Four Cyclones bring home basketball awards
HCHS Cyclones Aubrey Schwieso, Grace Albertsen, Molly Swensen, and Kenzley Bruck were all named to the Hawkeye Ten All Conference list. Schwieso and Albertsen made first team, Swensen got second team, and Bruck received honorable mention.
“It was pretty surprising to me I didn’t really play much varsity my first three years,” Albertsen said. “Then I got first team all conference my senior year. It was pretty cool.”
Albertsen led the Cyclones in rebounds with 226, averaging 9.8 per game, and was the second high scorer with 344 points, averaging 15 per game, just eight behind Schwieso who finished with 352.
“I put in the time outside of practice and being taller than most of the people out there really helped me with rebounds,” Albertsen added.
Albertsen credited her head coach, Zach Klaassen, for his leadership during the season.
“He really prepared us well for every game we went into,” Albertsen said of Klaassen. “We didn’t go into a game not knowing much about the other team. He always knew what to say to us to get us excited, and he’s a good coach.”
Albertsen expressed gratitude towards her teammates, who she maintains great friendships with off the court.
“I was fortunate enough to play with some of my best friends this year and the last couple of years,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to play together when you like each other on-and-off the court, and it just worked out well. We had really good chemistry.”
The Cyclones finished 18-5 overall, winning 17 regular season games, along with a first round 72-25 regional victory over the Red Oak Tigers.
“18 wins is pretty good,” she added. “We didn’t end where we wanted too, but it was a heck of a season, and we played the best basketball we could. We really worked together as a team.”
Even though Albertsen’s Cyclone basketball career is behind her, she will continue on the collegiate level and play at Iowa Western.
“I’m definitely excited for the next level,” Albertsen said. “I think I’m going to carry over the hard work I’ve used in high school ball, keep working hard, and putting in the time.”
