Team bonding

New women’s basketball player Zora Fray-Chinn has adjusted quickly to her new surroundings, after only arriving on Wright State University’s campus a few weeks ago.

The 5’11” guard from Orlando first needed to acclimate her body to the different climate. “I’m from Florida and the weather is very different, but I like it,” said Fray-Chinn.

She also needed to adapt to the increased speed of practices and a new coaching staff that didn’t recruit her. “The pace of this college basketball game is completely different from high school,” said Fray-Chinn.

“It’s always a competition at practice,” she said. “We can tell everyone loves the game and that’s what we love about this team.”

The women’s basketball team has been working out four days a week and lifting weights to prepare for the 2021-2022 season.

“We are in the middle of team workouts,” said Kari Hoffman who was named women’s head basketball coach in May. “We are also doing a bunch of team bonding stuff because we’re still learning each other.”

In June, Hoffman finalized her coaching staff with three assistant coaches: John Leonzo, Megan Leuzinger and Patrick Bain. On July 16, her staff was completed with the addition of Abby Wolford as women’s basketball director of operations.

“It’s exciting with all of the new coaches, just learning about them and them learning about us,” said Destyne Jackson, a sophomore guard who played on last year’s team that won the Horizon League Championship and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. “Working to see how we’re going to win another championship.”

The team will add two transfer students to the roster near the end of August. “We’ll have our whole team together in about a month,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman is pleased with the team and says the players have been receptive to the staff and their style.

“Just want to see them get better and want to see them walk in here and do their best to get better,” she said. “I think we’ve already seen that in a week and half of working with them so we’re really excited about what the rest of the season will bring.”

The summer workouts conclude on July 29.