Athlete of the Week - Elisabeth Gadient, Goodhue Girls Basketball

GOODHUE, Minn. (KTTC) –Whether its an early morning or late night, its likely you’ll find a certain Wildcat in the Goodhue gym.

Goodhue Girls basketball coach, Josh Wieme can confirm it.

“Many times I’ve come in and caught her shooting in here, her parents help get her in here or she’s just by herself. It happens a lot,” Wieme said.

Who is it, but Elisabeth Gadient working to add things to her ever growing toolkit.

“I really wanted to perfect my ability to handle the ball. So I’ve been working on that a lot lately and last year I think that I’ve been more outside the arc shooter and now I’ve gotten to the hoop a lot more,” Gadient said.

Which is why her performances this season are no accident. Last year as a freshman Gadient came off the bench and averaged five points a game.

“We had four senior starters last year that were great players, and experienced players that had played a lot already so she’s just kind of stuck behind some other very good players,” Wieme said

“I learned a lot from them by watching and playing against them in practice and there was good competition in practice. I don’t know I just wanted to fill the role and fill it even more,” Gadient said.

Now a sophomore the opportunity is hers and she’s shining averaging 15 points with back to back 20 points performances.

“Well I think everyone that sees her play first says that she’s just such a smooth player and that she does just kind of glide around the floor. She’s got a lot of skill. There’s things she can do with the ball, I think a lot of others can’t,” Wieme said.

The sophomore guard is also a pest on defense.

“I love to get defensive tips and steals that gives me good tips to go score the basketball and I’m a taller guard so I get to overhead passes a lot,” Gadient said.

It’s that want to be great that has Gadient on top.

“I think the ceiling’s pretty high and she’s going to keep growing her game because I know she’s not satisfied whether its the way she’s playing right now or being recognized. I think she’s very hungry to be as a good as she can be,” Wieme said.

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