Story by: Ty Howerton

(This article was published in the 36th Annual Ozarks Basketball Preview magazine 2022-23 Edition)

The 2022-23 Lady Mules, led by Head Coach Jeremiah Bryan (138-176 in eight years) welcomes back six lettermen, including four starters from last year’s 14-14 squad.

In the opening round of the District Tournament last year, the Lady Mules knocked off Halfway 60-33. The season ended the next round with a tough loss by the smallest of margins to Dadeville 30-29.

“The season didn’t end the way we planned last year, so we are all ready to get started and try to redeem ourselves,” Coach Bryan states. “This group is going to come back on a mission this year. They are an extremely hardworking group who get down and guard. This will be one of the youngest and deepest teams that I have had in my eight years at Wheatland.”

Lynze Walker (5’6″,Sr., G) is the sole returning senior to this year’s Lady Mules team. She is excited to play basketball her senior year. “I think it’s going to be a great season with all of the team, and I’m really excited for it,” Walker says.

The Lady Mules will look for good things from Chloe Pearson (5’6″, Jr., G), Jaz’Myn Baldwin (5’8″, Jr., F), and Taylor Gant (5’8″, Jr., F). Pearson is a point guard who averaged 15 points and 3.4 assists per game last year.

Baldwin averaged 5.8 rebounds last year. She has developed a solid post game and is looking to get a lot of rebounds this year. Gant averaged 2.8 rebounds and six points per game. She is a sharpshooter behind the arc.

Other returning players include Sophie Kenig (5’5″, Soph., G), Kiarah Blation (5’9″, Soph., F), and Hannah Roberts (5’5″, Jr.). Blation is developing into a solid post player. As a freshman, she averaged seven points and rebounds per game respectively. Her rebounding will be key this year. Kenig saw action in 13 games last season and Hannah Roberts was cited for her defense.

Several incoming freshmen may factor in for the team. Charley Crouch (5’6″, Frosh., G) can get down and guard and make shots the staff reports. Chloe Pearson’s younger sister, Macy Pearson (5’8″, Frosh., F), Jaycee Dampier (5’5″, Frosh., G), and Hannah Roberts’ younger sister, Alyssa Roberts (5’5″, Frosh., G), bring energy to the team and were praised for their defense.

As for Chloe Pearson, she is ready to play. She states, “I feel like this year we will be more determined and work better as a team. I’ve been looking forward to this year, and I’m so excited to play with this group of girls.”