Tiki Barber once said, “Every day is an opportunity disguised as a challenge.” This is exactly the philosophy Caitlin McKernon has adopted in her first year as head coach of the Mound Westonka girls basketball team. “These girls have seen nothing but challenges all season long, but every single challenge has made them better," said McKernon. The challenges for the White Hawks have come in many forms.

The season started with its first challenge of hiring a new coaching staff. McKernon was hired as the third head coach in three years for the Westonka girls basketball program. Coaching is not new to McKernon, whose most recent position was at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. She  has also coached at Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Scholastica and for AAU programs. Westonka Activities Director Jeff Peterson said, “Coach McKernon brings years of experience as both a player and a coach and enthusiasm to help us grow our program. “

Fortunately, McKernon was able to retain assistant coaches Brooke Berger and Chris Heitz, two Westonka grads who bring years of coaching experience and have established relationships with the players and their families. Their connections and knowledge of both basketball and Westonka have been a huge value add for the Westonka program. Also joining the staff this year was Maegan McKernon, who brings additional experience as a player, coach and moral support as Caitlin's sister.

“It has been a fun road this year so far," said Coach McKernon. "Getting to know these kids and form relationships with them has been the best part of the experience."

Another challenge for the program was that Westonka only returned one starter from last season, junior Kayla Hatlestad. She brings a positive attitude, as well as leadership, athleticism and an unflappable personality. Even when the team is down, Hatlestad is always up. She is calm and just keeps working and others follow. 

Captain Kendra Mattson, the team’s lone senior, is a great addition to the starting five with her positive attitude and poise under pressure. Junior Charlotte Mitlyng joins Hatlestad and Mattson as the third captain of this young team and is a positive role model with her work ethic and drive. She is developing fast in her new role. The remaining two juniors, Gracie O’Halloran and Maleah Versteeg, are also seeing lots of minutes on the court, and their hustle and passion can’t be beat. They give 100 percent every second.  

Another challenge is the size of the program. Coach McKernon inherited a small program. While others in the White Hawks' conference have up to four teams at the high school level, Westonka has 19 girls shared between the varsity and JV/C-squad teams. Because of this, it's not uncommon for the majority of the girls in the Westonka program to see both varsity and JV time.

Valerie Mobagi, the powerful ninth grade 6’ center, and Charlotte Huls, the explosive and shifty eighth grade guard, have started at the varsity level, often facing girls 2-4 years older. The remaining high school program consists of one sophomore, seven ninth graders, two eighth graders and and one seventh grader. This is where the opportunity comes in for the Westonka girls, who are getting experience on the court at both the JV and varsity levels. Most opponents are much older and more experienced, but the White Hawks are developing fast and stepping up their game.  

Yes, starting the year 0-13 has been a challenge for the young team but has also provided great growth opportunities. “Our kids have learned to work together throughout this season, and even though all you get to look at is a record, our record does not show the progress we have made and the time and effort these girls have put in for these first 2 1/3 months," said Coach McKernon. "They are starting to figure each other out, what each player is good at, and how they can all help each other on offense and defense.”  

With each game, the players have become more resilient, more persistent, more driven and more determined. Using the metric of wins and losses this season isn’t going to be how the White Hawks gauge success. “Seeing growth in them as not only basketball players but as students and people is what this is all about,” said McKernon.

The team is working hard and improving in so many ways. Coaches, parents and fans agree that, although it has been a challenging season, the girls are stepping up to meet the challenge and improving. Coach McKernon is up for the challenge, too. “Coaching is a true blessing and getting this opportunity has been a great ride,” she said.