WHEELING – Despite losing four starters from last year’s W.Va. Class AA state tournament qualifier, Wheeling Central is poised for another deep run this winter, according to fourth-year head coach Roberta Olejasz.

Picking up diplomas last year were Keiera Wilkinson, Lily Vogrin, Valerie Downing and Reagan Olejasz. Wilkinson was injured late in the regular season and didn’t play in the postseason.

However, the cupboard isn’t bare as five letterwinners return. Leading the way are senior Brook Edge (5-6); junior Ava Hanson (5-5); and sophomores Haley Severns (5-10), Addie Payton (5-6), Mariah Ratcliffe (5-6) and Maddie Miehle (5-6).

The Maroon Knights also welcome John Marshall transfer Kaitlyn Blake (5-11) to the roster. She was the Monarchs leading scorer a season ago.

“We are really excited about this year. We have a good nucleus of players that saw significant minutes for us last year returning,” Olejasz, a Wheeling Central alum and former VMI standout, said. “With Brook back as our point guard we ‘re going to try and do more things. She means so much to our team. She definitely gives us that ‘edge.’ She is our captain on the floor. She controls the tempo of the offense. Defensively, she is hard to beat. She knows where to be and serves like a coach on the floor.”

Olejasz said the addition of Blake was huge.

“She grew up in the Catholic school system,” Olejasz said of Blake. “With the addition of her we’re going to pick up the pace a little bit. We’re going to run at a faster pace than we did last year. We’re going to be fun to watch.”

Olejasz said Payton will play the No. 2 guard.

“Addie can shoot the three and she hit some big ones last year,” the coach said. “We will rely on her from the perimeter.”

Maxwell saw some varsity time, but led the JV team in scoring, according to Olejasz.

“Maddie has really stepped up so far. She got some varsity time last season.”

Severns will help on the inside with rebounding and scoring.

“Haley will be a dominant presence in the paint. She knows now to rebound and has a nose for the ball.

“Mariah gives us that grittiness and can shoot the three.”

Another player Olejasz is counting on is freshman Bella Fitzsimmons.

“She will be very strong in paint,” Olejasz said. “She also gives us some height inside.”

The coach said that the experience garnered last season will be a big help this year.

“A lot of these girls were freshmen last year who got a ton of playing time, but truly they are probably juniors with all of the experience that they got. They helped us get down state and they helped us in the state tournament.”

The Maroon Knights fell to Charleston Catholic, 47-45, in overtime in the first round of the state tournament.

To help prepare for another state tournament run, the Maroon Knights upgraded their schedule.

“We’ve beefed it up,” she admitted. “We play Cameron, St. marys, Union Local, Monroe Central, Weir; Charleston Catholic; and we’re playing in the Robert C. Byrd holiday tournament.”

She said the key to the Maroon Knights success will be defense.

The Wheeling Central coaching staff remains the same with Olejasz’s father, Bob Robinson, her brother, Jim Robinson and Maddy Seavy.