Kaitlin Cassidy ready to take on new role with defending state champion Notre Dame

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD.WYZZ) — This summer is already better than last year in Kaitlin Cassidy’s eyes.

she sprained her ankle last June, which limited her participation in summer hoops. This summer is also better because she is playing against a defending state champion.

“I think coming off a state championship, I have a lot more confidence than I did in my freshman and sophomore summers,” the Notre Dame senior said. “I think I’m confident this year.”

Cassidy was a varsity player as a freshman, but he was happy to stay quiet and play in the shadow of the older players. This year, Kaitlin Cassidy knows that can’t be the case.

“Freshman and sophomore year, I kind of hesitated. I let Mya (Wardle) and the older girls guide me. It wasn’t a bad thing,” Cassidy said. “But now I have more of a role to play in speaking out.” And I have a more important role on the ground.

The senior forward and her Irish beat Washington on Wednesday to clinch their second straight Illinois Central College Summer League title with an 8-0 record. She’s trying to be more of a leader this summer

“The first couple years she deferred to the older kids,” Notre Dame coach Layne Langholf said. “We talked about it last year with her. We said, “You need to talk, you know how to play, you know what we need.” Be vocal in groups and in practice. She stepped up her efforts. »

She spends the summer learning her new role. Cassidy learned the ropes after watching many former Notre Dame players take the lead.

Now it’s his turn.

“I just remember that at PND, on the first day of children’s camp, I met all the older high school students. I really looked up to them and now I’m the big school girl,” she said with a smile. “The seniors were great, they took me under their wing. That’s what I’m trying to do this year.