Marmion starts first girls basketball team as school goes co-ed

Marmion School began its first girls basketball practice on Monday, Nov. 2, marking the start of a new athletic era for the 93-year-old institution.

The school admitted approximately 40 freshmen and sophomore girls this academic year, effectively going co-ed. Eleven of those students make up the inaugural basketball roster. Head coach Dan Murray, who has averaged more than 20 wins over 25 seasons at IC Catholic, Lisle and Marian Catholic, stepped away from the game last year but returned to build this program while joining the Marmion faculty.

Although most new girls' sports will begin at the junior varsity level in coming years, Murray decided to place this group on a varsity schedule immediately. The team will compete in Class 3A for the Illinois High School Association playoffs. Murray stated that the school wanted to signal a serious commitment to building a strong program for athletes who aspire to compete at the high school level and beyond.

Four members of the current squad are sophomore transfers. The Illinois High School Association granted them immediate eligibility due to the unique circumstances of the school's recent transition. Brooklyn Alderton, a transfer from Montini, described the move as a great decision that she does not regret. Oswego East transfer Haley Caracci cited better opportunities and academics as primary reasons for her choice to join Marmion.

Adjusting to a predominantly male student body required some adaptation for the new players. Payton Czupowski, another Montini transfer, noted that while the environment was different at first, the girls have formed a close community. She observed that the group bonds well and that there is little drama among the students.

Murray did not set a specific win target for the season. He described his goal as making the team as strong as possible by playoff time, emphasizing that every opponent is a unique entity with its own ceiling. The team will begin its schedule on Nov. 19 when the Cadets host Tinley Park in the first game in program history.

Caracci said that winning games will help demonstrate to other schools that Marmion is competitive. The team will use the season to establish its reputation on the court.