ARGYLE — The Orioles will see a new coach but familiar face patrolling the sidelines this fall. Former Black Hawk and UW-Green Bay guard Jen Wellnitz takes over Argyle’s program and a team that returns much of its talent from last winter.

Argyle went 7-10 last season, including a 5-4 record in the Six Rivers East, though the Orioles didn’t play Albany, Monticello or Pecatonica a second time due to COVID-19 issues.

Back for the Orioles is first team all-conference forward Tori Lantz, as well as second-team guard Grace Ganshert and honorable mention forward Maggie Godfrey. In all, the team returns five seniors, a junior and two sophomores.

Ganshert led the team in scoring last year, averaging 14.4 ppg. Lantz, who is 246 points shy of the 1,000-point mark for her career, was second at 12.8 ppg and Godfrey third at 11.0 ppg. Chesney Leigh was fourth at just 4.6 ppg.

Wellnitz plans on bringing some of the styles and schemes that have made UW-Green Bay a successful collegiate program back to Lafayette County.

“I plan on implementing the Green Bay defense this season and it is extremely complicated and takes a lot of communication and maturity. This group has a lot to learn with a completely different style of play, but I think we are up for the task,” Wellnitz said.

She wants her team to focus on fundamentals, and playing staunch defense. Doing so could put the Orioles in a position to win the Six Rivers East Conference championship.

“It is our goal and expectation to finish top of the conference. It is also our goal to allow the least points per game in the conference. We will pride ourselves on defense,” Wellnitz said. “We have 5 returning seniors who can all play and have a ton of experience. We will be a decently fast and long team, so we will deliver the best scheme that fits our personnel.”

While her goal is to win the conference title, Wellnitz knows the league well, and knows that there are other teams that can compete night in and night out, like Albany, which opens the season with a buzz around the community as the Comets chase the program’s first-ever state berth. Also chasing their first state appearance? Argyle.

“I expect to see Albany and ourselves being 1-and-2. Coach Doescher does a great job with his team over there. He has some talented players and I know a few of his players (Brianna Dahl and Alaina Durtschi) very well, as I coached them this summer in AAU ball,” Wellnitz said. “I know the Comets will be a force to be reckoned with this season, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t plan to be right there with them. I’m very excited for the two of us to play this winter.”