The Sycamore girls basketball team is confronting a wave of injuries and illnesses that have sidelined three of its five projected rotational players during the summer.
Coach Adam Wickness has emphasized the team's resilience, pointing to the freshmen and sophomores who are being thrust into larger roles and given opportunities to prove themselves.
A Young Core Takes the Lead
Callie Countryman, a two‑sport athlete, says it feels better to endure an injury or recovery in the offseason than during the regular campaign, allowing her to focus on healing while still contributing to the squad's morale.
Quinn Carrier, the reigning Daily Chronicle Player of the Year, is battling a foot condition that adds extra pain, while his sister Evyn Carrier, the 2023 Player of the Year, recently transferred to the University of Illinois at Chicago after dealing with the same issue.
Macy Calendo, a 5‑foot‑10 shooting guard, injured her knee just as she was beginning to shine; early summer statistics showed a 23.4% field‑goal percentage and a 25.2% three‑point rate.
Wickness expects Calendo to evolve into a reliable third scoring option behind Carrier and Sadie Lang, who is entering her junior year and averaged 17.7 points per game last season.
Lang has been present at every practice and game, providing a steady leadership presence that steadies the younger players.
The coaching staff is impressed by the development of the younger players, noting their potential to shape the team’s future and to fill the scoring void left by the injured veterans.
The summer schedule includes varsity matchups in Geneva and junior‑varsity contests in DeKalb, giving the squad additional competitive exposure and a chance to test new lineups.
Wickness has praised the leadership of Calendo, Lang, and especially Countryman, who balances basketball with softball obligations while remaining optimistic about the team's growth.
Overall, the team is navigating adversity with a blend of seasoned upperclassmen and promising underclassmen, aiming to emerge stronger when the regular season begins.