the best people around and it leaves me wanting to do more every day.”
The Packers will try to keep their winning streak going as they play in Winona State Friday and Saturday.
