FEBRUARY 4, 2016,
BY CHRIS ISEMAN
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
Madison Wynbeek didn’t need much time to show why she is a freshman starting on Eastern Christian’s varsity girls basketball team.
In the Eagles’ season opener against Lodi, Wynbeek scored 18 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
“It was like, ‘Here she is, everybody,’Ÿ” Eastern Christian coach Barry Veenstra said.
That was only the beginning.
Wynbeek has been a formidable presence on the court ever since. The 5-foot-11 center was averaging 16.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game entering Thursday’s 55-32 loss to Glen Rock. After overcoming freshman nerves early in the season, Wynbeek has grown increasingly comfortable playing at this level.
“Middle school is totally different from high school basketball,” Wynbeek said. “It’s a huge jump.”
Wynbeek said the adjustment was difficult in the beginning. The speed of the varsity game was a “shock.” But there was never any doubt she had the talent and capability to play at a high level as a freshman. Veenstra said he realized it when he watched her play for her middle school team and when she attended his summer camps.
Her quickness and athleticism were evident. She was aggressive on the boards. Wynbeek, who started playing basketball when she was in fifth grade, already looked like a varsity player.
Starting as a freshman brought additional pressure, though Wynbeek has plenty of teammates who can advise her on how to handle it. Each member of the Eagles’ starting five started as a freshman. Wynbeek is one of two freshman starters this season, along with guard Anna Kinz, who’s been strong at both ends of the floor.
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