Basketball

Wesley Padilla is ready to start year three at the helm of the Western Wyoming Women’s Basketball Program and is looking to have another big year. Padilla looks to continue to build a successful, competitive program.  The Lady Mustangs earned many accolades on and off the court last season including, seven NJCAA all-academic team athletes, an NJCAA academic team award, one All-American player, four all-region players, as well as three graduated sophomores.

The Lady Mustangs return 4 sophomores who all have a lot of experience of playing at the collegiate level.  “I feel that we have two returning guards that are two of the top guards in Region 9.  We hope to continue to build on the foundation we set in the last two years. The incoming freshmen are extremely talented and will be vital to our success.  We hope to play fast, hit outside shots, and get up and guard 40+ minutes at a high level,” said Padilla. 

Key Returners include Emma Patik (Casper, WY), Kayla Thornton (Maui, HI), Sierra Eddie (West Haven, UT), and Zipaya Somsen (Wayan, ID).  Also returning to the sidelines are Assistant Coach, Elijah Archuleta, new Graduate Assistant Leiana Thornton, and Passion Bowen (Manager, Farr West, UT). 

Incoming freshman include Aliyah Bantolina (Ewa Beach, HI), Austyn Feller (Eagle Mountain, UT), Cami King (West Point, UT), Ella Stanton (Green River, WY), Jenna Sterzer (Taylorsville, UT), Jordyn Luna (Maui, HI), Kaylee Hess (South Weber, UT), Kiana Manuel (Maui, HI), and Lilly Evans (Pleasant Grove, UT), The Mustangs have also added transfers Alyssa Beckford (Gillette College, Ontario, Canada), and Ana-Isabel Andersson (UT-Tyler, London, England). 

The Mustangs have four of their former players playing at the four-year level this year. Best of luck this season to Anja Ekstrom (North Florida, NCAA D1), Kayde Strauss (Fort Lewis, NCAA D2), Nyah Vermeulen (Newberry College, NCAA D2), and Tamryn Blom (Colorado Mesa, NCAA D2)!