A Stacked Team

By Alice Roche Cody

With two successful girls' basketball seasons behind him, Mark Gnapp is excited for his Knights' return to the court today for their first practice. While he lost strong athletes to graduation, his squad remains solid and ready to deploy its strengths: teamwork, proven leadership, and players who excel at key positions.

"Our team chemistry will play a big role in our success this season," said Coach Gnapp. "Gill has a very talented core of younger players, combined with our experienced seniors, who will improve throughout the season. Caileigh and Ella will lead the way for us!"

Of course, he is referring to co-captain standouts Caileigh Walsh '21, center, leading scorer and rebounder, and Ella Fajardo '21, the point guard who charges up her team. For Caileigh, only 250 more rebounds to go, and she will reach 1,000. Both athletes already committed to Division 1 universities, Caileigh to Northwestern and Ella to Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck.

Armed with this pair the past two seasons, Coach Gnapp led his squad to achieve the best divisional records in years, while regularly defeating elite competition and earning ranks among the state's top-20. Additional returning talent includes guards Anna Gnapp '22, Kayla Palaia '22, Aniyah Boston '23 and forward Zyane Shepard '22. Nate Suresh serves as the assistant varsity coach.

Coach Gnapp, who played basketball for Susquehanna University, has sent many of his GSB players to compete collegiately, including Allexia Allesch '17, who is making an impact at Seton Hall, and Devyn Scott '20, a freshman starter at FDU in Teaneck. In addition, Tori Goldin '20 plays volleyball for Tufts, and Teresa Zimmer '20 is on Vassar's soccer squad.

Wishing our girls’ team a great season!